Infinite procrastination
by Miki SaxonJim Gordon at BossHatch and I are competing for the procrastination crown and it started me thinking (always a dangerous event). I realized that, assuming you accept our premise that procrastination doesn’t equate to irresponsibility, i.e., deadlines are met and commitments are honored, there are two kinds of procrastination:
Finite procrastination involves putting a project off as long as possible before getting it done.
Infinite procrastination is pure mañana, meaning an unspecified future time.
We both excel at the first, but I still believe that I trump Jim on the second.
- It was more than six months between noticing that the stabilizing rubber washers on the toilet seat were worn out and the seat was wiggly and spending the five minutes it took to change them. The impetus to do it came when the seat almost slid off.
- My favorite winter pants have been sitting on the sewing machine waiting to be mended (about a 20 minute job) for a couple of months. They’re on the to-do list for the weekend—as they have been for the last eight.
- The new slacks I bought last spring are still waiting to be altered.
- There are at least five items I was given over the last six years that are waiting to be hung (about a 30 minute task).
- I have seed packets bought when I moved here (2003) that I really do plan to plant this spring. I doubt that the seeds from my San Mateo move in 2000 will grow, but I might try them anyway.
- They go with the six bags of mulch also bought in 2003—does mulch have an expiration date?
- I have a new HP Officejet still in its box, since I haven’t needed to print or fax—yet.
The list is endless, but you get the idea.
I once bought a book on procrastination, but tossed it. I think it had six chapters, the first three telling you how to know if you were a procrastinator, the next two telling you why you procrastinated and the last one saying that you should stop. Duh.
What are some of your infinite procrastinations?
Your comments—priceless
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January 19th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Infinite procrastination is an excellent tool, IF you pick to use it for the proper tasks. How about using it for all the tasks that are really not that meaningful to your life?
If you are doing the things that really matter to you and infinitely procrastinating the other things in your life (that house chore, upgrade, cleaning, etc) that don’t have any lasting effect, then that is really a powerful tool!
January 19th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Mike, You hit it on the head:) Infinite procrastination is great—as long as you have your priorities straight and don’t allow it to impact others. I can procrastinate all I want as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody and I meet me commitments.
January 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Thanks Miki, I’ve pretty much mastered infinitely procrastinating watching television now. I only wish I could say the same for procrastinating selfishness.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Mike, When it comes to selfishness I follow Ann Rand’s approach, i.e, you can be as selfish as you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s right to be selfish.