Does Procrastinating Come with Any Benefits?

Most people procrastinate at some point or another. It can be something as simple as putting off doing a load of laundry or resisting writing a report for work. Most of these tasks are things we know we need to do, we just don’t want to, and whether it’s something big or small, we’ll do everything in our power to delay it. Although almost a quarter of all adults are chronic procrastinators, we are often left feeling frustrated with ourselves for avoiding our tasks and leaving ourselves with more to do later on. However, with so many people dealing with this avoidant behavior, it made us wonder if there are any benefits to this seemingly unhelpful habit.

What is positive procrastination?

Positive procrastination still means we delay completing certain tasks, but by doing so, we hope to achieve a potentially positive outcome. For example, “active procrastination” means that by deliberately postponing something, you can use the increasing deadline as motivation to get the task done. By only having a set amount of time before the deadline passes, you may end up working more efficiently.

There’s also “productive procrastination”, where you might complete other jobs that are still beneficial to you, even if they aren’t what you should be doing. For example, if you have a big project due, you might spend your time making sure all your notes and research are close by, so when it comes to writing you’ve got everything you need.

Are there any benefits?

Procrastination certainly gives us more time to think about a situation, ensuring we understand the consequences before we fully commit. This can be extremely useful if we want to make an important life change, such as switching careers or moving house, providing us with plenty of time to weigh up the pros and cons of the decision.

This may sound contradictory, but by procrastinating we may end up being more productive. For example, if we leave an assignment until the last minute, we then need to put all our focus into completing it before the deadline. Having already done the less important tasks, our main priority will be getting the assignment done.

 

Can I still relax between tasks?

You should be really proud of completing something you’ve been putting off. It often takes a lot of effort to eventually get round to it, and as such, it can be useful to do something afterward as a way to relax and reset before you move on to the next thing. To avoid procrastinating further, you may want to do something that’s quick so that you’ll be more productive in the long run.

For example, playing games is an excellent way to relax, but you also want to make the most of your time. While many games can have long stories that you just don’t want to pause, some games such as those at online casinos can be switched between more easily. They can be accessed by apps, so you can spin the reels wherever you are. Sites such as FanDuel have a wide range of slots games that don’t take long to play, and there are online reviews that let you find out about it yourself and choose an option that’ll leave you satisfied and ready to get back to your tasks.

Listening to music is another popular option for relaxation. Even better, music is an excellent way to increase your productivity. Research shows that listening to uplifting and happy songs can improve our mood, helping us to focus better and complete tasks quicker.

The most important part about procrastinating is understanding why we do it in the first place, whether it’s down to a fear of failure or simply disliking the task. By becoming aware of the reasons for putting off or avoiding a task, we know what to look out for in the future.