We all procrastinate sometimes, right? Whether it’s writing that essay that’s due tomorrow, or studying for the big exam, we all put things off sometimes. However, not all procrastination is created equal. Sometimes, it might actually be alright to procrastinate.
- What is productive procrastination?
- Is productive procrastination okay?
- When is it okay to procrastinate productively?
- Ideas for productive procrastination
What is productive procrastination?
Productive procrastination is when you do something vaguely productive instead of the thing you’re meant to be doing. For example, you might decide to clean your desk instead of writing that essay that’s due tomorrow.
Is productive procrastination okay?
While it’s always better to do the task that you’re meant to be doing, productive procrastination is always better than regular procrastination (for example, watching Netflix)! However, both types of procrastination should be avoided, since it means that you’re not getting your work done.
When is it okay to procrastinate productively?
Productive procrastination only works for tasks that aren’t super important or have far away deadlines. Avoid procrastinating on tasks that have heavy workloads or big consequences. Even if your procrastination is productive, procrastinating on tasks with heavy workloads might mean that you won’t finish on time. As well as this, procrastinating on tasks with big consequences can have, well, big consequences.
Ideas for productive procrastination
- Clean your desk
- Complete other, easier, assignments
- Declutter your files (digital or physical!)
- Study for a fun subject
- Answer unread emails
