I have become scarily good at procrastinating. It first started in high school, but now that I am in college I have become even better at it. Some people have a super talent where they can just sit down and get work done. My super power is the ability to do everything else but what I need to be doing.
I believe that it is a lovely concoction of not wanting to do it, not having the ability to concentrate, and ADHD splitting my focus on a million and one other things. Essentially, my brain and I are not on the same page, and it is a struggle.
In college, I learned the hard way that procrastinating really just bites you in the butt. If you do not manage your time well, you are the only person to blame. More so, it will result in you stressing out, losing sleep, and probably missing out on something fun.
My recommendation is that you just plan accordingly, and not fall down the rabbit hole, like I’m so great at doing. As much fun as procrastination can be, once you are done with whatever you need to do, you are free!
If you finish what you need to do early on, then you can enjoy your day without that nagging feeling like you should be and need to be doing something else. Trust me, it is a way better feeling to be relaxing when you actually have nothing to be doing.
As I have said, I am great at procrastinating. So, welcome to my world of justifying how I procrastinate doing what I need to be doing. These are my favorite ways to procrastinate:
Clean.
I randomly decide I need to clean things. I am not just talking about some light cleaning here and there. I will vacuum, dust, reorganize, and wipe down everything in my room or house. The upside is that I am being productive in my procrastination tactics.
Shower.
I will decide that I am super gross and grimy. Therefore, I must take a shower to clean myself off. It is never a quick shower, but one of those showers that takes forever. The one where you decide to shave your legs, shampoo your hair, apply a deep conditioning hair mask, wash your face, wash your body, and stand under the steamy hot water for way longer than you should. Once you get out of the shower, you put lotion on and brush your teeth. Then, take your sweet time brushing out your hair. The ultimate goal is about letting as much time tick away as possible, so that you do not have to do work.
Cook.
I can’t start doing work on an empty stomach. That would just be cruel to myself. Also, I would ultimately be forcing a study or work break in the near future. To deter the need for a break, I must make sure that I have a snack or eat something. However, if I cook, this could lead right back to me cleaning, which will just waste even more of my precious time. It is honestly a vicious cycle, where the world works against me doing work.
Nap.
If I am too tired to concentrate, then nothing is going to get done. A quick power nap (20 minutes max.) or a longer snooze (one hour to an hour and half), is the best way to combat this issue. I will set an alarm to make sure that I do not sleep for an eternity. But... nine times out of 10, I have this pesky issue of pressing the snooze button a couple too many times. Eventually, I will revive myself and force myself out of bed. Usually, it is way past my set time to start doing work.
A black hole of procrastinating for many people. Famous last words include, “I’ll only watch one episode”, “One more won’t hurt”, “I’ll start work at…”, “I have to at least watch the beginning of the next episode.” I am a constant victim of the black hole that is Netflix. You can get lost for hours watching movies and TV shows, and trust me, I’ve done it on numerous occasions.
I Need a Drink.
When you decide to go into your kitchen for a drink of water or a cup of tea, you are going to come back with a lot more than was originally planned. Your stomach and brain will work against you to make sure that you spend a ton of time debating whether a snack is in order. Just fight the thirst! It is not worth all that time lost... Or is it..?
Read a Book or Odyssey Article(s).
I’ll pick up a book and get lost in the story. Minutes or hours later, I come back to reality and realize how much time I’ve allowed to pass. Then, I’ll have a brief moment of panic while I decide what my game plan should be. I will try to determine how much more I can procrastinate, before I am cutting it too close to stressing myself out beyond all belief. I will continue reading and getting lost, until my set time of no longer allowing myself to procrastinate.
That is all, folks... I hope this cautionary tale serves you well.
Warning: If you can relate or notice yourself doing some of these things, please consult a professional. You are not past the point of help for your obsessive procrastination tendencies. We all need a little push to sit down and get cracking. Here’s me telling you to stop procrastinating by reading my article and do whatever it is you should be doing. Work well!
