Western Oz Words: Procrastination
In this good-humoured column Margaret Dunn confesses that she has been a procrastinator since her schooldays, when she would rush down the main street of her village as the school bell was ringing, trying to eat a piece of toast. Readers are advised not to procrastinate but to give themselves a treat by reading her column this very minute.
In this New Century which has brought us so many opportunities to live life to the full, all of us who live these busy lives know the importance of being well organised and getting things done on time.
But even while I admire and agree with this philosophy, life for me is a process of procrastination: making telephone calls, writing letters, cleaning the windows, paying bills - a particular problem. It’s a mystery to me that I ever achieve the things that have to be done, though somehow I do.
Arriving at a destination on time is a particular problem, so I make a special effort when travelling. You can’t go haring down the runway trying to catch a plane, although one time, on holiday in Cyprus, I missed the plane to London - missed it by a day!
If I’m going to visit friends or have an appointment at a set time, I’m always running late. The problem is my conception of TIME. I seem to feel that time will stand still while I drift about getting ready… BUT TIME DOES NOT STAND STILL.
Five minutes before I’m due to leave I will still need 15 minutes of preparation. With a controlled panic-stricken rush I leave home in a great flow of adrenaline.
This affliction has been with me all my life; since my schooldays when I would rush down the main street of our village as the school bell was ringing, trying to eat a piece of toast. In spite of great efforts to organise my life more efficiently, I still find myself struggling to meet deadlines.
Surprisingly, in work situations I’ve always been regarded as a good organizer, reliable, efficient, etc. Perhaps necessity and desperation can improve performance!
But I have lately come to a better understanding of this affliction. One day, as I was getting ready to go for a dental appointment, I was half listening to a health programme on the radio. The speaker was discussing different states of mind that afflict people, and I suddenly realized he was talking about me.
“… people who continually struggle to meet deadlines, who put off all kinds of tasks till the last minute then have a tremendous rush to achieve their objective on time. This condition is called Essential Procrastination”.
I was quite amazed at this and sat down to listen - making myself late for my dental appointment.
“Research shows that people who live in this state of mind are compelled to do so because they need the CHALLENGE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE and the RUSH OF ADRENALINE that takes place as they near their deadline.”
This made some kind of sense, though I refused to believe I was so addicted.
So many times I find myself a few minutes from my deadline to leave home - still half dressed; the cats hiding under the bed so I can’t put them out - and my car keys lost. Yet somehow I always manage to reach my appointment just in time or slightly late, looking fairly cool, and wondering ‘Why do I put myself through all this!’
And here was the answer! I have a medical condition called Essential Procrastination. I listened eagerly for details of the treatment available, but the speaker only suggested a few feeble tricks like - put your clock forward; or pretend you need to leave half an hour before you do.
I stared at the radio in disgust. Do you think I haven’t tried these little strategies! The trouble is I am a very honest person and find it impossible to delude myself.
Realising there were other sufferers from this condition - I spoke to a few friends with the same problem. They admitted their failings and were also gratified to learn that these were the result of a Medical Condition.
I thought it would be a good idea to start a help group (Procrastinators Anon.) to find ways of overcoming our affliction and thus make life more tranquil. After putting it off for a while, I eventually spoke to a friend who really has problems with time and suggested setting up a meeting with others. She was keen on the idea.
“Yes, I would love to be more organised, … let’s try it out - maybe next month.” I agreed, and said I would telephone her - later on …..
I now realise and accept I have to live with this state of mind and would probably find it difficult to adjust to a calm and well managed life. After all, it is ESSENTIAL Procrastination.
