Procrastination is often thought of as something negative, something that impedes our productivity. In fact, there is increasing evidence that, while inappropriate procrastination can indeed hinder our productivity, there is certainly room for procrastination in our lives and, in some cases, it might even be beneficial.
In this article, we take a look at some of the advantages of procrastination which are, unfortunately, often overlooked in favor of the prevailing view.
Energy Boost
Usually, when we procrastinate it is because the task we are faced with is one that we find to be difficult and or tedious. When we approach these kinds of tasks, ones that we don’t really enjoy, we find it harder to focus our energy towards completing them.
Many of us are familiar with the seemingly inexplicable energy boost that we experience when we realize that a deadline is approaching. Often, we find that we have little energy or appetite for a task until there is suddenly a great deal of pressure on us to complete it.
For some people, procrastination allows us to relax into a better mindset and as the deadline approaches, the corresponding adrenaline release we transition into a more productive mode.
Reducing Stress
When we are faced with difficult tasks, we often find ourselves becoming worried and stressed as we struggle to formulate an effective approach to completing them. Procrastination can help to take our minds off the problem that we are struggling with and give our minds the room they need to subconsciously formulate new ideas and approaches. Try Cracked.com for an example of a website that, while encouraging procrastination, also offer some humor and interesting articles that can reduce stress.
A More Considered Approach
Excessive procrastination is inefficient, but in some cases, the extra time can allow us to take a more careful and considered approach to problems and avoid the pitfalls of rushing into things unprepared. When we procrastinate, we take our minds off the problem in front of us and start to engage other areas of our brain. In doing so, we can formulate new approaches to problems.
A Better Attitude
When we are trying desperately to complete a task without success, it can have a significant impact on both our mood and our self-esteem. When we procrastinate, we give our minds a chance to relax and to engage in tasks that we find more fun and relaxing. This improves our general outlook and helps us to return to the initial task with a better attitude. Websites such as SmashingTops.com offer a light-hearted and fun distraction, while also informing the reader about things that they didn’t even know that they didn’t know.
Procrastination has a bad reputation, but it isn’t entirely deserved. Procrastination certainly can be a problem when it stands completely in the way of us doing what we need to do. In moderation, however, and with an understanding of how it can be used to refresh and relax our minds, procrastination can ultimately be a force for good and for productivity.