You know that feeling when a deadline is looming and instead of buckling down to finish the task, you find any excuse to avoid it? We’ve all been there – the pile of dishes that need washing, the closet that needs organizing, the random YouTube hole we fall into. While giving in to procrastination might make us feel guilty, what if we looked at the positives? Believe it or not, there are some legit benefits to putting things off once in a while. In fact, procrastinating can help boost creativity, reduce stress, and increase productivity. So next time you’re tempted to procrastinate, don’t beat yourself up! Read on to learn how giving in can actually be good for you.
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Benefits of Procrastination
Procrastination can enhance creativity by allowing the mind to explore new connections and ideas in a relaxed state. It also provides time for better decision-making and mental recharge. Prioritization becomes easier as important tasks stand out. The article emphasizes that occasional procrastination can have positive outcomes when it is not chronic
1. Procrastination Allows You to Think More Differently
Have you ever noticed how some of your most brilliant ideas come to you when you’re in the shower doing some mindless chore? That’s because when you procrastinate, your mind is free to wander and make new connections.
When you’re focused on a task, your mind is confined to the familiar paths it knows. But when you procrastinate, your mind explores new territory, spotting links between areas you never connected before. This “diffuse thinking” boosts creativity and can lead to unexpected insights.
Next time you’re tempted to feel guilty about procrastinating, don’t! Take advantage of that time to let your mind roam freely. Keep a notebook on hand to jot down any ideas that emerge. You may be surprised by the creative concepts and solutions that arise when you give your mind the freedom to procrastinate.
Staying in a relaxed, playful frame of mind also boosts creativity. When you’re stressed about finishing a task, your mindset is serious and linear. But in a leisurely, unhurried state, your mind is more open and playful, able to make unexpected associations.
So make the most of your procrastination time. Do an engaging but undemanding activity like gardening, walking, or cooking. Let your mind wander wherever it wants to go. Those idle moments may lead to your next brilliant idea or creative breakthrough. Why feel guilty about that?
2. You Avoid Making Rushed, Poorly Thought-Out Decisions
We’ve all been there – you have a big decision to make and not a lot of time to make it. So you rush in without fully thinking it through and end up regretting your choice. When you procrastinate, you give yourself more time to weigh your options objectively and see the situation from multiple angles.
You gain a new perspective. Stepping away from a decision for a while gives you an opportunity to gain a new perspective. Things that seemed urgent at first may seem less so after some time has passed. New options you hadn’t considered before may come to light. Your priorities and values can even change, allowing you to make a choice that aligns better with who you are now.
You have more information. The extra time also allows you to gather more information to make a truly informed choice. You can do additional research, ask others for input, check reviews and ratings, compare different products or services, etc. The more you know, the less likely you are to make a poor decision you’ll regret later.
You can consult others. Procrastinating also gives you a chance to seek advice from people you trust. Discussing the decision with others helps you gain valuable outside perspectives you may be lacking. Friends or family members may bring up important considerations you hadn’t thought of yourself. Their input can help ensure you’re making the choice that’s right for your own well-being and priorities.
In the end, procrastinating on important life decisions often leads to better outcomes. So take your time; your future self will thank you. When the time comes, you’ll make a confident choice you feel good about.
3. Procrastination Allows Your Brain to Recharge
Have you been working hard and feeling mentally drained recently? Procrastinating on less important tasks can be just what you need to rejuvenate your mind. When you procrastinate, your brain gets a chance to rest and renew itself, making you more focused and productive when you do get back to work.
Think of your brain like a muscle-it gets tired with prolonged use and needs time to recover. Pushing through mental fatigue can be counterproductive and lead to lower quality work. Postponing a task for a bit gives your brain the downtime it needs to consolidate memories, make new connections, and recharge.
The guilt from procrastinating also adds a bit of healthy pressure, activating your mind and body. When you do sit down to work, you’ll experience a rush of motivation and energy. This burst of productivity will allow you to accomplish more in less time. Your work will also likely be more creative and of higher quality, thanks to your well-rested brain.
Of course, chronic procrastination is still problematic and can lead to missing deadlines or producing rushed, sloppy work. But in moderation, procrastination serves an important purpose for your cognitive and emotional health. Learning to avoid guilt over taking much-needed breaks will make you a happier, high-achieving person in the long run. Your brain and body will thank you for the restorative time off, and your work will benefit from a reinvigorated mindset.
So next time you’re feeling burnt out, don’t feel bad about procrastinating. Do something to unwind and enjoy yourself, knowing you’re boosting your brain power for when you return to your tasks. A recharged and renewed mind will serve you well.
4. You Become More Creative When You Procrastinate
Procrastination gives your mind time to wander, and that wandering can lead to some interesting creative connections. When you’re not actively focused on a task, your brain has the freedom to explore other ideas and solutions.
You tap into your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is always working in the background, even when you’re not focused on a problem. It continues to process information and make new neural connections. By procrastinating, you give your subconscious mind a chance to do its thing. When you finally do sit down to work, those new connections may lead to flashes of insight or new ways of thinking about the problem.
You get an incubation period. The time you spend procrastinating acts as an “incubation period” for your ideas. This is the time between when you first encounter a problem and when insight strikes. Stepping away from a problem gives your mind space to make new associations and connections that can lead to “eureka” moments. Some of the most famous stories of insight and creativity involve incubation periods where the person took a break before the solution became clear.
