Procrastination: Threat or Opportunity? 

17.10.2023

Delaying, procrastination, postponing tasks. For most of us, these words have a negative feel. Procrastination is sometimes understood as not getting anything done, which definitely sounds undesirable.  So, we think it is counterproductive and that it is a weakness in us as individuals, and that we should get rid of it altogether.

Perhaps we think that are alone in procrastinating; that we are the only ones who do not have self-control and cannot always perform effectively. However, it seems that procrastination is really common. Is it, then, the problem of an individual or does it indicate rather that the expectations or models of working and studying are wrong?

For sure, there is the kind of procrastination that really has a negative effect on our lives, getting in the way of achieving things that are important to us and of living according to our own values. Sometimes, there may be bigger issues beneath that need attention, such as burnout or depression.

Could We See Procrastination in Another Way?

However, there is also a great deal of behaviour that may look like procrastination that we could actually allow and be positive about. In this blog, I would like to shake up some of the ideas of procrastination and encourage you to look at it in a more nuanced way.

Carrying out tasks other than those directly related to studies may not necessarily be a waste of time, but rather about maintaining your energy and creativity, taking necessary breaks and time for processing thoughts.

The book Kotvimisen vallankumous (eng. procrastination revolution) (Karisto 2018) by Jenny Kangasvuo, Jonna Pulkkinen and Katri Rauanjoki offers a refreshing perspective on procrastination. The authors see procrastination as a complex phenomenon, which can sometimes be unhelpful avoidance of tasks, but often also useful idling or playing around. Reading the book prompted me to think that we could perhaps re-evaluate our ideas of the “correct” way of studying or accomplishing.

Many of us still seem to think of studying and knowledge work in the same way that we think about production work. We think of it as something we can do all day, day after day, sitting still, perhaps punctuated by efficient micro breaks. We think of it as work that progresses in a linear fashion. But could we, at least partially, also see studying as creative work that requires dawdling and reflection, processing and problem-solving time, when we do something else, and the mind’s default mode network can work and create new connections?

Useful Idling Time

Accomplishing tasks other than those directly related to studies may not necessarily be a waste of time. You can rather think of it as maintaining your energy and creativity, taking necessary breaks and time for processing thoughts. You probably recognise the allure of simple tasks when you should be getting down to some serious thinking work. It suddenly becomes so delightful to sharpen pens or straighten carpet fringes. Even doing the dishes seems tempting. This may well be a sign that the mind is already processing the problem but needs to work uninterrupted.

Procrastination may also be a sign that the mind simply needs rest and more breaks. To counterbalance focused work, you need to take unfocused breaks. Procrastination may even be a sign that a task is actually not important, and it does not matter even if you leave it or do not do it very well.

Achievement is often perceived in terms of speed and quantity. Something needs to be done for a certain amount of time, without delaying or getting off track. However, could we also see a qualitative dimension in achievement? Could it be a profound insight, a new idea, finding just the right words to express something? Perhaps we could also give ourselves permission for slowness and calmness in doing things? Rushing and stressing rarely leads to a high-quality outcome. Perhaps we can also let go of the idea that we must follow a precise plan and proceed on a predetermined path. As the authors of the book say, ‘for the majority of people, doing things happens through circling around the task, wading in the swamp next to the trail.’

So, let’s idle more! Physical activity, arranging work equipment, listening to music, switching between tasks, pausing tasks, cleaning up, doodling… All of these can be your secret study/work weapons when used correctly. As I have been writing this blog post, I have been sitting on the couch and wondering, washing the dishes, looking at the fish swimming in my aquarium, and writing random post-it notes. In the end, the text came together quickly after the first messy draft had rested in a drawer for a week while I was “procrastinating” with other tasks.