7 Reasons Why Procrastination is Good for You

Procrastination is the enemy of success right? Wrong! Procrastination is one common thing among successful people. Here’s why procrastination can be good for you.

He used to spend hours standing beside a table, with a pencil doing nothing. His family thought he is wasting time, but he was changing the course of history in his mind.

He uses to doodle for hours, sometimes, just straight lines. He was left-handed and wrote backward, which made it difficult for people to read his work.

He used to sit around under a tree for hours, procrastinating. He later said that most of the creative ideas came to him while doing nothing.

Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Albert Einstein. What do these people have in common? They were expert procrastinators. And because of this, they changed the world we live in today.

In school, we are taught that procrastination is bad. Don’t procrastinate, or you’ll be left behind, and your friends will be rich. My father used to tell me. But when I took writing as a full-time career, I must admit that the best ideas came to me when I was procrastinating, doing nothing, while in reality, I was creative.

The word procrastinator is derived from the Latin word procrastinare, which means to delay till tomorrow. The original word gives a negative connotation. Although various people share their reasons to procrastinate, here are my reasons why the most creative people procrastinate.

1. Magic Happens in Wandering Around

Geniuses know that wandering around is not wasting time. In his amazing book, The Eureka Moment, writer John Kounios shares science-backed research to show that our brain enters in a Eureka moment when it is relaxed. This means that you cannot force ideas to come.

When you want to get ideas, take a walk, drink coffee in solitude or walk in a park. Do anything that relaxes your mind. And when you’re relaxed you’ll get ideas.

2. It’ll Recharge Your Brain

At times when you push things too far, your mind gets into a depleted state, and results suffer. Famous people use power naps to recharge their brains.

Thomas Edison used to sleep with a steel ball in his hand. When the ball strikes the ground, he woke up recharged, with brand new ideas and insights.

So, next time when you feel out of ideas, go on a nap with a ball in your hand.

3. You’ll Come Back Prepared

At times it gets difficult for me to make the right decision. Procrastination allows me to organize things in my mind and take a dead-on decision.

Even sitting aimlessly, doing nothing, makes me wonder and come up with great ideas. Your mind will be cleared for new ideas and positive thoughts.

4. Reduced Stress

Taking a decision can sometimes be stressful. When we are stressed out, a hormone called Cortisol, which in layman term, makes you dumb. Moreover, it weakens our immune system and causes several other illnesses. So, next time you feel stressed out, take a break, and do something else.

5. It Activates the Subconscious Mind

Joseph Murphy, in his best-selling book, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, explains why subconscious is essential for us to, “Know that in your deeper mind are Infinite Intelligence and Infinite Power.”

Of course, everyone wants infinite power. And these ideas come to us from our subconscious mind. The change in mood or scenery can activate our subconscious mind, and ideas start flowing.

6. Fewer Regrets

If you see Richard Branson in the morning, you might say he waste his time, 45 minutes, and every day doing nothing. In an interview with Tim Ferriss, Richard admits that it is the most productive time of the day. He closes his eyes and visualizes his day. Feels happy about whatever blessings he has. And make important decisions while doing so. When you take decisions yourself, there will ne no regrets in life.

Every day, take some time out and meditate or visualize what you want to happen the following day. This will not only help you in leading a successful life, but you’ll also find yourself luckier.

7. Makes You Happy

When you procrastinate, you get some ‘me time.’ You get time to think about things that are important to you. Things like family, friends, and even life’s most significant decisions. And when you become your best friend, this makes you happy.

Wrapping it up

Society might consider procrastination as a bad habit. But if you are a procrastinator, you might be feeling proud of yourself. And if you have a friend that procrastinates a lot, send them a link of this article.

You were missing the most crucial factor of procrastination. When you start procrastinating, keep these points in mind. Now, you will not wander without getting something good out of it.

Don’t worry about what other people are thinking about you. If you learn how to use procrastination for your benefit, your life will be good.