When it comes to school, work or just anything you don’t particularly want to do, you tend to find ways to avoid it. I for one, am a master procrastinator. It is an art form I have worked on for years and have become an absolute master at. From the years of school work I haven’t wanted to do, I've learned how to get pretty much all my assignments done the night before they’re due. The stress this causes has probably taken years off of my life, but I get it done and get decent grades. So if you need help procrastinating, I’m your girl.
1. Netflix
This is the obvious one. Everyone has a Netflix account or knows someone who they can mooch off of. So instead of doing that eight-paged paper due Friday, why not just watch a couple episodes of the Office. A few episodes won’t hurt, right? Wrong. Before you know it, it’s 3 a.m. and you forgot to do the rest of the homework you have to do tomorrow. Oops.
2. Going to the gym
This may be the last resort for most people because let’s be honest, we hate working out. I know I do. Getting myself to the gym takes pretty much an act of God. For me to put my workout clothes on and find the motivation to walk up what seems like five different hills just to get to the gym, I have to REALLY hate my homework. However, when I really don’t want to study for that biology test I’ve got, the gym sounds like a pretty awesome idea.
3. Calling your mom
Our generation for some reason hates talking to people on the phone. I understand human interaction is scary, but over the phone? Not a big deal at all. I’ve been the one to call restaurants to make reservations for my friends because they hate talking on the phone that much. Weird, I know. But when I’m trying to avoid everything I’m supposed to do, I call up my mom, hoping she answers and we end up talking for a good 30 minutes. It’s a great time to catch up with my mom and it also prolongs doing my homework. It’s a win-win.
4. Cleaning your room/desk
For someone as scatterbrained as me, you can pretty much imagine that my room and desk are just as much of a mess as I am. I have done this many a time, while I’m stressing out about the speech I have to make in class, I look around at my workspace and think to myself, “I can’t work in this mess!” After, I proceed to deep clean my room and desk, rearranging everything and finding a new place for all my little nick-knacks. Usually, after I do this I tend to forget where I put things and freak out because I need that book for the speech, but have no idea where I just put it.
5. Sleeping
Sleeping is the purest form of procrastination. I have said that for years. I’m fairly sure that I’m about three years behind on sleep, but that’s supposed to happen in college, right? That’s what I’m telling myself at least. Just take a quick nap, to recharge and to start that lab you’ve got to do later today. It usually turns into a three-hour slumber and when you wake up you've forgotten what year it is, but it happens.
6. Showering
As college students, we all know we are not the cleanest people. So when you’ve got some book to read that’s as long as the Nile River and dry as the Sahara, you get distracted and then realize you smell like your old high school's gym. Then, of course, you’ve got to shower, but when you’re in the shower you’ve got to shampoo and condition at least twice, shave your legs and have your solo singing ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’
7. Going on a drive
Taking a drive to clear your head is something that really helps when you’ve got a lot going on. Being in control of a car and not letting anything else get to you, just putting on your favorite song and singing it as loud as you can, praying that the person next to you won’t be able to hear.
8. Food
My personal favorite form of procrastination. You can’t possibly study without having a snack, or a feast, to feed your mind while you try and read an entire book and write a six-page paper in one night. Going out to get something to eat, whether that is popcorn, coffee or an entire pint of ice cream that’s up to you. Personally, I enjoy all three options, but what you like to chow down on is up to you.
Procrastination is an art form I have come accustomed to over the years, I suggest you get good at it too. It makes life so much more fun.
