The house is clean, laundry is done, I’ve even found time for a jog. Things that I have been meaning to do for days are finally completed. One of the most productive mornings I’ve had in a while. My secret? Easy…. I’m procrastinating doing something else.
We’ve all been there: you have to tackle an analysis or prepare for a meeting and suddenly the lack of inspiration kicks in as you stare at your screen remembering all the other things you meant to do. Now, with many people working from home with pets, kids, and the basket of clean laundry screaming to be folded, we are suddenly able to focus… but on the wrong things! This shifting focus from the task at hand to something else is called procrastination.
Since my student years I have been an advocate for procrastination, actually, as I found that filling my schedule with work and social appointments until the pressure of a looming deadline motivated me to get down to business and ultimately optimize the amount of time spent on a project. For me, it worked. In fact, in high school I once thought that completing an assignment in advance must mean that the quality of my work would increase, but experience showed me that the opposite was true, resulting in my worst mark of the course.
Within the workplace, however, my experience changed when juggling various tasks that may not have had set deadlines but were nevertheless important. Further, when managing project teams, the process tends to be so dependant on scheduling and task outputs becoming inputs to other tasks, there is little to no room for procrastination. But the hard truth is that procrastination is a part of all of our lives, in varying degrees, as it is a defensive mechanism resulting from our fears such as failure or embarassment.
So is procrastination good or bad? I know, I’ve set the scene for both sides of this argument. The truth is, procrastination itself is neither good nor bad. It’s a state of being that we will always experience in this day and age, as we will almost always have more tasks than we can complete in a given time. You can choose to try and eliminate procrastination from your life completely, spending every moment in the most efficient and optimized way possible to complete eavh and every task before you... but I think most, if not all of us would soon burn out. The other option is much more doable, to take control of our urge to put things off and eliminate instead the guilt that comes with it. Know that taking your time sometimes is okay. The question isn't whether you should procrastinate, but rather the important question is actually whether you can procrastinate well.
I opened with my experience of procrastination leading to a clean house and many accomplished tasks. This low-mentality work is perfect for subconsciously getting your thoughts in order for the next, more complex task, whilst at the same time checking boxes on your to-do list. This example is procrastinating well, by freeing time at a later point in my day, giving a sense of productivity, and allowing the free flow of creative thought. This is similar to how your best ideas come while in the shower or while driving; conveniently the best places to think are the worst places to keep a pen and paper close at hand! Other examples of procrastinating well is shifting focus to an educational article or book, watching a lecture, or listening to an informative podcast while going for a run. These examples are productive uses of your time that you are choosing not to move forward on whatever task you are procrastinating.
I must be honest, all too often my intent to learn something new with my time is defeated by a lack of motivation or energy and I end up watching a funny video or snacking out of boredom. Perfect examples of procrastinating poorly. I’m sure you can brainstorm a few others. I would like to point out, however, the necessity of taking some time to relax and simply veg out in front of the TV. Though the time spent may not be productive, done in moderation, it can allow you to recharge your battery and the effects can be beneficial enough to classify the procrastination as ‘time well-spent’. The important thing to remember? Moderation is key!
Only a super-human could avoid procrastination entirely, so instead, lean into it and use procrastination as a tool to optimize your energy and time, two important resources in the workplace. Procrastinate well, redirecting yourself to use your time productively even if it is not on the top priority project for that moment. Meanwhile, minimize poor procrastination techniques unless they are being used to recharge your energy levels, and most of all, don’t let the guilt get to you. Ultimately, if your work is done on time and done well, you’re doing fine!