"What are you doing?" If I were to give the typical instant messenger reply "nothing" I would be lying. I am always doing something. I am alway in the process of procrastinating.
No student on the planet can whole-heartedly say he/she has never procrastinated. Some of us including myself are all but too familiar with this concept. There are different levels of procrastination. There’s the one where you put something off because you know you have plenty of time before its due date. There is also the one where you struggle to finish a 350- 500 word paper an hour before it is due. And then there’s the one where you stay up all night doing schoolwork you should have completed early, yeah, that is the one that I have.
Procrastination, when done right, can bring about a number of benefits. Cramming right before and exam keeps the information fresh in your memory. I can study for a whole semester and forget everything from the beginning of the semester. If I allow myself sufficient time before an exam, I usually do better with the materials fresh in my mind. Procrastination also allows me time to do things I normally would not prefer to do, like chores. I can put off doing laundry for days, but if I am faced with a writing assignment, all of sudden, I need clean underwear and socks. More importantly, procrastination guarantees me time. If I live my life based on a check-list, can I ever be sure that I will finish it all and have time to relax? Procrastination is a way of insuring me some time to enjoy and relax.
I believe in putting things off until it is due, but i procrastinate responsibly. This very philosophy has helped me through high school work and now college work. Life’s too short to busy all the time. Make time for yourself, procrastinate. Mark Twain once said, “Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
Word Count: 388
14 comments:
Hoang,
I was going to comment on your blog two days ago, but I'm just now getting around to it.
I like how you defend procrastination as a good, and perhaps even productive, activity. There is definitely something to be said for purposeful relaxation.
The problem I find with procrastination is when you put things off only to have them bottleneck when they all come due. I would really like to know if there is an art to staying caught up and procrastinating, just a little, at the same time?
Hoang,
I agree with this completely! I had no trouble getting through high school with procrastination. It also builds a little suspense and tenseness wondering if you will finish in time! Personally, I like the challenge. Procrastination is an art form. If you can do something in less time than it takes others, kudos to you.
Other people may look down upon us as lazy, but at least we know what works best for us.
I can definetly relate to what you said and your feelings on procrastinating. I honestly prefer procrastinating too because even though people say it makes your quality of work worse, i feel like I do a lot better under pressure. As far as what you wrote, it seems that you still have some room to use up more words, and since you have room I think you should try to have a better opening paragraph. I know its hard with a 500 word limit but, an opening paragraph always betters a paper.
I love your essay. It's funny and I've never heard such a convincing argument for procrastination before although you made some very valid points. I think, when done correctly, the three levels of procrastination that you listed usually end up merging into one or at least they do for me. And who says procrastination doesn't produce optimal work? I've done some of my best work as a procrastinator! I would just recommend proofreading your essay because you made a few grammatical errors and I'm not quite sure what you meant by this statement: "If I live my life bases of a check-up, can I ever be sure that I will finish it all and have time to relax?" I would also like to know how many times you procrastinated to get through the blogs for this class?
I love your writing style, it’s adorable! It flows really well and I just want to read more! I can totally see how you get the feeling that procrastination if vital (especially in school) but I am one of those firm believers that procrastination is a sign of laziness. I’ve always found that doing what comes up immediately ensures that tasks will not roll up and become larger. (But then again I am posting these comments the night before they’re due) Good point, I should retract my statement. :)
The topic is a good one. Way to speak out for a different point of view. It think you could give some more benefits of procrastinating and fill out your belief a little more.
I havn't posted on anyone's blogs until now. In fact, I have loads of homework due tomorrow that I havn't done. I also beleive in procrastination. I feel that if I'm under the gun, I get things done when they need to be. It's how I've been my whole life.
Ben Franklin (I think) said "Don't put off till tomorrow what can be done today." What and idiot. I've been procrastinating since I knew what a deadline was. I agree that it can be very helpful in a number of ways. It leaves more time for other thing etc.
Planned procrastination is good planning, not procrastination. Sometimes doing things ahead of time can relieve you of some stress but by all means if you're not going to be pulling you hair about about it, do things when they're convenient for you to complete.
Procrastination is a wonderful thing!! Hence why I am waiting until Sunday night to do these comments when I should be putting my kid to bed. I was very happy to see that somebody was defending procrastination, not putting it down. Maybe you could give an example to your art in procrastination. How did it happen, what were the circumstances, etc.
I'm a pretty big procrastinator so I can relate with you on much of this. (I'm doing my comments with about 2 hours to spare...) Since I normally procrastinate, I find quite relaxing when I do get my work done in a timely manner. One thing I think you can improve would be to include what procrastination is good and which is bad.
I think that this paper is very interesting and so true. I am one of the biggest procastinators that I know and I always tell myself that I need to do things a head of time, but then you know I really dont get down to doing it until the night before or the very last minute. Do you think that you will ever stop being a procastinator?
I thought your essay was a nice, light read. Most of the essays I've read so far have been really heavy and powerful as far as content. It was getting pretty intense, so yours was very refreshing to read afterwards.
P.S. "Make time for yourself, procrastinate." Very brilliant saying if I don't say so myself.
I like your essay because you actually present a well-thought out argument for procrastination. I am a firm believer in procrastination as well and what you wrote reflects some of my views. I think your essay turns what is usually seen as a negative into a positive. The only thing I would change or work on is the tone of the essay, make it sound more personal. Great work tho.
haha yeah, i definitely made some changes. funny how you noticed that. and thanks for the blog stalking. I'm glad someone enjoys what I write, especially since I take the time to write it.
Post a Comment