pro-cras-ti-na-tion |prəˌkrastəˈnāSHən, prō-|
noun
“The action of delaying or postponing something: your first tip is to avoid procrastination.”
This is the definition of procrastination which the dictionary gives us but we all know that procrastination has very many layers to it. If you too are a fellow procrastinator and feel that this does not do justice in explaining the true nature of this habit to nonprocrastinator then dive in and if you are a non-procrastinator then you really should read this to understand what this really means.
1. Highly productive in every useless thing
Counting stars, clouds, leaves of a tree, someone’s hair you name it and they have done it. Procrastinators take pride in being their productive best in the absolutely useless things. From counting the steps to the closest coffeehouse like Joey, to cleaning an already spic and span room, they do everything except for what they have to.
2. Youtube and social is your best friend
You develop a level of closeness and affinity with these apps. You will find that you spend a major amount of your time on social media without actually socializing with even a single person. The only friend you will have is YouTube. This entertainment based application is like that friend whom you cannot stop talking to or watching every time you wanna stop you tell yourself just one more video about this TV series which I have absolutely no idea about and am ruining for myself. Before you would realize it’s midnight and now Cinderella has to run!
3. Reconnecting with long lost friends
Sitting idle when you have a lot of work to do looking at your laptop trying to write this article, out of nowhere, like quite literally out of the blue I would think about Blue the animated movie. After seeing various snippets of this movie on YouTube, I will remember that friend from centuries ago who will have absolutely no connection to anything I am doing at that time. But my desire to waste more time and critically analyze the life of this long lost friend at 2 am is beyond belief. Yes, friends, that is the bane of being a procrastinator your mind wants to do really weird things at supposedly inappropriate times. Huh (sad sigh!)
4. Sleeping never felt so good
If you are a procrastinator ask yourself have you ever had a more peaceful nap than when your world is on fire and you have a thousand deadlines? I have never related more with Ross than when he napped with Joey. It is literally the sweetest sleep of your life ever.
5. It’s a vicious cycle
Once you start procrastinating you just cannot stop. You will keep sitting and watch the time pass and feel like you need to get up and do something but that you are not able to. You would actually make a profession out of watching time pass and it will keep haunting you for time immemorial.
6. Food
Well, humans naturally crave food when, well quite literally all the time but this is the one time when you just can’t stop thinking about it. You are either eating something or thinking about what to eat next, sometimes even before you get done with one snack you are already planning your next.
7. Creatively procrastinating
Yes, friends, this is a reality, some of your best ideas hit you while you are trying your best to not do anything productive. Somewhere between deciding which new singer to stalk on social media and deciding on an excuse to not work for some more time you come up with something really amazing.
8. No brainer
When you have all the work in the world to do, when you have to be your productive best, that is the opportune moment that your brain chooses to leave you to your own wits (pun intended). It will pick up its long skirt made of vanity and be gone before you even realize. Now, all that you can do is stare at that absolutely boring wall and try- not it will be of much use- to put your brain back to work.
9. Netflix
Presenting before you the ultra legend, the one which can distract those with the strongest of the will. This new age app is the single-handedly responsible for many sessions of procrastination. Looking at the success of this app now we have more options such as Amazon Prime, Hotstar, etc.
10. Dreamland
We all like to make a list of all the things we have to, flush it down the drain and forget all about it. The procrastinator’s fraternity takes pride in saying that we are a pro at it. Thank you very much.
11. The clock rule
This is one universal rule which every procrastinator follows. While procrastinating you subtly look at the time trying to let your own self not realize how late it is. But the thing which your brain notices are where is the minute hand pointing now if it is in between quarters (3,6,9 or 12) then you automatically tell yourself that I will start working when the clock strikes that. Take this from a person who does it all the time we never adhere to this decision.
If you have any other ways of procrastinating do tell me in the comments below!
Hi Ananya,
#11 is so true. I’m a procrastinator, and I always use 5-minute excuse during work. I often use the short-breaks shield to cover this procrastination, but I know deep down what’s going on.
Your blog post was fun to read.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you!