Seven Habits of Highly Effective Procrastinators

1. It’s not due for a few days. I have plenty of time.
   

   I'll work on this n--Oh look, there's a bird!

2. Okay, now I’m sitting down to work on an outline [oops, phone call from friend trumps the outline].
3. I’ll work through the outline in my head as I watch that new movie with Hugh Jackman [Hugh Jackman trumps everything].
4. Okay, now I’m going to sit down and—oh, look, a shiny object!
5. Oh, shoot, it’s due in two days. I guess I better start. Hey—a Glee marathon!
6. Um, it’s due tomorrow. Okay, I’m sitting down to work on this. After I run to Starbucks. Then to Target. Then to the bookstore.
7. It’s due in a couple hours. Oh, well, I’m better under pressure anyway.

This is me. And yes, I would’ve gotten it finished, no problem.

A few years ago, I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) that measures how you perceive the world and make decisions. My results were ENFP, which basically means I’m the following:

1. Extroverted
2. Procrastinator
3. Blue-sky thinker
4. Disorganized
5. Easily distracted

In fact, every personality indicator I’ve ever taken has shown that I’m these things. The funny thing is that no one who knows me is surprised by this. I told one person I took the MBTI and he said in a disdainful tone, “Oh, you must be ENFP.” I thought that was hilarious (ENFPs are very easy-going, by the way).

You know what? This works for me. Not everyone plans a vacation out a year in advance, or creates drafts from outlines.  I’ve tried to fit into the mold of a planner, but it’s never worked for me. In college, I used to write my final paper, then the outline from it. The one time I tried to follow the formula and tried to plan, my grade suffered. I do much, much better under pressure (and I do meet my deadlines). Perhaps that’s one reason I’m a great multi-tasker, too.

To sum it up, everyone is different. If you have a formula that works for you, excellent! Don’t apologize, and don’t try to change. Embrace your so-called weaknesses and make them work for you.

I’m going back to work on my edits…um, later.