Procrastination in Malay: meaning and examples

Procrastination in Malay is usually called bertangguh, which means to delay or put something off. Its meaning is simple: you hold off on a task you know needs doing. The useful question is not what to call it, but what is stopping the first step.

This guide gives you the Malay words, how people really use them, and a short way to begin.

What are the Malay words for procrastination?

There is no single word that covers everything, so Malaysians use a few.

• Bertangguh: to delay, as in “Jangan bertangguh, siapkan kerja itu” (do not delay, finish that work).
• Menangguh-nangguhkan: to keep postponing again and again.
• Menunda: to postpone, a little more formal.
• Tangguh dulu: an everyday phrase meaning “let me leave it for now”.
• Buat nanti: “I will do it later”, which can easily become never.

In school or at work you may also hear “buat last minute”, which means leaving a task until the final hours. It has become a joke in school and office groups, and it also shows how common the habit is.

How do people use these words in daily life?

Here are a few examples you might recognise:

• “Assignment ni dah seminggu aku tangguh.” (I have put this assignment off for a week.)
• “Esok je lah buat.” (Let me just do it tomorrow.)
• “Aku selalu buat last minute, lepas tu stres.” (I always do it at the last minute and then get stressed.)

These lines sound light, but behind them there can be a real feeling of weight. The joke makes it easier to say out loud. If you laugh with friends about it, that is fine, as long as you also take one real step.

Is it the same as being malas?

Not quite. Malas means lazy, or not wanting to make an effort. Putting things off is different, because you usually care deeply about the task.

The snag may be that the task is unclear, too big, missing a piece of information, or tied to a fear of doing it badly. Calling it malas hides those reasons. Finding the reason points to a first step.

What does “esok masih ada” really mean?

It means tomorrow is still there. In some moods this is a kind reminder that you can rest and the world will not end.

It turns into a trap when it replaces any action. A better use is: “Esok masih ada, so I will do ten minutes now and the rest then.” You keep the comfort and still make a start.

Try this: one step in ten minutes

You can do this with a task you have been bertangguh about.

1. Write the task in one line.
2. Ask: what is the smallest first action I could do right now? Write it down.
3. Make it smaller if it feels heavy. Open the file. Find the number. Write one sentence.
4. Set a timer for ten minutes and do only that.
5. When the timer rings, decide whether to continue.

You do not need to feel ready. Starting is what makes the readiness arrive.

What if the task is a serious matter?

Medical, money and family matters carry extra weight, so the delay can feel heavier. Break them down in the same way: one call, one form, one question.

If putting things off comes with constant worry, low mood or poor sleep, it is wise to talk to a doctor or counsellor. Our support page lists where to start.

Where to go next

Our starting tasks guides collects guides for each kind of delay. If you have avoided a job all week, beginning a task you have avoided all week shows a kind way back.

If your day has already slipped, try restarting after an unproductive morning. The gentle restart planner is free and keeps what you type in your browser.

Before the first step, you could take seven quiet minutes. Sadhguru’s free guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is one optional way to do that.