The stages of procrastination we’re all guilty of
Say hello to sleepless nights and unnecessary stress
As college students, we constantly deal with deadlines. Sometimes, we’re good about keeping ourselves on track and have no issues finishing an assignment on time. However, I’m sure the majority of us have experienced those moments of pure laziness. Our laziness encourages us to make regrettable decisions such as starting a project that was assigned two weeks ago the night before it’s due or waiting until the very last minute to turn in that paper. Whether procrastination is a rare or frequent issue for you, we’ve all experienced it and can probably relate to the different stages we go through.
Stage one: Motivation
As soon as you learn about an essay, project, or exam that is due in a week, you are optimistic and enthusiastic. Start making mental notes or pulling out that planner, you scribble down dates to create a game plan for self-set deadlines to get the assignment done stress-free.
Stage two: The calm before the storm
The next day, you plan on getting right down to business. However, events in your life start to divert your focus. Whether it be plans with friends, catching up on your favorite show, or playing with your dog, all these things are far more important at the moment than working on whatever assignment needs to be done.
You’ve already messed up by missing the first planned work day. Yet, you are still positive that everything will go smoothly, constantly telling yourself that you still have plenty of time and that you’ll work on it the next day.
You tell yourself, “I got this.”
Stage three: Denial
You put your work off for the next day, then the next day, and then the next. At this point, you are blatantly not doing what you’re supposed to be. Deep inside you know you should be starting on that paper. Subconsciously, you know you’re going to make things harder on yourself in the long run. Yet, you also have this strong urge of laziness that diminishes any ideas or effort to do work.
Whether it be aimlessly surfing through Netflix or spontaneously cleaning your room, you try to find any excuse to prevent yourself from working on that assignment.
Stage four: ‘Oh, shit’
It’s the night before. You have your all-nighter starter pack ready at your desk with coffee, energy drinks, snacks, and utter silence. It’s a race against the clock with only a few hours to meet the deadline. Your eyes glide through the textbook, fingers vigorously typing out sentences, and mind so focused that being distracted is no longer an option. Your concentration level has reached Super Saiyan.
11:59pm: Miraculously, you manage to turn your assignment in dangerously close to its due time. Not sure exactly how, but you got it done. Immediately you pass out from sheer exhaustion, hoping for all the best.
Stage five: Revelation
It’s the next day. You get out of bed, wear your favorite sweats, grab a cup of coffee, and head out. Sluggishly walking towards class, your friends comment that you look tired. With dark circles and bags under the eyes, you look like a mess.
However, you feel slightly proud of yourself and amazed at your own capability to shoot out that 10-page essay within several hours. You came out victorious.
You sternly tell yourself, “This isn’t going to happen again.”
Right.