graphic by Eileen Adair (because we ran out of time for a photo request)
I started this article with less than an hour to publication, because I’m lazy.
For as long as I have been able to remember, I’ve been prone to procrastination of the most extreme kind. I’m one of the laziest people that I know, and while I’m not exactly proud of it, it’s certainly a large part of who I am. I procrastinated on this article up until the very last second, and it wasn’t worth it at all.
I do this every year; I put off my work until the very end of the school year, and do a mad dash to get it all turned in. It’s miserable every time, and somehow I never learn my lesson. I procrastinate habitually, and I hate it. I hate being lazy. It’s stressful and boring and it sucks. Don’t be like me. Procrastination is a disease of habit. If you aren’t already a serial procrastinator, tread carefully. If you feel yourself slipping slowly into complacency and lethargy, pull yourself out. You have work to do, so get on with it.
It may sound like I’m being a hypocrite, and that’s because I am. My work ethic is so awful that I can’t muster the energy to take my own advice. Procrastination is such an interesting topic, because it makes so little sense. The best explanation I’ve come up with to explain my own procrastination is being afraid of failure if I actually try. If I’m lazy and I fail, I have an excuse. A buffer, almost. In the real world there will be no buffer. I’m going to have to adapt and change if I’m going to succeed in college, and I’m going to overhaul my lifestyle if I’m going to make it as an adult. Right now, the only person relying on me is me, but as an adult I’m going to have more people relying on my ability to do work.
I’ve told myself many times that I’ll change, that I’ll start doing work, but this time is for real. My experience this year in newspaper has pushed me over the edge, and I’m ready to start doing what’s necessary. I’m done being apathetic when it comes to my education. If you find yourself suffering with procrastination, you need to make that decision, too. How long are you going to allow yourself to get in your own way? Aren’t you sick of it? You could be something if you really wanted to. I’m not being preachy, I’m serious. Yesterday you said tomorrow, so just do it.
I hope that reading this was inspiring, because writing it sure was. Those of you who don’t procrastinate probably didn’t get much out of it, but that’s okay. You got the inside scoop on the mind of a master procrastinator. Have a good summer everyone, and for those of you who procrastinate, try breaking the habit with some summer homework. Maybe it will help.
