You can benefit from Procrastination
If you can read this now, you will discover the secret benefits of procrastination.
I’m happy to break it to you, my friend, you are not the only one that deals with procrastination. Yes, everyone has an iota of procrastination in them, so you are not alone.
Whether you postpone an application as I did, or reschedule an appointment because you are not in the mood, what matters is you know you procrastinate sometimes, but you want to do better.
Is procrastination a bad thing? It depends on how you see it, but yes. It is mostly unhealthy. However, there are two sides to every coin, and with proper guidance, you can exploit the secret benefits of procrastination.
According to a 2005 study, procrastination can be active and passive. Active procrastination occurs when you intentionally delay actions because you perform better under pressure, while passive procrastination is due to an overwhelming inability to complete a task.
Based on this study, active procrastination does not have the harmful side effects of passive procrastination, but passive procrastination is sometimes misunderstood as active procrastination to justify your actions.
How can procrastination be good?
As stated earlier, procrastination can be good if you identify if it is active or passive. Active procrastination has its benefits, specifically if you perform better under pressure. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Many of us say we work better under pressure, but you need to be sure if you do or if it is just to justify your procrastination. If you are like me that utilize the adrenaline that comes with deadlines to boost your performance on a task, then by all means, procrastinate and reap the benefits.
Here's how it works. If you are more productive as an active procrastinator, you can benefit from procrastination in the following ways;
More time to plan.
As an active procrastinator, you have more time to plan and develop creative strategies. You can discover ideas and solutions to execute your tasks in ways you might not have considered if you did not procrastinate.
You can also use the time to do more research and gradually build momentum to execute the tasks. You may also use this time to prepare for better results.
Increases your work efficiency.
When a task has a far deadline, and you work slowly, Procrastinating can be beneficial in this case.
When you have little time to meet a deadline, you tend to work faster to complete the project. In this case, you can use procrastination to your advantage if you thrive under pressure. You will spend less time on a project because you have no time to waste. This efficiency caused by procrastination then becomes useful in other areas.
Provides time to finish other tasks.
As an active procrastinator, the result of the efficiency above can be beneficial to you in other tasks because you are not idle after procrastinating. There is a high probability that you have other things to do.
Intentional procrastination allows you to complete other smaller tasks on your to-do list and prepares you for the most important one as the deadline draws nearer. Sometimes, it can motivate you to finish the project you have been sidelining.
Boosts focus and motivation.
If you intentionally procrastinate, the delay can help you settle into a suitable workflow and focus on finishing the task. For those who thrive under pressure, your concentration is at its peak now, and you will fully concentrate until you complete the project.
Procrastination has also proven to build inspiration for tasks that once seemed dull or uninteresting. The close deadline can inspire you to finish the project in the shortest possible time.
It can help reduce anxiety and stress.
This depends on the nature of the task and the deadline. For chores with a far deadline, procrastinating will help reduce the stress of worrying about finishing up and give you more time to get into the right state of mind to work.
These benefits are intriguing and beneficial if you know why you procrastinate. It is essential to understand why you procrastinate and remember not to use these benefits to justify your poor performance.
There are projects that you will be more productive at when you procrastinate and others that require your immediate attention. Knowing when to prioritize is essential to maintain efficient performance.
For the procrastinators in the community, This is my honest advice. Properly assess your situation and consider these:
How does procrastination benefit you? Does it boost your motivation and helps you focus on your tasks, or does it increase your work efficiency?
How is procrastination harmful to you? Does it make you miss deadlines or perform poorly due to working under pressure?
Analyze these situations and be honest with yourself. This will help you know how best to act on procrastination.
If you need help or have questions, kindly reach out through the comment section or our chat.
I wish you a productive week ahead.
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Boosts focus and motivation. It can help reduce anxiety and stress. I agree wholeheartedly. The stuff of life we have to do, versus the stuff of life we choose to do can utilize different parts of us, if we break the chain of identifying everything without choice. I find when I get nervous that I'm procrastinating, spirit leads me to see or hear something that inspires the deeper, more interesting and alluring parts of myself. I can be very efficient but what I most want to write and share isn't about efficiency. Very smart piece. Very valid, important, and helpful.
Thank you for this, Sprenko! I always viewed procrastination as a negative, but the way you broke things down, helped me a lot 💙 procrastination to me, helps with anxiety, but I don’t want to use that as a “crutch”