Creative Procrastination

The exercise for day-7 is to post something based on a social media message. I was given an option of 5 tweets and I have to pick one and write about what it triggers. Since the following theme is more prevalent in my blog and very relatable to me, I’m picking the one with the magic word – procrastination. Warning: Quote heavy.

I can’t decide if procrastination kills creativity or is essential to it – Grant Snider

A good statement is something that sparks some serious thoughts that mess you up. This one does. This tweet started a cold war between my mind and my heart. My heart says procrastination is very essential for creativity but the mind says it kills creativity. The Internet and the world self-help books have educated everybody that procrastination is the thief of time and opportunity’s assassin. There are some hard hitting quotes like the following:

Procrastination is, hands down, our favourite form of self-sabotage – Alyce P.Cornyn-Selby

 Procrastination is for people who don’t have any self-respect. Figure your shit now – Anonymous

Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy – Wayne Gretzky

And then there are some quotes which are in a slightly motivating tone.

Don’t wait. The time will never be just right – Napolean Hill

Begin. To begin is half the work. Let Half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished – Marcus Aurelius

One can find a treasure trove of quotable quotes about procrastination, overcoming procrastination and success. But, you could hardly find anything that says ‘Procrastination is the sucker of creativity’ or ‘Procrastination makes you dumb’ or ‘Not procrastinating makes you creative’. We should ask why. Is it because it actually is essential for creativity? Does procrastination increase/induce creativity? It is a well-known fact that Mark Twain and Jerome K Jerome were both very creative. And what did they say?

Never put off until tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well – Mark Twain

I like work: it fasicnates me. I can sit and look at it for hours – Jerome K Jerome

I hear you. Quotes are just interesting statements picked completely out of random so that it can be used in any context. But hey, if it helps us make a point, we should use it by all means. I am not saying Mark Twain or Jerome k Jerome were procrastinators or idlers. They were, in fact, the opposite of it because they got the books published. Maybe, they published later than they initially thought and made the books more interesting? Food for thought.

From my personal experience, I can say that procrastination helps in being creative. I have been in situations where, due to various reasons, I had not started my work until the deadline was near. But, once the deadline was in sight, my mind started thinking in all the ways possible to quickly finish the task. You get to finish the task, you get the adrenaline rush (no need of bungee jumping) and you also get to find a creative way of doing things. That’s a triple bonus. Why is it so? Maybe the following quote is a fact?

I will leave it to your pondering. Cheers!