Whether it is doing a basic reading, writing a 10-page research paper or cramming for a final exam worth 30 percent of your grade, procrastination will forever exist. I truly do not know what it is that makes sitting down and doing school work so hard. Well, maybe it is because you genuinely do not want to do it, but either way in your mind you know it has to get done eventually. The unknown is when will eventually be now? Here are most likely all the things you do to avoid the now.
1. Saying you will start later
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There are the infamous, "Oh, it isn't due until next week," or, "No worries I can do it tomorrow." Those excuses for when you will complete your work start the process of avoiding actually doing it.
2. Scrolling through social media
One of the easiest ways to procrastinate is to catch up on every form of social media possible including your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, maybe even your Tumblr and Pinterest feeds. It is a continuous cycle to keep going through to see if anything new has been posted when you know in that one minute you put your phone down there probably wasn't.
3. Cooking and/or Eating
Most of the time, procrastination stirs up hunger, or, at least, that is what you force your brain to think so you can get up and go make a five-course meal or stare at the food in the fridge and pantry for a solid amount of time.
4. Cleaning
This is one of those things that shows how much you do not want to do your work. Like scrubbing the kitchen floor or sweeping your entire room are not entirely desirable tasks, unless you are really avoiding your responsibilities.
5. Watching Netflix
The most classic of them all is putting on a Netflix show and claiming you'll watch one episode. Six episodes later and no work complete, you still have no regrets.
6. Working out
Sometimes it is nice to go run for a few miles, do an ab workout, or even take a walk. However, you openly know you most likely got up and decided to work out because you had zero desire to start your work, not because you were motivated to be fit that day.
7. Shopping
Online or in person it doesn't matter. My personal favorite past time to avoid my work is by online shopping and adding things to my cart for a while and then just close that tab because it is not like I was going to buy anything anyways. Sometimes, though, procrastination can actually bring you to buy things.
8. Redecorating
It is always fun to change your room around or add some new pictures to the wall, but completely remodeling your bedroom is a sure sign of procrastination.
9. Doing laundry
It is one of those dreaded things to do laundry, especially when you have to pay like on some college campuses. But, it all seems fun and a way to eat up sometime when you're steering clear of everything you're actually supposed to be doing.
10. Calling or texting anyone you know
Sometimes you just decide to catch up with every relative and every single person you have in your contacts to forget about what actually has to get done.
11. Make a list of things you have to do
It always feels like you're accomplishing something when you make a list of all of the things you have to do still (even if it is 5 full sticky notes worth of tasks).
12. Nap
Another classic way to avoid doing work is sleeping. Whether it's napping or going to bed at 8 pm, both kill hours of time.
13. Put music on
It is not just the click of a button, you have to decide the genre of music you're feeling, where you want to listen to it from, what a good song to start with is, etc. It is a process. You will probably end up making 5 new Spotify playlists before looking at your work again.
14. Literally do anything to avoid it
Honestly, I can't even describe or list all of the things I have done to avoid dreaded papers or studying. I am sure you can think of a few things now that will give yourself a good laugh.
15. Repeat all steps
Now a pro procrastinator has to stop at some point and focus in to finish their work on time (even if it is minutes before the work is due). However, of course, not before doing anything and everything on this list over and over again several times.
Cheers to all my fellow procrastinators out there. If you read this whole thing I am sure you are procrastinating doing something. Good luck!
