The Power of Procrastination

I’ve been a procrastinator almost my entire school career, starting from when I waited until the last minute to do my 3rd grade culture project to very recently, as I put off writing this article. And all my life, I’ve been scolded for my lack of time management by my parents, my teachers, and even myself. Most of you can probably relate to this endless cycle of procrastination, regret, procrastination and back to regret again. But don’t worry, I’m not going to give you yet another lecture on why poor time management will lead to your downfall. Instead, I’m here to tell you why and how to maximize your procrastination for the best results! I mean, if you’re going to procrastinate, you might as well do it right.

So, why is procrastinating beneficial?

1) Procrastination paves the path to genius

“Procrastination can be a resource for creativity,” says Adam Grant, bestselling author of Originals. If you immediately finish a project the day it is assigned, you follow through with the first idea you have. However, the longer you take to do a project, the better the finished product. Your subconscious constantly brainstorms bigger and bolder ideas, and by the time you finally get down to work, you’ll be able to pick and choose from the vast ocean of brilliance you’ll have accumulated.

2) It teaches you to manage the real world

In school, projects are usually assigned long before they’re due, and teachers keep reminding you of the due dates. However, school doesn’t last forever, and the real world is a harsh awakening for those who are unfamiliar with procrastination. Deadlines arrive quickly, and you’re expected to manage many projects at once. Lifelong procrastinators are experts at quick thinking, a skill beneficial in the workplace.

Now you know why procrastination is useful, here are some pro tips on how to do it well.

1) Don’t feel guilty about putting projects off

Remember that never-ending cycle of procrastination and regret I mentioned earlier? According to Rory Vaden, author of Procrastinate on Purpose, “The №1 cause of procrastination is self-criticism.” Mindful procrastination actually leads to success, so don’t beat yourself up. Either go do something you enjoy, or tackle the project you’re procrastinating head on.

2) Know when to stop procrastinating and start actively working

“‘Last minute’ is when you have adequate time to finish a product on time, without compromising quality and without stressing out yourself or those around you,” Vaden says. Procrastinating, like everything else, is only beneficial when used mindfully.

Famous Procrastinators:

Some of the most successful people who we recognize for their talent today were also some of the most famous procrastinators of their time. Take Leonardo da Vinci, for example. He is revered as a true “Renaissance Man,” but did you know that the Mona Lisa took him sixteen years to complete? Many of his other paintings were never finished at all, and yet, he is still honored today. Similarly, Frank Lloyd Wright, the respected American architect, designed a house called Fallingwater, now a National Historic Landmark, in just two hours. Though he was hired for the project a year ago, Wright only started working on it when he heard his employer was coming by to see his progress. Procrastination clearly worked for these historical figures!

Now, you know that project you’ve been putting off for weeks? Don’t stress; put it off to the side, and genius will come to you soon! You’re a real life superhero now, with the power of procrastination.