Many people mistake procrastination with laziness. While I understand why they may think this, it is a misconception. True, someone who procrastinates can be lazy, but they aren’t lazy because they procrastinate. Procrastination does not equate to laziness. One important thing to know about procrastination is that there are two main types.
The first type of procrastination is the reason that many people think of laziness when they hear about procrastinating. This particular type is the bad kind of procrastination. When a person procrastinates to avoid their problem and they do it so much that they end up overwhelmed, this is bad. Unhealthy procrastination can cause more problems, leading to work not being completed or not done properly. Ultimately, this particular form of procrastination can really set a person back in life and cause harm.
The other main type of procrastination is healthy procrastination. Some people work better under pressure. By procrastinating a healthy amount and knowing their limits, they can actually produce better work, or work more efficiently! When some people have an abundance of time to do something and start right away, they get distracted easily and it takes them longer to complete the work. By procrastinating, they can be more productive because they’re forced to focus, giving them more time for other pursuits.Â
I’m not exactly advocating for procrastination, but I do want people to realize that it isn’t automatically a bad thing. So long as a person knows how to do it in a healthy and manageable way, procrastination can actually be used as a tool for success. Always make sure to check that your procrastination is helping and not hindering you.