Doing Everything and Nothing All at Once
March 21st, 2025
Photo: Isabel Marengo
Writer: Makenna Atkins
Editor: Ellie Bottio
Procrastination is something of an art that I believe I have mastered. Perhaps, the reason is because there is something wrong in the wiring of my brain, where it forgets to send signals of urgency until the day something needs to be done. It feels like the only time my brain snaps into first gear is with that small chance, where in the back of my head, a very real possibility of not getting something done in time starts making itself known. My brain and my productivity seem to be directly associated with the increase of pressure or, in other words, my brain is the classic case of an adrenaline junkie- it is always in search of some sort of rush, some sort of challenge it can overcome.
Because of the negative connotation associated with procrastination, I would always find myself lying about the work I have or haven’t done to keep others’ worries at bay and to keep myself out of the reach of that dreaded characterization of being a procrastinator. I would spend more time telling people that I was doing my “homework” more than the actual time I would spend doing it. But during that time I spent avoiding it, I was unable to see all of the other things I was doing to better my space for when the time came to do the schoolwork. While not writing a paper, I was cleaning the bathroom, maybe even cleaning out my fridge that so desperately needed it. Instead of studying for an exam, I’d be mopping my floors or dropping off those clothes I had been wanting to donate. In the areas where I lacked productivity academically, I made up for it in the productivity of my personal life.
Now that my room was clean, free from distractions, my fridge was organized and stocked with snacks, my headspace was now clear of any looming to-do list tasks that may have called for my attention. Because of the things I did while procrastinating, I had set myself up to be able to commit the entirety of my concentration to the assignment at hand. So the next time someone asks you if you have done an assignment yet, don’t be afraid to say no - because you are taking the steps needed to be able to complete the task and devote all brain power to produce the best work possible.
After taking all of these things into consideration, I have learned that impressing others with your ability to do an assignment early is relatively unimportant when it comes to the actual quality of your finalized work. As long as you are happy with what you produced, it doesn’t matter the time in which you sat down to do it.
