Back in my school days, when the bell rang, it wasn’t just a signal to shuffle in half-awake. No, it was the cue for us kids to assemble for the morning prayer – a semi-secular ritual designed to either inspire us or give us a reason to daydream about lunch.
Though I can’t remember the full prayer in Hindustani, a couple of lines still echo in my head. They went something like this: Jo kal karna hai woh aaj karle, jo aaj karna hai woh ab karle. Translation: “Whatever you’re planning for tomorrow, do today. Whatever you’re supposed to do today, do it right now.”
In other words, don’t sit around twiddling your thumbs – get cracking!
Naturally, I at once adopted this life philosophy. Oh wait, no, I didn’t. I did what any good student would do—I sat on it. That looming pile of “vacation homework” was less of a gentle reminder and more of a challenge.
The prayer, in my case, became more like Jo ab karna hai, kal karle; jo aaj karna hai, agle hafte karle. Whatever needs to be done now? Let’s do it tomorrow. Or better yet, next week.
Of course, as life carried on, I eventually matured (just a little) into the “let’s get it over” because, frankly, waiting until tomorrow often meant missing the proverbial train.
But old habits die hard. There are still certain things I leave until the last possible second, like going to the dentist, reviewing my will, or fixing that dripping tap that now sounds like it’s composing a symphony.
Procrastination is more of an art than a flaw, right? Some call it “strategic time management.” You see, it’s all about prioritizing – or at least that’s what we procrastinators tell ourselves while rearranging our desks instead of doing something useful.
The thing about priorities is they keep piling up like laundry.
Procrastination is not just about being lazy or bad at time management. It’s about poor mood management! Aha! So, it’s not my fault I didn’t file my taxes early—blame my mood!
While life’s responsibilities have certainly nudged me towards being a more “get-it-done” type, I must confess there are still a few thrill-seeking procrastinators among us.
Take my friend, for instance—he won’t fill up his gas tank until the car is practically begging for mercy. I’m pretty sure he keeps an empty gas cylinder in the trunk just for the adrenaline rush of stalling out somewhere. He’s not avoiding the task; he’s living on the edge!
As for me, procrastination hasn’t always been fun and games. I once found myself nervously sweating as we barely made it to the nearest gas station after crossing the border for that sweet, sweet, cheap US fuel. It was a tension-filled moment if we would make it or get stalled on the highway.
So, here’s my advice: don’t dither, don’t delay; an advice I’m still grappling with.
-Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 