Your mind is more playful. When you’re procrastinating, your mind is in a more playful, relaxed state. You’re open to exploring tangents and making unusual connections between concepts. This playful, meandering mindset is closely linked to creativity. In contrast, when you’re focused on a task in a disciplined manner, your thinking tends to be more logical and linear.
So don’t feel too guilty the next time you’re procrastinating. Your wandering mind may just lead you to your next great creative breakthrough. Take some time to let your thoughts roam freely-you never know where they might lead you.
5. Sometimes, Delayed Gratification Increases Motivation
Procrastination allows you to delay instant gratification in favor of greater rewards down the road. When you put off tasks that seem boring or tedious now but have important long-term benefits, you’re exercising self-discipline and grit. This can make the eventual completion of those tasks even more satisfying and motivating.
Builds Anticipation. The longer you wait to do something, the more you look forward to finally getting started. This anticipation builds motivation and excitement, so that when you do begin the work, you attack it with gusto. You’ve had plenty of time to think about the rewards and satisfaction of achieving your goal, and that vision keeps you going strong.
Appreciate the Rewards. Having to delay gratification makes us appreciate the rewards even more when we achieve them. If you procrastinate on a work project or hobby because you don’t feel inspired, taking more time means you’ll value the results that much more. You’ll also feel a greater sense of accomplishment for overcoming your tendency to postpone the hard or tedious parts.
Develops Discipline. Pushing past the desire to delay challenging or boring tasks builds mental discipline and willpower. Each time you overcome procrastination, you strengthen your ability to focus and persevere. This discipline spills over into other areas of your life and work. Developing the habit of discipline through delaying gratification can help turn you into a productivity powerhouse.
While procrastination certainly has its downsides, using delayed gratification strategically can benefit your motivation, discipline, and achievement. The key is making sure you don’t put things off indefinitely, but instead, build up anticipation that fuels your motivation and determination. With practice, you can leverage procrastination as a tool for becoming your most productive and persistent self.
6. Important Tasks Become Higher Priority
When you procrastinate on important tasks, they tend to loom larger in your mind and become more of a priority. The guilt and anxiety that come from putting off important work actually serve to remind you that you need to get it done. The more you delay, the more urgent the task feels. Smaller tasks may slip further down your to-do list, but the most important ones rise to the top.
Procrastinating on an important project can seem counterproductive at first. But if you channel that guilt and anxiety into motivation, it can actually help you prioritize and focus your energy on what matters most. The next time you’re tempted to put off an important task, remember that procrastinating may paradoxically make it stand out more in your mind. Instead of fighting the urge to delay, harness it to drive you forward and accomplish what truly needs your attention.
Procrastinating helps you prioritize what’s important. When you procrastinate on tasks, whether for work or personal projects, you’re effectively ranking them by importance in your subconscious mind. The tasks you put off the longest are likely the least important to you at the moment. However, the most important tasks eventually rise to the surface and demand your attention.
This can be helpful in prioritizing your to-do list and focusing your energy on what matters most. The guilt and anxiety that come from postponing important work serve as reminders that the task needs to get done. The longer you delay, the higher a priority it becomes in your mind.
So instead of feeling bad about procrastinating, realize it can be a useful signal about what work truly needs your immediate focus. When you do finally accomplish the important tasks you’ve delayed, you’ll feel a greater sense of satisfaction and productivity.
The next time you catch yourself procrastinating, reflect on why that particular task has been put off. If it’s genuinely unimportant, you may decide to cancel or delegate it. But for the tasks that continue to loom large, channel the guilt and anxiety into motivation. Focus your energy on accomplishing what will give you the most satisfaction and move your priorities and goals forward.
7. You Have Time to Confirm Assignments Are Understood
When you procrastinate on tasks, you give yourself time to fully understand the assignments and confirm that you know what is expected of you. This can help avoid mistakes and ensure a higher quality of work. By taking a breath and delaying starting a task right away, you have an opportunity to:
- Re-read instructions or requirements to avoid misinterpretation
- Clarify any confusing points or questions with those who assigned the work
- Gather necessary tools, materials and information before diving in
- Mull over the task in your mind to develop an effective strategy or approach
So while procrastinating may seem counterproductive at first, it can give you valuable thinking time to make sure you understand the assignment thoroughly. This increases the chances of success and meeting expectations when you do finally begin the work.
The next time you’re tempted to delay a task, take a moment to ask yourself: “Do I fully understand what’s being asked of me?”. If not, use this procrastination period to seek clarification, re-read instructions, and think through your strategy before jumping right into action. This upfront planning and understanding can help avoid missteps that waste time and effort later on.
Conclusion
When you put off making decisions, it gives you time to gather more information, think through various options, and ultimately make a more well-informed choice. Hasty decisions made without proper consideration can lead to regret, mistakes and wasted resource
In summary, a little procrastination on decisions can be wise. It provides time for more research, deliberation and planning that results in choices you feel confident and committed to. So the next time you feel inclined to put off a decision, embrace that delay as an opportunity for a more well-thought-out choice you’ll be happy with in the long run.
References
- Why Wait? The Science Behind Procrastination. Eric Jaffe, March 29, 2013
- Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator | Tim Urban | TED*Talk-Video
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