Just do it
By: Emily Barksdale
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Opinions
Bad news for my fellow procrastinators: it doesn't go away.
I procrastinate doing many things - completing my reading assignments, filling out applications, composing essays, cleaning my room, writing this column (whoops!)...and I keep thinking that, "Next week, I'll be on the ball and get things done ahead of time" or "That was just a hectic day. I'll get back on track soon." This usually doesn't happen, but there's always next time...right?
Well, this weekend provided a daunting piece of evidence to the contrary. My mom and one of her friends, who teaches a college class, visited me this weekend for my sorority initiation banquet. What seemed like just a comment this morning after breakfast has been haunting me ever since. The teacher said that she, despite best-laid plans, rarely plans her week of class before Sunday. That's alarming to me!
Sure, she thinks about her lessons, so she doesn't just go in cold and make things up the night before. Well, I think about my homework, too - it's doing it that is the issue for me. Also, her procrastination is not for lack of caring - she enjoys teaching the class and took the job voluntarily. I, too, care about my grades, cleanliness, well-being, etc. Is the problem that I care too little, or just that I am misguided, or what?
I consider myself an optimist. I guess that I always thought that maybe next week or next month or next year, I will stop procrastinating and start doing things when I should do them - or even (GASP) ahead of time! Reality check: apparently, old habits die hard.
I'm not really sure of the solution to this almost certain ruination. To my knowledge, there is no patch, gum or pill to cure procrastinitis. Exercise and eating well may benefit the mind and body, but the last time I checked, they took up time rather than making more of it. If you have any ideas, please e-mail me. (If you don't get to it until next year, I understand.)
I procrastinate doing many things - completing my reading assignments, filling out applications, composing essays, cleaning my room, writing this column (whoops!)...and I keep thinking that, "Next week, I'll be on the ball and get things done ahead of time" or "That was just a hectic day. I'll get back on track soon." This usually doesn't happen, but there's always next time...right?
Well, this weekend provided a daunting piece of evidence to the contrary. My mom and one of her friends, who teaches a college class, visited me this weekend for my sorority initiation banquet. What seemed like just a comment this morning after breakfast has been haunting me ever since. The teacher said that she, despite best-laid plans, rarely plans her week of class before Sunday. That's alarming to me!
Sure, she thinks about her lessons, so she doesn't just go in cold and make things up the night before. Well, I think about my homework, too - it's doing it that is the issue for me. Also, her procrastination is not for lack of caring - she enjoys teaching the class and took the job voluntarily. I, too, care about my grades, cleanliness, well-being, etc. Is the problem that I care too little, or just that I am misguided, or what?
I consider myself an optimist. I guess that I always thought that maybe next week or next month or next year, I will stop procrastinating and start doing things when I should do them - or even (GASP) ahead of time! Reality check: apparently, old habits die hard.
I'm not really sure of the solution to this almost certain ruination. To my knowledge, there is no patch, gum or pill to cure procrastinitis. Exercise and eating well may benefit the mind and body, but the last time I checked, they took up time rather than making more of it. If you have any ideas, please e-mail me. (If you don't get to it until next year, I understand.)