First, the good news: procrastination is not a listed mental-health disorder. Now, the bad: it can lead to anxiety and unnecessary stress. Then there’s some mixed news: In a paper on the subject, way back in 2005, researchers from the Department of Organizational Psychology, Columbia University, New York, found that there are really two types of procrastinators: Passive procrastinators, who are “paralysed by their indecision to act and fail to complete tasks on time”; and active procrastinators, who “are a ‘positive’ type of procrastinator. They prefer to work under pressure, and they make deliberate decisions to procrastinate.” While the passive type may need to delve deeper on why they push work away, the active are more similar to those who don’t procrastinate at all, in terms of time control, coping styles and outcomes.
For the positive ones, reimagine the concept. “Procrastination has a negative tone to it, but if you redefine it as ‘I’m taking a mental break’, you just may feel rejuvenated in that short time. Sometimes our brain needs that ‘brain power nap’, which means I’m actually recharging,” says Aparna Samuel Balasundaram, a Gurugram-based psychotherapist. She says it may help to redefine it in our own heads as a break, just as long as it’s no longer than 30 minutes, in an average busy work day. Giving it this positive spin may also do away with the guilt associated with mentally switching off from work briefly. Pick an activity that is either going to energise you or calm you down. Definitely avoid something that you’re going to get lost in.
Keep busy sans the guilt
Just make sure you don’t feel the strain of that scrunched deadline!
20 minutes
- Go for a walk. If you’re aiming to give your eyes a break, try to pick a green area. If you want a ‘wake-up’ call, try intervals: a stretch of brisk walking, with another at a slower pace
- Take a short nap. Easy to do if you’re working from home. At work, where HR may not appreciate it, sit back in your chair and shut your eyes.
- Read one chapter of a book. Especially helpful for books you’ve been, er, procrastinating on.
10 minutes
- Call a friend. Not a long-lost one you’ll need time to catch up with – someone you’re just calling to say hi.
- Watch a cat or baby video. You know how long each video will play, so you can perfectly time it.
5 minutes
- Clear your desk. It’s a proven productivity tool. Plus, you just may find that visiting card you were looking for.
- Prune and water your desk plant. Do we need to explain?
- Listen to a song. Just make sure it’s one. Or two. No more.
2 minutes
- Pay someone a compliment. Call in a team member and tell them what they’re doing right.
- File away a number. Remember to put a note about the person in, so you’ll remember him or her.
