Whatever you do when you’re procrastinating should be your full-time job.
I don’t remember the origin of this advice, but it makes a lot of sense.
We should be intrinsically motivated by our work. Being in a job that doesn’t bring you joy is a terrible punishment. Imagine spending 40 or more hours a week doing something you hate. It seems like a form of torture.
As a professor, I hope to help students discover what type of work motivates them. Enter the first sentence in this post. Perhaps it is worth considering when thinking about what you want to be when you “grow up.”
I typically procrastinate by:
- blogging,
- using social media or
- hanging out the in student newsroom.
Each of these tasks relates to my profession.
Blogging
I have always loved writing. It is my creative release. Therefore, blogging is a natural passion. I also teach writing. And, of course, all writers know that the best way to become a good writer is to write. Blogging helps me to practice what I teach.
Social Media
I spend most of my time on social media consuming information about the media industry and discussing it with professors, students and practitioners. I’m almost constantly teaching and learning while using social media.
Hanging Out
Through blogging, social media and just killing time chatting with students in the newsroom, I am learning about the industry and passing on (aka: teaching) what I know. I believe that knowledge is meant to be shared, hence my love of teaching.
It seems too simple to be true, but it makes sense that what you do when you procrastinate could easily be tied to what intrinsically motivates you. What you enjoy doing when you’re avoiding doing other things could be your job.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
How do you procrastinate? Could it be a job? Is it already part of your work?
Katie says
I usually procrastinate by cleaning my house. Does that mean I should quit school and become a maid? Lol.
Prof KRG says
Hmmm… I don’t think a maid. Perhaps a professional organizer?
Timo Kiander says
I love your fresh take on procrastination 🙂
I have never looked at procrastination this way, but there seems to be a point. If you avoid “real work” by procrastinating then maybe it reflects your inside values and what you should be doing instead.
I want to keep a procrastination log for a while to see, what I do when I procrastinate … it would be interesting to see how my time is spent in those situations.
Timo
Prof KRG says
Timo,
A procrastination log… this is an excellent idea! I’d love to hear how it turns out. Thanks for reading!
Kenna
BruceSallan says
I love what I do…every minute of it…so I don’t procrastinate; I just put it off!
vamana.mitra says
i start “thinking” of how best I can not to do the job but have an auto credit of pay cheque!
KoriCasey says
I love this! I always procrastinate by blogging, getting on facebook/twiiter, or reading articles on AdAge or some other site. I’m an Advertising/Public Relations major so this makes a lot of sense.
profkrg says
@KoriCasey It’s perfect! So, I congratulate you on your procrastination 😉
renuevatupc says
My wife said Im a procrastinator…I said I do not procrastinate to put food on the table…
stuffs says
I disagree somewhat with the statement- whatever you are doing when procrastinating should be your full time job. I think everyone would say that social media (be it a distraction) is one of the reasons that they procrastinate. Now this does not mean that everyone should start running a social media app or something. I am also glad that this post sheds light on a better way to look at procrastination. I may be wrong but then again this is my thought on this.
profkrg says
stuffs I see both sides of your point. However, maybe (hopefully?) you’re incorrect in your assumption that most people kill time via social media. I don’t.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
biggreenpen says
This goes to something I heard a while back that resonated: “wherever your mind goes when it wanders, that’s what you should do” (paraphrasing but that was the gist of it. I am really struggling with this right now. Social media would be a top answer for me (for things I do when “procrastinating” that I am passionate about) …. when I have run this idea past social media professionals they have often discouraged me from pursuing it professionally. And that gets me back to ghouths like “I enjoy chocolate but am not going to quit my day job and work at a chocolate factory.” But I know using my social media presence to connect people to causes is a passion so maybe ……… 🙂
Michael Lynch says
How very middle class. There I was, happy cleaning toilets till I read this – I’m off to college. Do they offer degrees in daydreaming ?
On a more serious note I doubt more than 0.1% of the planets population really have much choice in what they do for a living. And as for turning your chosen distractions into jobs, well you’d just need to find a new distraction otherwise you’re bound to become a tad one-dimensional, boring even. Then you might want to turn that new distraction into a job. Where would it all end.
Kenna Griffin says
Maybe it wouldn’t end. Change is good, right? I’m always looking for “what’s next?”