I confess I am a person
who likes to put things off until there is no other choice. When my
wife was visiting her sister, I only mowed the lawn when some
neighbors threatened to call authorities and require I get a permit
for growing a forest in a suburb. I told them I will get to mowing
it. I also could probably hide in my overgrown lawn and nobody would
find me. I eventually broke down and mowed it before my wife came
home. I actually finished a few minutes before her car got to the
driveway, but I did get it done. It now seems an effort has been
made to discover the benefits of procrastinating. I support this
effort. I would like to know of any benefits I have not yet
experienced. I do plan to read the study one of these days. I just
have to get around to it, so just give me some time.
Below are excerpts from
the story with my valuable insights in italics.
Some
researchers define procrastination as "a form of
self-regulation failure [...] characterized by the needless delay of
things one intends to do despite the expectation of negative
consequences."
I can say this is true.
If you have to pay your own taxes to the government, I can tell you
procrastinating can get expensive. Governmental tax agencies are not
staffed with understanding people who say don't worry about it, we
know you're good for it, so get it here when you have the time. No,
these are people who say give us the tax you owe or you will owe even
more taxes and if you take your time too often you will owe even more
taxes.
“You were late paying
your taxes. You owe more money.”
“I have a medical
condition.”
“What medical
condition?”
“I suffer from
procrastination maximums syndrome. My mind is programmed to be late
with things. I can't help it. I'm a victim. I think it is a
genetic disorder.”
“Now you have to pay
even more money.”
“Why?”
“As per tax code 2234
(3430) lousy excuse story for not paying taxes on time fine.”
“Oh.”
Why do we procrastinate?
When referring to
procrastination, some people may think of it as poor time
management, an inability to organize and prioritize tasks, meaning
that we do them at the last minute, or even past their deadline.
Increasingly, research has
shown that procrastination is, in fact, a complex, often maladaptive
reaction to various perceived stressors.
(Sarcasm Alert)
You are damn right.
I'm as complex as anyone. If there is someone who reacts
maladaptively to stressors it is me. I've never met a stressor that
didn't cause me to go into full-blown procrastination mode. I could
be minding my own business and my wife could be upset because I
didn't do things around the house or buy things she requested I buy
for dinner or remember she was in the hospital. I only know how to
tell her I'll get to it or it's no big deal or its routine surgery so
it's not big deal. Do I get any understanding? No, I get a wife who
doesn't understand how I can't help but react maladaptively to her
unique brand of a stressor. Not only does she lack understanding, but
my wife has been known to say some rather unpleasant things. Life
can be so unfair us suffering from the affliction of procrastination
maximums syndrome.
One study published
in Personality and Individual Differences in 2017 also
found a link between creative ideation (coming up with creative
ideas) and active procrastination. It suggested that among 853
undergraduates at Chinese universities, "active procrastinators"
may be more prone to creativity.
Hey, if I know one
thing about us active procrastination types, it is that we are some
of the most creative people in the world. It is a requirement for
being a successful procrastinator at any level. This is easily
explained. We procrastinator types spend a lot of time creating
reasons for putting off doing things. A non-procrastinating type
just does things and doesn't have to be creative. Us procrastinating
types must come up with the most creative excuses and make them
believable.
“Why didn't you fix
the basement door like you agreed to do?”
“I never said I
wouldn't fix it, I just didn't specify when I would get it done.
I'll get to it.”
“You said you'd do it
today.”
“I may need an
extension beyond today. I'll fix it, there is no need to worry.”
“An extension?”
“I'm busy doing
things today.”
“Like what?”
“I have to figure out
a reason to be late to work tomorrow. Then, I have to figure out a
reason to be late with my reports. After that, I have to figure out
a reason to be late for the business lunch meeting. I have things to
do today.”
“Why don't you just
get to work on time, get your reports in on time and go to the
business lunch meeting on time.”
“It is obvious you lack the creative skills necessary to be successful at procrastination. It is more than just a lifestyle for us, it is a calling that makes us feel pride. When we get around to feeling proud of it. It's on my list. I'll get to being proud about being a procrastinator eventually. It'll happen one of these days. Sometime in the future, when we get to it, we'll even have a procrastinator's Hall of Fame. I'm sure of it.”
“It is obvious you lack the creative skills necessary to be successful at procrastination. It is more than just a lifestyle for us, it is a calling that makes us feel pride. When we get around to feeling proud of it. It's on my list. I'll get to being proud about being a procrastinator eventually. It'll happen one of these days. Sometime in the future, when we get to it, we'll even have a procrastinator's Hall of Fame. I'm sure of it.”
I intend to take some
more time and write some more for this blog column, but I'll get to
it eventually. When reading a blog column by someone who suffers
from procrastination maximums syndrome, you need to have patience.
You should also realize if you were this creative, you would be one
of us procrastinator types and read this blog column eventually when
you get to it.
Below is a link to the
story.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325108.php
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