Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Do They Give Degrees In Procrastination?


“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”
John Lennon

I couldn’t agree more with what John had to say in this regard! I love it. I enjoy doing it alone. I most certainly love having company when doing it. To me, wasting time feels decedent; like a really fine piece of rich dark chocolate.

I’m doing it at this very minute, obviously!


The term most people would use to describe this phenomenon is:

Procrastination* (definition courtesy of Wikipedia) In accordance with Freud, humans do not prefer negative emotions and handing off a stressful task until a further date is enjoyable. The concept that humans work best under pressure provides additional enjoyment and motivation to postponing a task.[1]

If they gave out degrees (and I don’t know who “they” would be), I would certainly test out as a highly qualified candidate for a Ph.D. I am that good at it; it could scare me if I let it.

I don’t have one lazy bone in my body but I can always find something more appealing and pleasurable to do than whatever I must. I am that easily lead astray. Plus when crunch time comes, I’m all over it. The heat under my rear end at such times produces the most incredible multitasking functions and production. Is pressure under fire addicting and is it weird if it's enjoyed?


For instance, today I have a million and one things to do before people descend here for the weekend; things I should have on a To-Do list; things that should have been done over the last few days (like assemble two big things purchased yesterday from Bed, Bath and Beyond that I thought were of the open and pop up variety. Bummer. No plans to do it). Wait...I wasn't supposed to be here anyway! Therefore:


It’s hump day. You know what that means? I still have two more days until I’m really in trouble (I’m kidding. I don’t get in trouble). And I won't be stressin' about it either!

Instead, I find myself reading, writing (Hey! Today I wrote two handwritten letters to friends who enjoy them that way. That counts in the “good things” column!), talking, texting, anything and everything, etc.

(Don't know what this say about me)

Being completely truthful, I’m procrastinating even as I write this post due to my very best talent for which I might even be better. I’m voracious when it comes to it! Daydreaming.

Daydreaming (definition courtesy of Wikipedia) is a short-term detachment from one's immediate surroundings, during which a person's contact with reality is blurred and partially substituted by a visionary fantasy, especially one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions, imagined as coming to pass, and experienced while awake.[1]


Maybe procrastinating and daydreaming go hand-in-hand. I can't be the only one out there who's like this, can I? Like-mined people UNITE! I’m going for a bike ride.

*I picked the definition I liked best, so what?

8 comments:

TMWHickman said...

I find both activities to be very valuable to my state of mind, so I am in favor of keeping them around!

Gina said...

I have no choice. Both are behaviors deeply rooted in my very being. I believe they are good for me as well. Others may find issue with them but to understand me is to understand these. Plus I cut people a lot of slack for stuff so in all fairness...

a.eye said...

We would have to compete to be the first Ph.D for this. I think that I could l write a thesis for this easily... even with all the procrastinating to get it done. In fact, my life would be the thesis.

Gina said...

a.eye,

I would give you a run (400M sprint) for your money. I'm calling for the Procrastination Olympics (is it an event in London this Summer?).

I have so much material for a thesis about my life and what I do and have put off. Only a true procrastinator with a Ph.D. would understand it though.

a.eye said...

I think it was supposed to be an event, but the coordinators were daydreaming and missed the application deadline... perhaps we can join the Winter Games in two years.

Maureen Stevens said...

I call it visualization, it's not at all procrastination...at least that's what I tell myself so I feel like I'm productive all the time :)

Gina said...

Oh shoot!!! I told you I would send in the application...oops! We'll be all over it in 2014. We can ski in between our events.

Gina said...

Maureen,
And imagination, which people like us have in the buckets full. I'm always thinking about something, pondering something. Therefore, I consider myself producing something

I love your attitude...and your website. AMAZING!!! I just peeked and can't wait to look completely through it. The colors and style...so me! I want that hanging daybed like yesterday.