It must have been 8 p.m. by the time I finished my last math problem and put my books away to get started on what was quite a daunting essay. I had no idea where to begin, and the essay question was as vague and elusive as my own recollections of the assigned readings. Not one to admit defeat to a mere English essay, however, I settled down, took a deep breath, and began an epic night by putting my name in the top right corner.
Two hours, six AIM conversations, 47 text messages, three phone calls, and one spontaneous dance party later, I completed my thesis statement. Working at that ungodly rate of approximately five words per hour, I calculated that I could definitely have the essay done by senior year, and probably before the end of junior year if I was lucky. Wondering how I could ever ask for a seven-month extension or even fake my death to avoid writing it all together, I cursed myself for wasting so much vital time with nothing to show for it but a flimsy little thesis sentence.
The experience I have just described is one we are all familiar with to some degree. Maybe it wasn’t an English essay you needed to get done, but a Latin presentation. Maybe it wasn’t your cell phone distracting you, but a Wikipedia article on comic book heroes who never quite made it (there are quite a few, apparently!) Whatever the case, there is a certain inexplicable allure to putting off important work temporarily to wander off into the realm of inefficiency and uselessness. There’s no saying exactly when and how we will fall victim to this phenomenon known broadly as procrastination. All I know is that the level and intensity of distraction seems to be inversely proportional to the amount of time one has and directly proportional to the weight of the original endeavor.
Our parents and teachers warn us against distractions, claiming that all procrastination does is take away from real learning and valuable time for more important activities. In most cases, I would have to agree. The tendency to procrastinate and actively seek ways to avoid work has made most of us helpless to our own, often stupid, impulses. With no better reason than boredom or lack of focus, we will spend hours taking quizzes online or attempting to beat Halo 3 in one day. When left unrestricted, procrastination leads to increased stress, lack of sleep, and incomplete work, which all make for one cranky person.
However, as with any generally negative thing, procrastination can have some redeeming qualities, and it can even be very productive and worthwhile at times. Sometimes a pointless conversation with a dorm-mate during study hours is exactly what you need to find a way to express your views on the use of dialogue in a Hemingway story. Sometimes a simple trip to Wentworth’s with a good friend is enough to redeem an otherwise miserable day. Sometimes playing Frisbee is the best way to release that extra ounce of energy that is blocking your ability to focus.
It’s really amazing how the most random and irrelevant incidents and activities can inspire people. I say this not only from my abundant experience, but also from history. Procrastination is the reason for some of mankind’s greatest insights and accomplishments. Where would science be if Isaac Newton hadn’t been daydreaming under that apple tree? What would we be listening to if John Lennon had listened to his aunt and abandoned his musical interests for academia?
The kind of procrastination that can be qualified as productive involves taking a big risk in prioritizing our daily activities. It is a choice that we must make for ourselves, because even the most experienced adults can’t accurately predict which of our talents and interests will dictate our contribution to society and the world. What’s certain is that the world as we know it would cease to exist if every young person was forced to pursue academic interests and nothing else. If you genuinely feel there is much more personal gain in the long run by passing your time gossiping and socializing than by doing history homework, then put down the book and pick up your phone!
Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t do homework just because you don’t feel like it, and I’m not advocating intentional and frequent distractions. At a stressful and demanding place like Choate, however, it is virtually impossible not to lose focus once in awhile and leave work aside. The trick is to be efficient even when putting off important work. If you’re going to get sidetracked—and it’s hard not to at Choate—make it all worthwhile and be industrious, even in your state of distraction.
If you needed any more proof of the good that can come out of productive procrastination, I write this article as I wait to get inspired to start on a week’s worth of math homework that I have to make up.
