Procrastination: When Putting Off Today Will Put You Out Tomorrow

Procrastination: When Putting Off Today Will Put You Out Tomorrow

Most people will “put off tasks until tomorrow,” simply because they are tired and stressed, and they know that a task will be better done only with a fresh start. This realistic approach to work, however, can change when the putting off becomes habitual, and when the tasks that are put off are relatively easy. This procrastinating becomes alarming, moreover, when the tasks are replaced by leisurely activities.

Procrastination does not merely concern not studying for an exam, or delaying the writing of an academic paper. It can extend beyond secondary school and university, and well into the workplace. There are reports that don’t get submitted, reviews and journal articles that don’t get read, and even meetings that don’t get finished on time, all because of procrastination.

So, how do you know if your sensible putting off is actually procrastination? Watch out for these signs:

• You put off the same task day after day – it seems you’ve lost interest in it, even if it’s an easy task

• You find excuses for not finishing the task, and when you do finish it, the result is half-baked and unsatisfactory

• You engage in non-work related activities, even with a heavy task at hand – and yet feel empty and uneasy after the leisure period is over

If you are procrastinating, then know that there are advantages and disadvantages to what you are doing. Believe it or not, procrastinating has its good side, and you can exploit the goodness without splurging on the free time.

What advantages can procrastination have?

Delaying work can allow you time to either rest, or do the things you like best, such as writing, watching movies, or hiking out in the woods. Putting off a few tasks can also allow you to prioritize tasks that are more important, such as catering to the needs of your family, or renewing relationships with your friends.

Your free time can also be your “thinking time.” That is, it can allow you to think outside the box, and to look at the coming task from another angle. Your “thinking time” can also allow you to clear away the smaller distractions – or “cobwebs” – that complicate your task handling, so that when you do start to work, you won’t have any worries to plague you.

Over and above the advantages of a little more free time are the damages caused by procrastination. The term “free time” may actually be wrong in this case, since you will most likely keep on thinking about how you will do your task, and you may not end up relaxing after all. This is actually added stress: it will keep you from doing work, and it can tax upon your health.

As you can see, the “free time” is actually a waste of time. When your relaxation time is over, you may find yourself producing less than your best. Your mind may be too muddled or tired to concentrate on studying, or finishing that report, or completing that paper. Because of all the time wasted doing something else besides your required tasks, you will have little time to actually do the necessary tasks.

You may lose sleep simply completing the task at the last minute – another source of stress that can keep your immune system working overtime. Without sleep, your moods can be a source of low productivity, and even annoyance to those working around you. With stress and lack of sleep, and a low quality end product thrown into the bargain, is procrastination really the way to go?

On the other hand, you may feel that you work best under pressure. But are you sure that you produce your best work when rushed and stressed?

Procrastination, though a potential lifesaver, is actually a time waster. Don’t fall prey to it: work, then reward yourself after. You don’t want to be put out tomorrow now, don’t you?