Andy Lee
As with a lot of courses at university, there were a lot of assignments. Assignments lavishly spread across my many modules. Across the term. Every term. For three years. And a fundamental part of the identity of an assignment is the glorious panic-inducing deadline. Deadlines lavishly spread across my many modules. Across the term. Every term. For three years. I was very likely a procrastinator prior to attending university. I mean, I showed early glimpses of my potential during school and college, leaving coursework and revision to relatively the last minute, but I never really got going until university. My full procrastinating powers were unleashed. I was now operating at level 100. Here’s the even greater thing – I hit every deadline. I submitted all my assignments and homework on time. Result. I even revised for exams this way. Doing all-nighters, drinking energy drinks and taking ProPlus, I successfully navigated my way through university and came out with a BEng Honours degree.
As you read this, you might be getting the impression that I’m rather proud of my accomplishments, that I was able to leave my work until the eleventh hour before even starting and still achieve sufficient grades to earn myself a degree. Yes, you are partly right. I have to confess that I do have a cheeky grin to myself when I think about my ridiculously undisciplined approach to education and that I still managed to come out the other side in one piece. But also no, because it was most definitely not worth it. I’ve run several 10km races, and I’ve kept myself in good enough shape to be able to run one without much training. Stepping up to marathon, however, is a whole new challenge altogether. It requires months and months of training. Cramming homework and revision on the night before the deadline is like running a marathon without training. It’s torture. Through sheer gritted teeth, absolute mental and physical exhaustion, I crawl on my hands and knees over the finishing line. The feelings of achievement are immediately overcome by feelings of relief, followed by stupidity and self-hatred over how I’ve managed to get myself into this hopeless situation. AGAIN.
At this point you’re either nodding your head because you understand all too well that the struggle is indeed real, or you may be of the other camp where you’ve been vigorously shaking your head at this self-destructive behaviour, bemused at how people like me survive in this world. As Ted Urban explains in his Ted talk on procrastination – the results of scientific (term used very loosely here) research show a key difference between the brain of a procrastinator and the brain of a non-procrastinator. Both brains contain a Rational Decision Maker. This Rational Decision Maker helps us to plan ahead, see the big picture, and wants us to do things sensibly, in a sensible way, at sensible times. Like going to bed, getting out of bed, and things like revising and studying to eliminate any unnecessary last minute stress-inducing cramming. Unfortunately, there in the brain of the procrastinator lives a creature that isn’t present in the brain of the non-procrastinator. This creature, according to Ted, is the Instant Gratification Monkey. In his words the Instant Gratification Monkey “lives entirely in the present moment. He has no memory of the past, no knowledge of the future, and he only cares about two things: easy and fun.” When the Rational Decision Maker makes plans to do what we should be doing, the Instant Gratification Monkey wakes up and basically says “Let’s go on YouTube and watch cat videos” or “Let’s check out the latest football gossip on BBC Sport”. We might even venture out, go shopping, eat with friends, watch a movie, or all of the above. This is never 100% fun, and that’s because we know what we should be doing, and what we’re currently doing isn’t it.
Where procrastination takes a more serious turn and leads to bigger consequences than a missed deadline…is when there isn’t a deadline. Homework, assignments, reports, exams, interviews, projects and so on imposed on you by your tutor or your boss keep you achieving at some level. Sure your results could have been better but you have still produced something. What about all the things in your life you want to do which only have the threat of one deadline, but this deadline seems so distant and lacking in urgency that you procrastinate indefinitely on your bigger goals, ambitions and dreams? I’m referring specifically to the deadline of your life. I wonder what beautiful creations, what unimaginable ideas, what innovation, talents, gifts are lying dormant because there’s always tomorrow to start? Allow my words to remind you as strongly as they’re reminding me now… there won’t always be tomorrow. Procrastinator or not, you have unique potential that the world deserves to see. You were made in the beauty of God’s image with gifts and treasures for you to unleash at level 100 and beyond.
It’s okay if you haven’t made the progress you thought, wanted, or expected yourself to have made by now. Up to now you’ve done the best you can. I believe you have every intention to be at your best. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Even one step is progress. I’m going to high five you in advance for being such an awesome individual. I’m praying for your progress. I’m thanking God for what He can do through you.