Procrastination versus tardiness
Yesterday, I happened to catch a story on CBS Sunday Morning about procrastination, titled, The Whys and Why-Nows of Procrastination. I watched it because my DVR said that they were running a story on why people aren’t on time. (You can read the content of the segment in the above link.)
The gist of the story was that people are late because they procrastinate. This doesn’t make sense to me. As I’ve mentioned here before, I’m a bit punctuality challenged. But I don’t think it’s because I procrastinate about leaving. Or because I’ve put off everything I need to do before leaving the house. It’s because I’m always trying to get a whole lot done and use every minute I have before it’s time to leave the house. (And isn’t that the opposite of procrastination?)
I suppose it could be argued that procrastination can lead to chronic lateness if you’re putting off until the very last second the things you need to do before each appointment. I’d be willing to bet, though, that that’s not the case for everyone, or even the majority of people.
The Sunday Morning segment then morphed into a discussion of achieving goals. And in that part of the story I learned about stickK.com, a website that has you put up money to back up your commitment to achieving a goal. I signed up for stickK this morning to help keep me on track with exercise. I’ll tell you more about it on Wednesday.
I’m interested in what other people think about this procrastination and punctuality thing. Do you think that a chronic tardiness is the result of procrastination? I’d love it if you’d leave a comment below.
Tagged with: procrastination, punctuality, television
Comments
I didn’t see the segment on CBS. But if I’m late somewhere it’s usually b/c I’m trying to fit as much as I can in b/f I head out the door or I misjudge how long something will take me. It’s not because I’m procrastinating. If anything I’ve had the fault of doing things too far in advance! Great observation to the segment.
Theresa Finnigin February 23, 2010 06:39 AM
Shris, I think your solution is an excellent one, and it’s one I’ve tried to implement (and need to try again).
Theresa, you and I are in the same boat. But I think the idea of trying to be early, rather than being afraid of it, is really good.
Thanks for your comments!
Janine Adams February 24, 2010 06:42 AM
I’m going to respectfully disagree with you on this topic, Janine.
I think getting somewhere on time is no different then other goals we set. Unless one stays focused on the immediate goal, it’s self-sabotage when we pick and choose things that don’t contribute to that immediate goal.
Now, that being said, all parents of young children get a free pass due to the rule of, “she/he who wears the diapers rules the house.” Even the best laid plans get messy when toddlers and infants are involved.
Geralin Thomas, CPO-CD February 24, 2010 03:53 PM
Geralin, thanks so much for your comment. I think the issue feels more cut and dried to you than it does to me, but I certainly respect your opinion and appreciate your perspective!
Janine Adams February 24, 2010 03:55 PM
About Janine
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I saw it too.
I used to be late to stuff—because I left too late. I had this idea that I’d be able to get there ‘on time’.
I have decided since then that there is no such thing as ‘on time’. There is only ‘early’ and ‘late’. So if you don’t plan to get there a little early, you’re going to be late.
I am rarely late now. I pad my travel time with extra time for walking in from the parking lot, etc. I dial into phone conferences when the five-minute warning goes off, rather than trying to dial in ‘on time’.
I dunno if I was also afraid of being bored waiting around, afraid of wasting time waiting. Maybe. And of course there’s always the issue of finishing that ‘one last thing’ before I go—but I have alarms set up on my computer to give me a 15 minute warning and a 5 minute warning, so I know when the first one goes off that I need to wrap it up, go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, etc. so I can dial in at 5 before.
Not sure mine is a ‘typical’ late to on-time story.
shris February 23, 2010 05:28 AM