Pro-crastinaton: Life’s Greatest Con

Image courtesy of NBC News

Image courtesy of NBC News

Right when you get home, likely all you want to do is relax, eat some snacks, and maybe watch some TV, but something terrible is standing in the way: homework. You have loads to do, and it’s really ruining your perfect afternoon. So, you decide that you’ll start in half an hour. This was a terrible decision because three movies and five bowls of popcorn later, you’ve fallen asleep, with nothing done besides your name written on each assignment. So let’s hit rewind, go back in time, and stop this procrastination, or at least try to.

The first thing you’re going to do is make sure you have a clean workspace. I know, this may sound a bit strange, but it actually helps! If you have a clear and calm workspace where you can peacefully work, you might find more motivation to do so. The website Eon Office discloses that, “Even if you’re adept at finding what you need in a less-than-organized workspace, science shows that our brains prefer a clutter-free environment. This report indicates that clutter is strongly linked to procrastination and suggests that too much “stuff” may lead to negative feelings.” So before you do anything, make sure to tidy up that workspace!

The second thing you’re not going to do is say that you are going to start your work in a certain amount of time, because let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen. So instead we have to go to the source of the problem, the distractions – our devices. The website Solving Procrastination states, “There are various aspects of digital devices and services that can make people predisposed to procrastination, including that they’re often constantly available, immediately accessible, and designed to draw people’s attention.” To do so I would recommend first giving your phone, tablet, or any other device you have, to someone so they can put it somewhere you don’t know. I say this because if you put your device(s) away yourself, and you get the urge to use it, you’ll know exactly where they’re at! I understand that sometimes we need these things for homework, but if you don’t, get them away from you as soon as possible.

Now, you may be reading this and thinking, “But why would I do these things in the first place? How would it benefit me?” And trust me, I’ve been there. But there are many benefits of not procrastinating your work, one of them being reduced stress levels. Another benefit that I would like to focus on is the fact that if you stop procrastinating, you will have more time to yourself. What I mean by this is that if you get what you need to do done early on, you will have more time to hang out with friends, read a book, or do whatever floats your boat. Lastly, Cal Poly explains, “While procrastination makes you feel weak, useless, and helpless, taking charge of your life will make you feel strong, competent, and capable.” These feelings that accompany getting work done are so much more powerful than those you tend to feel when procrastinating and are much less damaging. So strive for those powerful feelings, and don’t procrastinate.

Fully eliminating procrastination from our lives is near impossible, but significantly decreasing how much we procrastinate is not. Hopefully, you’ve learned some new tips, tricks, and benefits that will help you procrastinate less. And just know that no matter how difficult, time-consuming, or boring tasks may seem, getting them done at soon as possible will all be worth it in the end.