Do you work right up to deadlines, procrastinating until the last minute?

First Published 3 June 2021

This is me this week! Well, perhaps it has been me for the last month!! I have an exam tomorrow that, I have known about for weeks.  I have pencilled in time to the calendar to study and learn over and over again.  I have then either ignored or delayed the revision sessions until yesterday!  I finally sat down and blitzed a huge chunk of revision and prep and actually feel quite good about it so far.  But – why do I keep scheduling time and then not quite getting around to it? What is going on?  

I came across a TED talk by Tim Urban all about this very topic a few years ago.  It is well worth the 14 minutes to watch through.  Since watching this, I no longer verbally beat myself up for delaying (even if I did block out time to study and not do it). 

I know things will get done, and I know I will spend enough time preparing and getting sh*t done – even if I am working right up to the wire.  I did forget that this week though!  I managed to catch that little inner voice/terrorist before it did too much damage though so I am still counting it as a win.

Just like my comments a few weeks ago about not needing to force myself/yourself to be a morning person if you really aren’t one, I suggest you take a moment to work out how you best like to work.  And then build your timetable/planning around your style – and most importantly – don’t beat yourself up if you don’t feel you conform.  “You do you” is still one of my favourite philosophies to live by!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the video and whether you are a master procrastinator or if you are a ‘get it done asap’ type of person, so hit me up in the comments and let me know!