I am a self-proclaimed queen of procrastination. I've had friends tell me, "If anyone can write a paper overnight and still get a good grade, it's you." I consistently wait to start things until the day before it's due. I even turned an assignment in six months past the date that it was initially requested because it wasn't "officially" due, so I kept putting it off.
Many people would hear that story and immediately be concerned for my mental health (because who would continuously stress themselves out like that) and for my academic career. But let me tell you, I've turned something in late one time (in sixth grade) and I somehow made it into the Honors College at ECU, so I must be doing something right.
I procrastinate because I work well under pressure. There's no motivation like motivation that comes from an impending deadline.
My best projects and papers have been done the night before. The highest grade I received on an organic chemistry test was earned after pulling an almost-all-nighter (that, yes, may have included a few meltdowns, but I got the grade I wanted). The best science project I've ever done was started and completed the day before it was due. I gave my poster board some 3-D effects with cut up makeup wedges and even had some stuff that wiggled around to simulate earthquakes (I'm still pretty proud of it).
My best work comes out of me when I no longer have a choice but to sit down and get it done. I'm more efficient and my work is higher quality because I know I don't have time to go back and redo anything.
However, there is a certain level of skill to it, and quite frankly I've got it down to a tee.
See you can't procrastinate too much. Because there is a fine line between putting things off but knowing you'll still get them done and that moment where you go, "holy crap, I'm not going to get this done on time." You've got be careful and strategic about what you put off. I always do my little assignments first. You know, the ones that take 20 minutes max to complete. I leave the bigger stuff because those are the things I need that motivation of a deadline for.
I know there are people who will read this and think I have absolutely lost my mind. But this is what works for me and it's what I know works for some other people too. I'm not advocating for procrastination, but I am saying that it's okay if you do. It's okay if that's what works for you.
Everyone stays so focused on "studying a little bit each day" and other "study tips" of that nature. That just doesn't work for me. 99% of the time I'm not motivated enough to study a little bit each day. I can't say that I know too many people who ARE that motivated.
I'm a procrastinator and I'm not looking to change my ways. So please stop giving me study tips and telling me I 'd be less stressed if I had "better" study habits. Procrastinating works for me and I'm going to keep doing it until it doesn't.
