Does Procrastination Have Any Benefits?
Tags: Procrastination

By Jenna Olson

It is 11:58 pm, one minute until your 5-page essay is due. You are most likely drenched in sweat and are on the verge of crying. No? Just me? Okay. You manage to write the last couple of words. You hit submit and sigh, watching as the clock turns 11:59 pm. It was your fault you were in a predicament like this. You had three days. THREE WHOLE DAYS! So, when did you start it? The last possible minute. I suppose you are beginning to realize you are a procrastinator.

Author note: I just took an hour break after writing the first paragraph. Why? I needed to reward myself for starting the essay. Although, I think my future self may want this time back.

Author note *but from the future*: Yeah, it probably could have been nice to have an extra hour. But, I still finished the writing on time. So, it is a win-win!

Now, you are probably wondering, who am I? Think of an incredibly average person. Then, add on no common sense with a touch of perfectionism and overthinking. Very sad. Being a professional procrastinator, I have convinced myself that it is who I am. Does it cause anxiety? Yes. Is it because of my fear of failure? Yes. Is it because I want to finish season 3 of my new favorite Netflix show? Yes. I mean, what? No…

You can be taught to not procrastinate. Yet, it takes a lot of time and effort. 2 things I am not willing to put in my schedule. One night I decided that this mentality I have, to start everything at the last possible minute, must have some benefits. So, I found them. This way we can both feel a little less dreadful about our crippling disease of not being able to start something until it causes panic.

Procrastination generates creativity. Creativity is always a useful skill to have. Spending more time thinking about a project generates better ideas. You will find yourself stumbling into more unique and unusual topics. Completing the project too quickly, and way ahead of when it is due, will give less time for the brain to wander in a different direction and to think of more creative ways to complete the project.

Author note: I started to watch a Netflix show while writing this. Bad idea. I just watched two whole 40 minute episodes. I only wrote three sentences. I am not in the mood to keep writing this. If you happen to be my English teacher, ignore what you just read. I am always thrilled to be writing, and I definitely do not procrastinate any of the work you assign. Okay, that is all. You may continue reading.

Of course, procrastination can go too far. In which people will not give themselves enough time to finish the project, so it will not be their best work. There must be a balance between procrastination that makes your work rushed and procrastination that doesn’t allow enough time for improvement.

There are always two sides to a story. You have to decide what tasks are worth procrastinating for, and which ones you need to work on over some time to improve the quality of the piece.

Creativity is not the only benefit of procrastination. It also makes you work faster. Yes, I know, it is obvious. But, think about how you were able to complete that assignment in an hour that you thought would take you three hours. That gave you two more hours for other things. You will be able to earn this skill and complete tasks much faster. Adrenaline will kick in when the fear of deadline approaches. This pressure can give you a helpful nudge to complete the assignment.

You also may procrastinate while writing. Are there any benefits to this? Maybe. Taking breaks is an effective way to help your brain regenerate and gather new ideas to put into your work. The break can be treated as a reward, which can help motivate you. But, you will probably still end up working very quickly at the end to complete the assignment by its due date.

Procrastination helps people decide what is most important. Why waste time on tasks that could be finished quickly? Putting off tasks that are not your main priority can leave time for other things. It can help you pinpoint your primary focus and not waste time on other things that are not of importance.

Author note: So, um, I seem to have fallen into the spiral of online shopping. Please take a moment to pray for my bank account.

Time. It seems to be the main theme of this piece. Time is always chased after, and learning how to manage it is very beneficial. As long as you complete the task and it is not completed horribly, then who cares how much time was spent on it? Oh, were you thinking about the common idea that the more time that is spent, the better the outcome? In some cases, this is true. This is why you can not procrastinate every single thing in your life. You have to be able to manage what it is that you are procrastinating.

Alright, I am about to get real serious. I am only doing this to help you.

Please do not procrastinate on your goals and dreams. These are things that only occur if you start them today. They will never be accomplished if you procrastinate them. You will miss out on a lot of opportunities and live a life of regret. Do you want to be old and wrinkly, sitting in a rocking chair, wondering, “What if?” No. I didn’t think so.

Author note: I probably should take my own advice every once in a while.

Everything has its pros and cons. But the feeling of completing an assignment right before it is due, the relief and endorphins, is something procrastinators will always be able to enjoy. I mean, when it comes to tasks like homework, we have learned to work efficiently in crunch time.

Author note: Wait. Did I actually finish this? In one night? Yes. Yes, I did. Now, I procrastinated many times during this process. But as time ticked down, I knew I had to finish. Oh, the pure joy I am experiencing while typing out these last few words.

Works Cited

Grant, Adam. “Why I Taught Myself to Procrastinate.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/opinion/sunday/why-i-taught-myself-to-procrastinate.html?_r=1.

Richardson, Nikita. “The Five Hidden Benefits Of Procrastination.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 18 May 2015, www.fastcompany.com/3046120/the-five-hidden-benefits-of-procrastination

By Z, Posted, et al. “The Pros & Cons of Procrastination.” Clarity Clinic, 28 Jan. 2020, claritychi.com/the-pros-cons-of-procrastination/.