A Celebration of Procrastination

Summary

The author reflects on the value of embracing procrastination and self-care, finding inner peace beyond productivity.

Abstract

In "A Celebration of Procrastination," the author shares insights from their daily photography experiments, acknowledging a recent period characterized by both intense work and significant procrastination. They describe a personal struggle with the pressure to constantly be productive, even to the point of working while receiving medical treatment. The epiphany comes with the realization that self-compassion during less productive periods is not only acceptable but necessary for mental well-being. Despite completing only a fraction of their to-do list, the author finds happiness and tranquility in accepting their human need for rest and reflection, suggesting that personal worth should not be solely measured by one's productivity.

Opinions

The author views procrastination not as a personal failure but as a potential space for self-discovery and rest.
There is an expressed frustration with societal or self-imposed expectations of constant productivity, which the author finds unrealistic and harsh.
The author believes that their days of reduced productivity, labeled as "slothful," hold intrinsic value and contribute to their overall well-being.
They advocate for a balance between work and relaxation, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's body and mind.
The author suggests that inner calm and self-acceptance are more important than the number of tasks completed in a day.

Notes from my daily photography experiments #4

The past few days have been an amalgamation of focused work and deep procrastination. Today was one of the days when I spent a bit too much time online and neglected the projects I needed to do.

On busy days when the work was done, I took a step back and had a realization. The lingering feeling of procrastination was still with me and hovered around me like a deep fog, the ghost of old anxieties. Once this dawned on me, a heaviness of frustration was laid on me. I could collapse during the day, receive an IV drip, and still be trying to work while in the hospital bed (This happened last week). Why did I have these feelings, pressuring myself?

Maybe it has less to do with inactivity, but the stark feeling of facing the pain of myself. After some thinking, I thought that perhaps I was inexplicably harsh on myself during the days when I needed to breathe and take things easy. Perhaps, despite the years of mental conditioning of the necessity of being a constant running engine, perhaps my days of being a sloth had more merit than I believed.

With this, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to the praise of my laziness, a doxology to procrastination.

Despite only finishing two things off my to-do list. I am happy, and I feel at peace. My inner calm is not connected to my productivity, and never will be. Perhaps in this realization, I can allow myself to be whole.

Photography by author, Reylia Slaby

Technical Comments:

Lens: 16–80mm Shutter speed: 125 F Stop: 5 ISO 3200