Student Blog: Procrastinating: You're Not Alone

This is an article written by the biggest procrastinator in the world. The words “I get everything done” just roll off of my tongue. Though this is true and something I am not proud of, I have mastered this way of life. I truly believe my best work is done when I am under pressure. When I have all the time in the world I find myself getting distracted, picking up my phone, and then scrolling through TikTok for hours. When I am completing an assignment the day before it is due, I know that I need to be zoned into that specific assignment at that moment so it isn't late. I have gone through moments where I wished that I had the power to complete assignments earlier in the week, but I have learned basic skills which assist me in getting less and less stressed when completing assignments at the last minute.

Listening to music is a necessity when I am doing work. I love putting my noise canceling earbuds in and forgetting about the world around me. I pick my favorite cast recording, preferably one that I have listened to before (this is because if I have never listened to it I find myself concentrating too much on that) and getting lost in it. My favorite cast recording to do work to is either the Falsettos or The Music Man revival cast recording. I enjoy Falsettos because the whole show is just music, and each song in that album connects with each other. The Music Man is filled with a story along with a lot of moments with no singing. I find these two albums to be the least distracting because I know them very well so I am not actively listening to them, but instead they are background music (motivation) as I work on my assignments. 

Another skill that I use to complete my work in a stress free environment is making sure I am comfortable while doing it. First, I set myself up at my desk. I will put a snack out as well as a beverage such as Diet Coke or an Iced Coffee. Along with this I like to have a blanket or a sweatshirt close by so I am not too cold. If I find myself fidgety and uncomfortable here, then I will either move to a study room in my apartment or a local library. This is my next step because when I am doing work around people I know that I am unable to use my phone or socialize. If that is not working for me, my last resort is to do work in my bed. If it comes to this, I will shut off my phone, and put it on the opposite side of my room. Even though this may be a no-no for some people, I sometimes find myself to be very successful in this location. 

I am not always proud of having the title of “biggest procrastinator”. I make sure all of my work is completed on time; even if that means staying up later than I intended. This is the most important skill when being a procrastinator. My journey as the self-proclaimed “biggest procrastinator in the world” has led me to create many skills that I find to work in my favor. I have mastered the art of thriving under pressure. As a theater major, I am lucky to be educated on reading passages and taking notes on the various assignments. Thankfully, taking classes that I am passionate about helps to make the task of completing my work less stressful.