Don't Be Late for National Procrastination Week

By Graciela Garcia
JSU News Bureau

As I sit here at my desk and ponder ideas about this article, I realize that, ironically enough, the deadline is approaching and my story on National Procrastination Week is not yet written. I can't think of any possible excuse as to why I have procrastinated. 

National Procrastination week, the second week of March, is a humorous opportunity to focus awareness on why we procrastinate and how we can change small things in our lives to avoid the unnecessary stress that comes with leaving things to the last minute.

The "I'll do it later" attitude plagues almost everyone. Either the task is too overwhelming or there are a million other things that need to be done before you can commit to that unavoidable chore that you have very conveniently set in the back of your mind.  Procrastination is a fact of life, and at least for me it is an issue I have to deal with on a constant basis.

When asked what he thought about procrastination, Mr. Gene Padgham, instructor of finance and real estate, jokingly responded, "I was going to give you a response, but I haven't gotten around to it."

Why do people procrastinate?  It seems logical that completing assignments ahead of their deadline is practical as opposed to staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish that midterm paper that was assigned over two months ago. However, lots of people thrive on pressure and need it to work efficiently.

"To do a good job, I need to fuel off the stress that procrastinating over my work provides," commented Soraya Molina, a junior in communications. "It's the only way to work.  I always get my work done on time, even if I have to stay up the entire night doing it."

Everyone is guilty of putting things off. The reasons for procrastinating may be different.  You may be avoiding a burdensome task, or you are overwhelmed by other situations in your life, or you may simply be afraid of failing.

"Even though I procrastinate, I try to plan my assignments ahead of time so I can be less stressed," says Rodney Rapson, a senior in criminal justice.  "I try to keep a list of things I need to do and write things down on a calendar."

According to www.onlineorganizing.com, procrastination "is less about developing willpower and more about creating an environment that is conducive to completing the task at hand."  Lounging in the pool and basking in the sun are better ways of spending a sunny afternoon rather than sitting on a crowded desk piled with books, pens, and cans of Red Bull as you attempt to finish that midterm paper due the Monday after spring break.

There are no rules on how we can avoid procrastinating.  Procrastination spreads like a plague, and proliferates faster than fungi, but there is no magic pill that will avoid it. 

"In order to avoid procrastinating," says Padgham, "you need to make a list and follow through and add and edit as you complete assignments." 

There are tips to follow, but if you are a procrastinator like me, you'll probably read them later.

Whenever you decide to read them or put them into action, remember that only you can beat that unnecessary stress brought on after you decide that attempting to complete any activities in the 15 minutes before they are due.

The site www.onlineorganizing.com suggests these practical organizing tips:

• Break tasks into small pieces.
• Start your day with the task that you procrastinate worst on.
  
• Commit to spending 15 minutes a day working on the task at hand.
  

So whenever you get around to reading this, remember that although procrastination is a fact of life, there are ways to prevent that unnecessary stress.

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