Are there times when procrastination is a virtue?
Deadlines, schmedlines. You should be putting off for tomorrow what you don’t feel like doing today, argue some social scientists:
[The primary investigator] and his three co-authors demonstrated, in a series of experiments, that slowing down makes us more ethical. When confronted with a clear choice between right and wrong, people are five times more likely to do the right thing if they have time to think about it than if they are forced to make a snap decision.
But whether we procrastinate or not may have something to do with our personality type. Some of us enjoy waiting until the last minute to get things done (and the adrenaline rush it brings with it;) some of us experience guilt and anxiety when we know we should be doing something productive.
The key to successful, healthy procrastination is balance. If you find yourself falling behind professionally, then you’re doing it wrong, and should reevaluate how you’re managing your workload (see here for tips on how to avoid unhealthy or passive-aggressive procrastination.)
If, on the other hand you’re suffering the results of too many bad decisions, then perhaps it’s time to slow down, and reevaluate your decision making process.
What do you think? Are you a putter offer, or do you like to get it done now? Let us know in the comments! (And soon…)
(Image: “Procrastination demotivational poster from www.despair.com)
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