Procrastination, Productive Procrastination

Is Procrastination Good for You?

Ever noticed how when you’re avoiding something important, you become really prolific at something else? For example, when I used to work as a freelance writer and editor, my bathroom sparkled, especially if I had a difficult major job to work on.

Perhaps that’s not all bad. Sometimes burying ourselves too deep in our work gets us lost in it, and we can’t see a way out. Maybe a little procrastination is good for us.

Of course, “a little” should be the operative phrase here. And watching TV or checking Facebook doesn’t necessarily qualify as productive. (Can’t mention Facebook here without noting that the U of T Procrastination Association has more than 3,000 members on its FB page.)

Lots has been written on this idea of productive procrastination, for example, from Lifeclever here and a site called Structured Procrastination here.

My advice? Don’t forget your priorites. Students in university have to get work done. But when you’re just not up to doing the work, have a to-do list of other things that you could do. You could do less urgent, but equally important work in another subject. You could have a list of stuff you’ve been avoiding like laundry or paying bills. And, hey, there’s always that bathroom to clean…

CG