Even though you might think that there isn’t such a thing as productive procrastination, I must tell you that you are wrong. Even though sometimes, when you procrastinate, you might have the impression that you are only wasting your time, I will show you how you can spend that time in a more productive way. There are times when you have a lot of work to do and a lot of tasks you need to take care of, but too little time to do them all. At that point you usually find yourself doing anything to avoid them for a few more minutes. Procrastination doesn’t have to be a negative thing, you could make it work in your advantage, since that time when you procrastinate can be responsible for your best ideas. Sometimes it can even be a powerful motivator and a source of inspiration. Just like Samuel Butler said, “If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.” Here are a few very useful ways for productive procrastination that you should consider, so you’ll be able to get more things done and not freak out about how much time you’ve wasted:
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1. Go to the Gym
In my opinion, this is definitely one of the most efficient ways for productive procrastination that you should consider. If you don’t feel like working, then simply get your sports gear and go to a gym. You never have time to exercise, so why not go now? You’re not able to concentrate on your work anyway, so a bit of exercise wouldn’t hurt. I’m sure you will feel more relaxed and more energized afterwards; you will see things more clearly, since exercising really boosts your concentration levels and you might even get to work as soon as you get home.
2. Send an E-mail
I’m sure you have a lot of e-mails or even letters you need to send to people, but you never seem to have the time to do it. Well, you could do it now. Just take some time and write those e-mails or letters to those people whom you care about and show them how important they are to you. Make an effort and strengthen your relationships. If someone means a lot to you, then just tell them!
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3. Plan Ahead
You could use this time when you don’t feel like working and plan ahead. Try to identify your goals and think of different ways you can achieve them. Schedule all your tasks and differentiate them based on their priority. This way, instead of wasting your time, you will do something more productive that will help you in your career.
4. Errands
Are there any other things you need to take care of but you never seem to find the time to do it? Do you need to schedule a dentist’s appointment or do you have to run any other errands? Well, why not do them now, since you’re not in the mood to work anyway? You will at least do something productive that will allow you to have more free time later when you could take care of your tasks.
5. Clean up
If your laundry has started to pile up and your house is pretty messy, then you could start doing some cleaning, since you don’t feel like working anyway. You could wash those dishes you left in your sink or you could simply get rid of all the clutter from your house. Afterwards, you will find it much easier to do the things you need to take care of, and you will feel happier and more relaxed because who wouldn’t feel good in a clean house?
6. Update Your Resume
This is one of those things I never seem to find the best time to do. You never know when you might get a new internship offer or when you might find the perfect job, so why not update your resume, since you’re not doing anything else more productive at the moment? If you have enough time, you could also search for other job opportunities and you could even send some applications, if you find something that might interest you.
7. Develop a List of Your Successes
If you want to procrastinate in a more productive way, you could try to make a list of all your successes. This will make you feel good about yourself, it will motivate you and you might even start working in a little while. Once you finish that list, try to see if there are any things that stand out. Can you notice a pattern? Is there something you can learn from?
There are a lot of things you can do to procrastinate in a more productive way. I just mentioned a few in this little article but I’m sure there are many more I haven’t talked about. Do you know any other ways for productive procrastination? Please tell us about them in the comments section!
Sources: lifehack.org, pickthebrain.com, hercampus.com, goodreads.com
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