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2Can procrastination make you more productive?
Procrastination is often seen as the enemy of productivity. Images of lazy people with feet up on desks or wasting time to dodge work spring to mind at the very mention of the word. And there are many things which indicate that procrastination is a problem which needs addressing. But could there be some benefits to it too?
We live in a high-octane world – always on the go, racing from one task to another. And at times, duties, be it work or personal, can feel relentless – with our nose constantly to the grindstone.
Sometimes we just need to switch off, chill out and reboot. A little procrastination can help detach us from the pressures of modern life. According to psychotherapist F Diane Barth, watch.ing TV, taking a long bath or listening to music can help us to ease off.
And it's possible that procrastination has become more prevalent during the pandemic. With many countries going through lockdowns, some of us have suddenly found ourselves with more time – not having the hours of commutes, or options of social activities we once took for granted.
Being at home, many of us quickly discovered that it is impossible to be productive 24-7. That extra relaxation can help us to be more productive or creative in the long run, allowing us to clear our minds and focus better.
The issue is that many of us see that time not working as lost time. And we almost develop a sense of guilt related to not making the most of every moment. German sociologist and economist Max Weber says that we've almost got to the point of believing that the busier we are, the better, and that there is a sense of morality connected with time usage. It seems important to remember that taking a little time away from yourself is not just slacking off.
So, while being productive is important, it seems that some amount of downtime and procrastination can help us to relax and become more focussed. The next time you feel really stressed, why not try wasting a little time? You might just like it.
词汇表
procrastination [prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn] n. 拖延，拖延症
feet up 翘脚，指休息放松
dodge [dɒdʒ] v. 躲避，逃避
spring to mind 突然想到，跃入脑海
high-octane [ˈɒkteɪn] adj. 高强度的，充满活力的
on the go 忙个不停，四处奔波
relentless [rɪˈlentləs] adj. 不间断的，持续的
nose to the grindstone [ˈɡraɪndstəʊn] 埋头苦干，辛勤工作
switch off 关闭，放空，不再关注
chill out 放松，冷静下来
reboot [ˌriːˈbuːt] v. 重新启动，休整
detach [dɪˈtætʃ] vt. 使分离，脱离，摆脱
ease off 减轻，缓和，放松
prevalent [ˈprevələnt] adj. 盛行的，普遍的
lockdown [ˈlɒkdaʊn] n. 封锁，禁闭
commute [kəˈmjuːt] n. 通勤，上下班往返
sociologist [ˌsəʊsiˈɒlədʒɪst] n. 社会学家
morality [məˈræləti] n. 道德，道德观
slacking off [ˈslækɪŋ] 偷懒，懈怠
downtime [ˈdaʊntaɪm] n. 停工期，休息时间，空闲时间
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