Procrastination- Not always a bad thing

Procrastination. We all go through it. We all (try) to fight it. We all feel it. As the world re-adjusts to the dramatic changes of remote learning or ‘back-to-the-office’ changes, we remain with continuous uncertainty and nerves as procrastination interferes with our productivity. We live in a distracting world, with things constantly changing and taking pace where at any given moment our focus is drawn to something that should not be. And when the most important or necessary task is not perhaps quite fun or easy, the temptation to do something else can be overwhelming. Hello, procrastination!

Procrastination is not the same as being lazy – although it can sometimes look like it. There are many different forms of procrastination. Some are negative and unhelpful while others may be useful and productive in ways we might not always understand (Crossfield, 2020). Procrastination isn’t always a negative thing though. It can still be busy and productive, just not always on the most important of tasks. Our minds run a million miles an hour when we fall into procrastination, but sometimes, giving the brain time to think, to wander, to play, to ponder can better equip you for the work ahead (Crossfield, 2020).  

So, what exactly is procrastination?

Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline. It is a “form of self-regulation failure characterized by irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences”. 

Am I doing it?

?If you’re reading this - then yes, there is a great chance you are procrastinating. However, sometimes we confuse distraction with procrastination. With procrastination, we often assume that the work we have to do won’t take as long in theory, which can then lead to a false sense of security when we believe that we still have plenty of time to complete these tasks. The reality is that if you wait until you're in the right frame of mind to do certain tasks (especially undesirable ones), you will probably find that the right time simply never comes along and the task never gets completed (Cherry, 2020).  

To read our full Student Life article Procrastination - Not always a bad thing visit: www.mentor.edu.au/student-life/articles/procrastination