If there is one thing in our life that we do, it is the bad habit of putting things off until the very last minute. The bad habit that shows your timing, your priorities, and your effort and puts it to the test, as you make a mad dash to the finish line.
Procrastination.
No one, and I mean no one, likes to admit they procrastinate. No matter what age you are, you in some way, shape, or form wait. And wait. And wait. And wait some more. Until you realize 'shoot, if I don't complete this or finish that, I'm done for.' Now, some people can handle working under pressure. They feel they can get it done without stress. Then there are people like you and me who are so used to doing things ahead of time that when we procrastinate once, it becomes a bad habit that stresses us out. Which one of these two are you? Ahead of the game or stressing to finish?
I am both. Mostly ahead of the game, but sometimes I stress to finish.
As long as I can remember, I would always be done with things ahead of time. Projects, schoolwork, chores, you name it. Rarely would anyone have to ask me twice to do something, because it was already done by the time they asked again. Schoolwork would be the first thing I did when I came home and chores were self-explanatory. If I had a project due in two weeks, I usually got it done before then. That's why my friends gave me the nickname "overachiever."
My problem: procrastination with the important stuff.
I don't mean to. I would just happen to miss that field trip permission slip that needs to be signed in the morning as my parents are leaving for work. My way of informing my parents about something last minute: "Oh, by the way, this is happening (tonight, tomorrow). Can I go? Can I do this?" Those are kind of important, right? Despite knowing some events ahead of time, I would still put it off. I must have thought there wasn't any time or it wasn't important to mention in a conversation.
College is the ultimate test for both: ahead of time and last minute.
When you started classes, what happened? Did you study for that huge microbiology exam enough? Did you finish that speech for Intro to Communication? Did you read everything for British or American Literature? Or did you dive into the class procrastination 101?
I ended up checking into Procrastination 101 many times during the school year. I put off papers until the day or two before. I studied the night or two before a big exam or didn't study enough. I waited until the weekend to do major homework, even though I had days during the week with time. I wasted time by watching Netflix, being on my cell phone or watching TV.
If you did any of what I did, then congratulations!
You passed Procrastination 101 with flying colors.
