It's finals time and students know exactly what that means: procrastination. As an English major, 95% of my finals consist of mind-numbingly long papers about books I've been forced to read. And being a professional procrastinator means that all of my papers get written within 24 hours of the due date. Diamonds are made under pressure, right? At least that's what I tell myself to feel better.
For all my paper procrastinators out there, do you think it actually helps writing the paper under a time crunch? For me, the success comes in the high stakes; a paper due in four hours means that you have to crank it out with a strictness and focus that's almost military. Overcompensating for the short time frame so that your professor doesn't realize you put your final sentence down fifteen minutes before class starts forces you to put a little extra "umph" in your essay.
But then again, that pressure and that stress can be detrimental; no sleep, anger, and irritation are things that can come along with a last-minute paper. Being so flustered that you can't even think straight can lead to a pretty crappy essay, and I honestly don't think the extra two days you had of pretending the assignment didn't exist are worth the bad grade.
I'm sure getting your essay done days before hand makes for a relaxing finals week, but for someone who needs a little extra push to get things done, a loose due date spells trouble and forgotten responsibilities.
If procrastination is your muse then there are still some productive things you can do while you ignore your obligations. Meditation is a great way to get your focus centered and calm your mind so that when it finally comes time to work you're not distracted. Sleeping, ah yes sleeping, is another great way to prepare. You get to relax your mind and body - and who doesn't love to sleep anyway? Glancing through your notes, even haphazardly, can work wonders for your memory when it finally comes time to do your assignment. Your brain picks up key words and ideas even if you're just glancing through some old notes - who knows what you'll remember and contribute to your work.
Procrastinating doesn't have to be a stressful hindrance to your work; everyone needs a break at some point. So take that time you need because your mental health is always a top priority, but keep in mind that there are always ways to get things done even when nothing is actually being done. Sleeping, meditating, even just thinking can contribute to your next great assignment!
So to each their own; if you're a person who likes the comfort of having things done and out of the way - then be the overachiever your parents always hoped for! But if you're like me and prefer the panic-inducing rush of getting things done last minute then pick up the biggest bottle of wine you can find good luck!
