In Defense of Procrastination

Procrastination is a hot topic these days. The psychological literature defines it as the voluntary delay of intended action with the expectation of a worse outcome.

It's often labeled a vice, is seen as avoidance. Hustle culture, health influencers, corporate America, and go-getters all push us to act, to move, to produce. There's a constant emphasis on productivity and achievement.

They can't grasp that sometimes, the smartest move is to wait.

You’ll see experts pathologize procrastination as a coping technique for ADHD, or a symptom of depression or a habit of self sabotage that leads to your destruction. Everywhere you look, people are bombarding you with tips to overcome procrastination.

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We are bombarded with article after article telling us to stop procrastinating:

NPR: Why we procrastinate — and how to stop

HBR: 5 Research-Based Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination

James Clear: Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating

But procrastination exists for a reason. I’m going to defend it in this Newsletter

Sure, it can hurt your life if it’s too excessive. But living a life where you constantly try to suppress procrastination is going to lead you to bad outcomes.

We Procrastinate For A Reason

Procrastination signals low motivation, suggesting you need to change your environment or profession. Few get that procrastination is good, a natural, risk-based decision-making form. If your environment creates an anxiety loop, it’s the environment that’s irrational, not you.

Instead of treating procrastination like an illness, see its utility: "Humans may instinctively procrastinate only when no life is in danger. I don’t procrastinate with a lion in my bedroom or a fire in my neighbor’s library. I do so with unnatural duties and procedures."

In This Newsletter

1) The Creative Benefits of Procrastination: Procrastination is a tool to help us in creativity. Specifically with: Luck, Incubation and Filtering.

2) The Decision-Making Benefits of Procrastination: Procrastination can be a rational response to uncertainty and complexity. When decisions are full of unknowns and too many variables, procrastination steps in as a strategic move.

3) The Medicinal Benefits of Procrastination: Sometimes delaying medical intervention is better for you, especially when it comes to minor injuries. Let’s take a look at the example of the RICE protocol.

The Creative Benefits of Procrastination

You probably already know this but creative people have a reputation for being lazy. Not getting things done on time. Always extending deadlines, not meeting deadlines or turning in work late. They constantly procrastinate. Well, there is a few reasons for that:

1) Waiting to Get Lucky

The longer you wait, the greater the chance a better idea comes through in your mind. You're just waiting a little longer to get lucky.

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2) Incubation Period

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