What I'm curious about is: it is possible to become addicted to procrastination? Now there are all kind of addictions alcohol, smoking, drug, and even sex. The thing that they all have in common, however, is that they all give an initial good feeling followed by adverse consequences. This is the same with procrastination too. Although there is no way to come to any conclusive answers as of now without the assistance of some experts on the subject and years of research, I want to know what you have to say. Do you think it is possible that procrastination may have some "addictive" properties?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Procrastinators Unite! ...tomorrow
I'm sure many of you readers, if not all of you, can attest that procrastination is one of our greatest weaknesses. But why? This is something we have complete control over right? How come we are so weak that we can't fight the urge or choose not to fight at all? In Brave New World, the people have their respective vices: sex, soma, the feelies, Centrifugal Bumble-puppy. For me, procrastination is definitely one of my worst "addictions."
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Carina, you brought up a point that everyone here probably can relate to. To answer your question, yes, I believe that it is possible. Addictions, as you had stated, often have bad and harmful consequences.
ReplyDeleteSmoking: bad lungs and lead to cancer.
Alcohol: becoming drunk, and can possibly get killed while driving.
Procrastination: finding yourself in a deep hole where you are frantically trying to get everything done on time... poor work is produced.
Why do people become addicted to procrastination you ask, Carina? Because it gives you a worry-free feeling at the time. But as time passes, people often regret procrastination. Why do homework when you can do it tomorrow? Why do your chores now if you still have two more hours until mom and dad come home? Procrastination soothes us, Carina. With procrastination comes consequences...
Gosh, I don't find procrastination soothing. It increases my anxiety. When I am in the process of procrastinating, I KNOW what I'm doing, and have every justification ready:
ReplyDelete--I'm letting my subconscious work on this a while
--I'm reading to fill my head with language
--I've been working hard all week! I need to relax!
--Etc.
I think I'm a little bit of a procrastination junkie because I get a thrill from pulling something off at the last minute. The deadline creates the conditions that make it impossible to do anything but the work. You HAVE to do it, or else you have to start thinking of the stories you can tell to justify missing the deadline:
--My computer crashed/my printer isn't working/we're out of ink at my house and my mom didn't buy a cartridge
--The kids I was babysitting spilled milk on my notebook
--My notebook is in the back of my dad's car, and he went to Vegas
People always say they do their best work under pressure. I don't think that's true. I think the pressure just makes people actually DO THE WORK.
I think it is possible to get a little strung out on the thrill of the edge.
Actually Mrs. Fletcher, I agree about the "working under pressure" saying. It doesn't make any sense to me. When you're under pressure, don't you tend to 'freak out' and get worried? How can you work to your fullest potential if you're under pressure? Maybe SOME people are like this, but I know I don't do my best work in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are under the pressure of the deadline, chances are you won't have time to rework or revise. All writing benefits from revision, but when people wait until the very last minute, they turn in "first draft" writing and first draft thinking.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, people don't do the work AT ALL until it's due. This can be because of many other deadlines -- multiple AP classes and other commitments -- and sometimes it's because people just CAN'T work until there's a big slavering metaphorical dog (named DUEDATE) snapping at their heels.
The problem for us is that we have two conflicting goals, both important. One goal is to get you to understand your own writing process, and to see how your writing can and will get better after several revisions. The other goal is to get you kids to bust out three excellent essays in 2 hours by May. Learning to do that kind of high stakes/high pressure writing is part of the deal.
YES ABSOLUTELY IT HAS ADDICTIVE PROPERTIES! Ok got a little excited. I am a huge procrastinator and it seems like my best work comes when there is a lotta pressure on me to finish the work in a short period of time. I'm constantly putting things out of my mind for later. And it's so stressful.
ReplyDeleteYes procastination hassome bad qualitys, but why not look at it's better qualitys? Procastination can be good if you think about it. For example, let's say you have multiple essays to do, of course you're no going to do them all at the same time. That leads to poor work towards the end because your brain begins to tire and not work as well as when you first began. Now that's when procastination comes in, let's say seven essays due by the second week of august. From the day school ends that gives approximately seven weeks to due seven essays. If you like to procatinate you will wait until the last week, like I always do. But. if you have a controlled procastination, then you should do one essay a week. The only thing people need to do about procastination is control it. Controlled procastinaton is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteOh Carina, how you know me. I myself am one horrible horrible procrastinator. I have actually been procrastinating on this blog and now I'm forced to do most of it in the last three days. So to answer your question, I do not think its addictive; however, when your in the moment isnt it more preferable to play now and work later? Like Joey said, you dig yourself into a hole and end up freaking out and producing poor work and getting ultra irritated.
ReplyDeleteI think procrastinating is addictive drug, and I am an addict. My hand is still sore from writing seven essays and 25 vocabularies in one day. I have been procrastinating since I can remember and I think I am in the habit of procrastinating because every Sunday night you’ll find me up late starting on my weekend homework. Even when I try to do my work early, something in my brain doesn’t allow me to do it until the last minute, I think it is because of years procrastinating my brain has developed to not function well unless it is under pressure. It can also have its benefits because to me it is motivation to do my work but like Joey said, it does have its consequences.
ReplyDelete