Procrastination. As you read this, you are experiencing exactly what I'm talking about. Should you be doing something else? Of course you should. This article will probably get reads exclusively because college students always have something else to do. Even if you are a student who never procrastinates (although I doubt it), you are still experiencing procrastination. This article was written at the last possible moment. Any typos and/or poor writing in general are not just the products of my questionable writing skill, but also procrastination. So here they are, the five ways everyone procrastinates:
Taking a Nap:
The classic go-to for when you have too much work to do. Got a paper to write? Take a nap. It’s impossible to worry about a paper when you’re asleep. Have a meeting to go to? Oops, sorry I missed the meeting, I was dreaming about not being at the meeting. You may not be able to sleep all day and still be considered productive, but everyone has to nap sometime.
Taking a Shower:
There's nothing quite as satisfying as a warm, steamy shower when you are covered in bubbles and feeling relaxed. The only thing better is a shower with all of its goodness combined with the fact that you are escaping the world’s expectations of you. So go ahead, sit down (if your tub is clean enough), cover yourself in your favorite body wash, close your eyes and try not to think about the suffocating load of work you will have to get back to once the world runs out of hot water.
Working Out:
Maybe as you were sitting in your room thinking of something to do other than your work, you caught a glance of the mirror. Maybe it was the fact that you were winded after taking the steps. Who knows, but this thought will eventually creep into your head, “Why don’t I replace the work of the mind with the work of the body? It would be good for me.” Next thing you know, you're in your best workout attire trying to remember every tid-bit of information you've ever read about exercising. Hey, maybe it will become a thing. At least that paper isn’t getting any bigger.
Complaining About the Work You Have:
This is always a good one, and can actually result in making new friends with whom you can procrastinate with. There is nothing more cathartic than complaining with someone who understands your struggle. So, the next time you see someone vaguely recognizable from class, you are going to ask them how his/her paper is going. Obviously you care about how he/she is doing, but mostly you just want to tell them you haven’t started and that you think you might not do too hot. Don’t worry about wishing him/her good luck; you are probably going to want to save that for yourself. And if you can’t find someone from class, just complain to your roommate. He/she definitely wants to understand why you have been sleeping and showering so much.
Doing Arts and Crafts:
Honestly, if you get to this point, the paper is probably due in about an hour and you are just not going to make it. Seriously? Arts and crafts? I don’t think you realize how much easier writing a paper is than doing arts and crafts. There are no cut, copy or paste shortcuts in real life. Now you are going to have to wash all that glue off your hands and take out the trash so no one ever knows how desperate you got. Seriously, get back to work.
Other procrastination techniques that receive honorable mentions:
Becoming Extremely Educated About Other Subjects via Wikipedia
Eating Enough that Not Doing Your Work Isn’t Your Biggest Problem
Reading Facebook Posts From that One Friend at Camp Four Years Ago that You Really Haven’t Talked to Since
