So, maybe that’s not entirely true. However, it is widely considered that procrastination is a negative trait. That’s an outdated concept, and it needs to be looked at in a new light. Think about it differently, and procrastination may just make sense.
To an extent, I guess it depends on how strict you like to draw the line. The goal of this article isn’t to suggest that lazy people are somehow the most creative. However, a degree of procrastination definitely contributes to creativity, and I think, better decisions in general.
Think about it this way. If you have a task to perform, but no inspiration to do it well, why do it now? Putting that task off may be a better option. Delaying your task gives you time to think about it, time to consider all the options available to you. For example, it’s pointless rushing to create something that’s poorly designed, and doesn’t meet a consumer demand.
Of course, this leaves open the great possibility you will never, ever, reach a decision. That is the true procrastination. The solution is to define a time period. Don’t rush decisions, but provide yourself a finite amount of time to consider your decision. It’s also useful to consider the Pareto principle, or the 80–20 rule, whereby 80% of the result is obtained by only 20% of the input.
The trick is to balance a healthy amount of procrastination with a strong commitment to the task. When the two co-exist, there are great decisions and creativity abounds.