Why do something today when you can put it off for tomorrow? Let’s be honest, working hard may pay off eventually, but laziness pays off now!
An expert procrastinator myself, I can recognize procrastination when I see it. And I have seen a lot of it during pre-term. In fact, it’s rampant amongst the MBA student body. Every student struggles with it at some point or the other. As for me, I have a problem set in Microeconomics due in three days, a quiz in Statistics on the same day, as well as a case write-up and team presentation for Marketing soon after. Unfortunately, I could not make progress on these deliverables. But in my defense, I have been involved with some other very important matters:
- I realized that I am out of groceries and that I really must get some from Trader Joe’s.
- I realized that my laundry basket is now full and that I really must do laundry this weekend.
- I realized that Wine Club is having a happy hour and that I really must go meet some new people.
- I realized that I have not hung out with my Learning Team in ages and that I really must organize a small group dinner with them.
- I realized that it is one of my Cohort-mate’s birthday today and that I really must go to the party.
- I realized that a large group of friends is going to Brasil Club tonight for salsa and bachata lessons and that I really must join them (but must stop by the birthday party afterwards).
I know what I am doing. I’m procrastinating. I’m procrastinating because I have a lot on my plate and because I have easy access to distraction. Unfortunately, the problem with putting things off for tomorrow is that tomorrow adds more tasks to my already growing list of things-to-do.
Procrastination is just not fun anymore. So what am I going to do? I have decided to fix things. Here’s what I plan to do:
- Recognize procrastination: what behaviors and actions are taking me off task?
- Divide tasks: smaller milestones are more easily achievable and provide momentum to achieving bigger goals (MGMT 610 wisdom!)
- Set deadlines: creating a schedule for tasks and rewarding myself upon completion
Sounds simple. I will get my act together and procrastinate…but only tomorrow!