Dear Procrastination,

As the year winds down and the holidays come closer, I feel you creeping up behind me just as quickly. The days are shorter, the air is cooler, and I know this is your time to strike. You speak to me at my weakest moments when my work is so near due, with finals just around the corner. I long for my bed thanks to your pressing words such as, “You will have time to do this later,” or “This can wait,” or my favorite, “You should probably eat or take a nap first.” These statements fill my mind convincingly, to the point that I accept them. And then where do I end up? In a hole of stress and assignments that I can only blame you, my Procrastination, for.

Yet, I never punish you. I never discipline you, or tell you that what you did was wrong. So the next day, we start over. It is time we changed our relationship into a healthier one. We need to compromise our behaviors towards each other. I will no longer appease your advances as long as you respect when I have work. If you respect this, then I will take the opportunity to take a nap or eat some food or do something fun to benefit both you and I, and keep my stress level low because I will not have an assignment silently whispering to me in the back of my mind.

So remember this, Procrastination. This is how we will continue our relationship moving forward. Next time you are breathing down my neck, remember what I said. I don’t want to eliminate you from my life completely, because everyone deserves a break from constant work, but there definitely needs to be less of you and more of me in the relationship. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write back. But be wary of your actions, because I may procrastinate responding.

Sincerely,

Your master