If you have the habit of intentionally delaying your work, only to finish it in the nick of time, then you may be aware of the term procrastination. This constant postponement usually gets linked to laziness and lack of efficiency, hence the concept of procrastination is often looked down upon.
But, if you are a procrastinator, you will be glad to know that wasting a little time may not be all bad. Here’s why:
Adam Grant, a Professor of Management and Psychology at the Wharton School, wrote in the New York Times about an experiment conducted by one of his students. The experiment showed that the ideas presented by the procrastinators were 28% more creative than the rest. Indicating that sufficient time to think and ideate plays an essential part in ensuring quality output.
A study published in the Journal of Social Psychology revealed that procrastinators actually experience lesser stress levels compared to non-procrastinators. This is because when deadlines are far off, the former experience anxiety for a lesser amount of time, thereby lowering their stress levels.
While it is true that procrastinators do not experience much anxiety. The temporary fear and stress of missing a deadline brings about sudden enthusiasm and prepares the body for sustained, vigorous action. According to an article by Scientific American, the adrenal gland dumps cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream, delivering oxygen and energy to the muscles. It is like the biological equivalent of opening the throttle of an engine. Hence, whenever they see a deadline fast approaching, they get the energy boost to focus to meet it on time.