It is 11:45 pm and you are sitting at your computer furiously typing away. To the outside world, you are a dedicated student staying up late to get your work done and should be commended. However, what they do not know is that you are on page two of your seven page term paper that accounts for 40 percent of your final grade and needs to be dropboxed by midnight. Procrastination. We all do it. But why?
If there is one thing most college students know well, it is the act of procrastination. “I’ll start studying for the exam when I get back from work.” “I’m going to get some lunch, and when I get back I really am going to get started on that pile of homework on my desk.” My personal favorite is, “I’ll work on my paper after my power nap, that way, I am more refreshed.”
Everyone procrastinates sometimes, even college professors. “Your papers will be graded by tomorrow.” “I’ll have the grades posted on e-campus by tonight.” “I don’t have a handout so I’ll send out an email with instructions for the assignment.”
Although procrastination is a normal part of life, it important to realize when it becomes a major problem. According to psychologytoday.com, “20 percent of people are true procrastinators who consistently avoid difficult tasks and deliberately look for distraction.” People who often wait until the last minute to do things tell themselves that they perform better under pressure, but waiting to do things only increases the chance for mistakes.
Procrastination can be a difficult habit to break. People who are accustomed to waiting until the day before a paper is due before they start writing, or mailing an RSVP card one week before the event, even though they have had the invitation for several weeks, are settled in their ways, and it can tough to change, but is change really necessary?
Everyone has systems of doing things that work for them, and for some, procrastination is a method that has carried them throughout life. Not to say that it is right or wrong, but how can we stop a habit that is part of human nature? With so much to do and so little time to do it, people are constantly putting off one task for another, but why should that be considered as procrastination? It is impossible to perform three tasks at once, so there must be prioritization. For some, waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment does not faze them.
Another concept people do not take into consideration when casting judgment toward procrastinators, is the fact that people sometimes need to be in the right mood to do things. If you have a five page paper to write about a topic that was not of your choosing, you may not be in the mood to write it as soon as it is assigned. Sometimes, it takes a while for people to feel inspired before they start working on things. This method may not work for everyone, but to each his own.
On the other hand, for those who procrastinate and still get nothing done, there are ways to change. Gradual change is the best for true procrastinators to evolve. Because they are used to always doings things very late, it will be an adjustment to completely alter their system. Making use of a daily planner can help with putting things in order. If you list that you are going to do things on a certain day, stick to your schedule and actually do things on that day. Also, when it comes to school work, the best way to complete a large task is to do a little at a time. Start by writing one page per day, leaving enough time for revision, instead of waiting until the night before it is due to start working on a paper.
Although we all do it, procrastination is not the right route for everyone. Some people can manage high pressure levels and others fall apart when placed on extreme stress. The most important thing to note is how your system has been working for you up until this point in life. If you procrastinate but are able to get things done with a certain level of quality that makes you proud, keep doing what you are doing.
However, if you are a true procrastinator who only earns C’s on assignments because you rush through them, maybe it is time to change the way you do things.
PHOTO COURTESY of motifake.com
