A Little Context

 Before coming to Cal, I only thought there were four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Then, I experienced Midterms’ Season—not Midterms’ Week or even Midterms’ Month, like most other schools have. We have a whole season here; and once it starts, it doesn’t end until finals come.

What’s the most common indicator of Midterms’ Season? Tightly clenched coffee cups, under-eye-bags that would make raccoons jealous, sweats and pajama pants, the rush for blue books and scantrons?

I’d argue that it’s something else: extreme procrastination.

Of course, procrastination is nothing new — not new to blog posts or to everyday life or to humanity in general. In fact, the first known use of the word “procrastinate” was in 1588. People have been procrastinating for a long, long time. Although, the meaning has changed a bit over time.

Even now, there are varying definitions. For example, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “procrastinate” as: “to be slow or late about doing something that should be done,” while Urban Dictionary defines it as: “What you are doing right now. Get the f*ck going and finish your homework.”

This second definition definitely speaks to the most common type of procrastination these days — spending countless hours surfing the web in a mostly unproductive manner when you should, instead, be doing homework, studying, or something else productive. What follows this is always a feeling of deep regret and self-hatred.

But who says it has to be this way? Who says procrastination can’t be productive? That’s an oxymoron, you say? Perhaps. But there are most certainly better ways to go about procrastinating.

My Favorite Productive Ways to Procrastinate

 1) Procrasti-cook/bake:

It gives you practice in an important life skill. Besides, you can’t think well on an empty stomach; and for many, it feels good to feed those around them as well. So by spending a bit of time in your flowered apron, you can de-stress and have something to show for all your hard work — a plate of cookies for your apartment or a filling dinner to feed your midterm-fatigued brain.

Also, see: procrasti-grocery shop, procrasti-eat

2) Procrasti-clean:

Studying is hard enough when you don’t have piles of dirty clothes and stacks of papers crowding you at your desk. Many claim that running the vacuum cleaner around the house, cleaning the dirty dishes, doing their laundry, or simply organizing their desks is soothing. It’s not a total waste of time because you’ll be able to focus on your real work better when the environment around you is clean and uncluttered.

Also, see: procrasti-organize

3) Procrasti-nap:

Everyone’s had at least one day of little sleep and lots of work. When you get home, you figure a nap will do you good before you try to tackle your homework. Naps can be the perfect thing to refresh a tired body and mind. However, be careful about this one. We’re talking a thirty-minute limit here. Three hours is not a nap — and you’ll wake up groggy, unproductive, and wondering what time/day/year it is.

4) Procrasti-run:

Sometimes you just hit a writer’s block or a studier’s stalemate, and you need a break. Experts say that a short workout before or after studying can help your body relax and your brain absorb material better. You don’t have to run, necessarily; just do something that gets your heart pumping for at least thirty minutes.

5) Procrasti-read:

Now, I’m not talking about reading useless fluff online or elsewhere. Don’t get caught up in prowling around Facebook or Tumblr or Reddit or whatever site you call your favorite. Catch up on the news nationally, internationally, or both. Read something that lets your brain focus on a different topic than the one you’re studying; but don’t let your brain turn off completely. Learn something new. That way, you’re still procrastinating, but it may prove productive somewhere down the road (like the next time you need to break the ice with a new acquaintance, and you can ask him/her how he feels about The Republic of Maldives, a tiny country in the Indian Ocean).

These are just a few of my favorite, healthy procrastination methods. I’m sure you have your own. Figure out what works best for you when you’re over-caffeinated, under-rested, and stressed about your studies. Remember, you don’t have to regret procrastination during Midterms’ Season if you do it in a time-efficient and healthy manner.

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