It’s no secret that everyone procrastinates at some point. You might even be doing it now. How do you know what you’re doing is procrastination instead of actual work? Consider the following:
1. Is the task you are avoiding something that really needs to be done? How much are you dreading it?
According to Procrastini’s Law, the need of the task times the perceived length of time it will take, factoring in the exponential dread of doing said task equals how long you will put it off. If you are following Procastini’s Law, you have now figured out your approximate delay on completing the task. The formula appears below.
N x pTx =D
2. What lesser, non-threatening tasks have you also been delaying?
With Procastini’s Law factored in to your decision making, you are now scanning your immediate area for any other task to complete. Such things include cleaning your room, justifying doing your laundry because you can do other things while you wait for the washer/dryer to finish. Once you have evaluated your immediate surroundings, you then move on to your dwelling space. When was the last time you vacuumed? When was the last time you took out the trash? When was the last time you deep-cleaned the bathroom? At this point, you will now engage in all of these things because they really should be done, and now’s a good time as any to finally move the laundry pile off the bed and into the hamper where it belongs. Increase dread exponent by one.
3. Have you rewarded yourself for completing the other tasks?
At this point, you will realize that you’ve gotten a lot of stuff done. Good for you! This is the perfect time to get sucked into a YouTube vortex, catching up and discovering new shows you want to watch; or, since you’re feeling a bit peckish, now’s the time to invade the fridge and prepare yourself the best meal you can, because you deserve it. Go ahead and light some candles and treat yourself to a romantic dinner for one. Add one to the need
4. When was the last time you checked the clock?
If you haven’t already, check the clock to see how much you’ve accomplished in such short a time. Enjoy that feeling of pride that you’ve done so much and-
Is that really the time?
By now, the pride of accomplishing so much is diminished because of how little time you have left to complete N. Your formula should appear as follows.
N x pTx + P! = D
(The P! stands for Panic Level)
5. What else can be done?
As the hours slowly turn from single digits to double, you must consign yourself to the fact that nothing else remains for you to do. The Need no longer has any other, less threatening task before it, which means it must be done.
But wait! There are things, mandatory things, things that provide valid excuses for further delaying the Need! You may now take a shower, put on comfortable clothes, and wait until Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is over because you really need to unwind from doing everything else but the Need.
6. Panic is your…friend?
If your double digit hours are slowly inching towards single digits again, P! should now surpass N x pTx and you can no longer delay the Need. It is time to buckle down and do it!
Before long, the Need will be complete, and you will be able to crawl into bed, victorious, that you, yes you, have done so much, and all without that pesky need of sleep!
Is that your alarm clock going off in the background?
…You may want to plan a nap later today.
7. Has the cycle started anew?
By now, you are swearing to never, ever procrastinate anything again. You have learned your lesson and will no longer need Procrastini’s Law in your life. You are a changed person, you are smarter, wiser, and certainly not a procrastinator.
Did you go get the laundry out of the washer? How badly do you need the things from the washer in your wardrobe?
See Procrastini’s Law for how long you can make it without the towels and socks.
