How Procrastinating Can Actually Make You More Productive

We’ve all been told that procrastination is bad, right? But what if I told you that putting things off can actually make you more productive? Yep, you read that right! The key is to procrastinate smartly. It’s all about understanding something called Parkinson’s Law and using it to your advantage.

What’s Parkinson’s Law?

Parkinson’s Law is a fancy way of saying:

“Work takes as much time as you give it.”

Let’s say you have two weeks to finish a simple task, like writing a report. Chances are, you’ll take the full two weeks, even if the report only needs a couple of hours to write. You’ll probably overthink it, make unnecessary edits, or just keep putting it off.

Now imagine you only had one evening to finish the same report. You’d skip all the extra stuff and focus on just getting it done. That’s Parkinson’s Law in action: less time = more focus.

How Procrastination Can Help You

Procrastination doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you use it on purpose, it can help you:

1. Stay Focused: When you’re short on time, you automatically focus on what really matters.
2. Save Time: You won’t waste hours on little details that don’t make a big difference.
3. Get Creative: Sometimes, when you delay starting a task, your brain works on it in the background without you even realizing it.

The trick is to procrastinate the right way. Instead of feeling guilty about it, use it as a tool to get more done in less time.

How to Procrastinate the Right Way

1. Focus on What’s Important First:
   Not every task is equally important. Some things make a big difference, while others are just “nice to have.” For example:
   • Important: Writing a proposal or preparing for a meeting.
   • Not Important: Picking the perfect font or cleaning your desk.
   Do the important stuff first, and save the less important stuff for later.
2. Push Small Tasks to the End:
   Things like organizing files, updating spreadsheets, or fixing minor details don’t need to be done right away. Delay these until you’ve finished the big tasks that actually move the needle.
3. Set Fake Deadlines for Big Tasks:
   If you have a big task that feels overwhelming, trick yourself by setting an earlier deadline. This forces you to focus and finish faster.
4. Take a Break:
   When you procrastinate intentionally, it gives your brain some time to rest. Often, you’ll come back to the task with fresh ideas and more energy.

A Simple Example

Let’s say you’re planning a party:

• Week 1: Book the venue and invite guests (important stuff).
• Week 2: Sort out the food and music (still important, but less urgent).
• Week 3: Worry about the decorations (nice to have, but not critical).

By putting off decorations until the end, you save your time and energy for the things that matter most, like making sure the venue and food are sorted.

Don’t Fight Procrastination—Use It!

Procrastination isn’t always the enemy. It can actually help you get more done if you do it the right way. Just remember to:

• Delay the small, unimportant stuff.
• Focus on big tasks that really matter.
• Use deadlines to push yourself into action.

Next time you feel like procrastinating, don’t stress. Ask yourself: Am I putting off the right things to focus on what’s most important?

Procrastinate smarter, not harder—and watch yourself get more done with less effort!