Procrastination. Even typing the word gives me chills. It is a sneaky, scary, and surprising concept that is terrifying to students and more terrifying to adults. Why is it, however, that procrastination has such deep roots on what NOT to do? Has there ever been something positive to come about from procrastination? Is it all that bad?
Procrastination can be (and is) the devil. Nahhh, haha, procrastination is just a way our mind protects itself. It usually stems from low self-esteem/self-confidence, doubts, and fear of failure. This happens with everyone and it is natural. What is interesting, however, is why we only see procrastination in the negative limelight. Why do this when procrastination can be a benefit just as much as it is a detriment to our life?
One reason we view procrastination as a negative trait is because of our childhood. We are taught at a very young age about deadlines, timelines, and time management. It is ingrained in us that we should do things the moment they need to be done, or something bad will happen. As we grow older, though, we start to realize that procrastinating is not all that bad. It can still have negative affects on us, do not get me wrong, but we can allot ourselves a little more time to finish a task than when we were kids.
In Adam Grant’s Ted Talk, The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers, procrastination is more than an escape from our insecurities. Grant says, “Procrastination give you time to consider divergent ideas, to think in nonlinear ways, to make unexpected leaps.” It allows our brain to go off the rails and let us see the new scenery. It lets our brain travel to new areas, procrastination areas, that spark creativity, imagination, and originality. Grants also speaks about how procrastination is a vice for productivity, but a virtue for creativity.
“You call it procrastination, I call it thinking,” said Aaron Sorkin (an American screenwriter). If we allow our brain to “think” (or “marinate”) about an idea in our heads, then we may see new and improved outcomes. We may discover an idea that is better, a concept that needs another look, or something completely different. Even if no new idea magically pops into your mind, at least some pressure is relieved from the deadline.
Procrastination sucks. Plain and simple. But it does not have to suck. If you find yourself getting stuck on something, it is okay to take a break from it. It is okay to pause and start again in an hour, a day, or even longer. You need to allow creativity to flow through your mind, and finish what you started. Procrastination…gosh… Procrastination is the reason why I have had to type this blog post seven times today, haha! Now go get ’em!
Semi-Procrastinating,
E.
#procrastination #time #timemanagement #creativity #AdamGrant #AaronSorkin
thEEsmilE 