“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” - Christopher Parker – professional actor.
Unfortunately, procrastination is a term that we are all familiar with as students; the vast majority of us have experienced it firsthand. It saps our time and results like a parasite, a burden on its host. However, despite it’s reputation, recent studies have shown that when harnessed correctly, procrastination can be a powerful tool to improve both academic efficiency and self-efficacy.
As students, we all lead busy lives. We constantly find ourselves torn between responsibility and recreation, without the time to indulge in both. However, a solution has recently presented itself, and the secret lies in the intentional delaying of important tasks with the intent to reap the benefits of a pressured environment. Meet active procrastination, an emerging study technique backed by scientific research.
In essence, active procrastination describes the deliberate delaying of significant work with the intent to stimulate creativity and productivity. In the meantime, smaller, simpler tasks are checked off. On the contrary, passive procrastination is the type we are all familiar with - the involuntary delaying of important tasks, despite the knowledge that it will result in negative consequences in the future.
Now let me be perfectly clear here, I am not encouraging you to begin, say, your 2000-word physics assignment 10 minutes before the deadline in the name of active procrastination. That’s just ludicrous. While active procrastination is a powerful tool, we still need to be realistic. The foundation of this technique relies on the fact that active procrastinators are in control, which results in a wide range of psychological benefits. By consciously delaying tasks, active procrastinators place themselves in an environment where they feel motivated and challenged, and this can improve creativity.
The benefits of active procrastination are demonstrated by leading researchers, Chu and Choi who associated a significant 0.17 average increase in GPA with active procrastination, as opposed to passive procrastination. To put it simply, active procrastination allows you to get your work done more quickly, to a higher standard, freeing up time for the things you love.
The benefits are not limited to academic performance, however, and extensive research has shown that using active procrastination also significantly influences self-efficacy. To quote the American Psychological association, “Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behaviour, and social environment.”
As a student, our health can easily be overlooked in our busy lives, and active procrastination allows us to prioritise our own wellbeing. How many times have you found yourself in the rut of despair associated with passive procrastination? Active procrastination provides an escape by allowing us to use our time in a more purposeful manner (Wessel, J. 2019). This is exemplified by a study by the Colombus state university who found that “Active procrastination was positively correlated with self-efficacy.” Essentially, implementing active procrastination into your study routine promotes an important sense of control over our life.
Overall, active procrastination has been associated with substantial improvements in both academic performance and self-belief. It has the capacity to break the dragging chains of poor time management and set you free. Instead of sitting at your desk passively procrastinating on an English assignment, you could be spending time on the trails with your friends or watching a thrilling movie. With this in mind, I encourage you to take initiative and implement this novel technique into your assessment schedule. Having personally experienced the benefits – this piece is due in 15 minutes – it is abundantly clear that this study technique should not be overlooked.
By Alex Vanzella, Year 9 TGS Student
References –
Carey, M., & Forsyth, A. (2009). Teaching Tip Sheet: Self-Efficacy [Paper presentation]. American Psychological Association.
Chu, A. H. C., & Choi, J. N. (2005). Rethinking Procrastination: Positive Effects of "Active" Procrastination Behavior on Attitudes and Performance. The Journal of Social Psychology, 145(3), 245–264. https://doi.org/10.3200/SOCP.145.3.245-264
Da Silva, S, Smith, A, & Facciolo, M. (2020). Relations between Self-Efficacy and Procrastination Types in College Students [Online document]. Colombus State University. https://scholar.utc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1476&context=mps
Wessel, J., Bradely, G., & Hood, M. (2019). Comparing effects of active and passive procrastination: A field study of behavioral delay [Online document]. Science Direct. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid...
Latest Blog
Correcting our School's official record commemorating World War I and World War II
On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century. For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have…
A Pioneering Woman of TGS
My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the…
NZ Rugby Tour success, more than winning matches across the Ditch
The teams were undefeated and it was a trip the players will never forget. This tour was years in the making and heralds a new era of touring and hosting different rugby schools to give our players opportunities for growth as athletes and as people. Head of Sport - Rugby, Mr Lincoln Clapham, explained they selected 46 students to take part in the ten-day tour and began training last year. From Term 1 onwards, the squad trained twice weekly on the oval plus two and sometimes three gym sessions…
Aussie Teen Reading Habits Revealed
I was recently sent an article, summarising some research from Deakin University around the reading habits of teens in 2024. Some of it was, as the title suggests, surprising. Some was not. However, all of it was built around the importance of reading, and supporting our teens to read, which is something that every one of us should do. While we tend to see our teens as digital natives, recent research from Deakin University suggests that the average Aussie teen reader would rather flick through…
Now More Than Ever
The one-of-a-kind Indigenous artwork is emblazoned across the shirts for the First IV Tennis team, jerseys for the First XI Football team and First XV Rugby team and First V Basketball team's singlets. National Reconciliation Week is a significant date on the calendar for all Australians, running from Monday, 27 May to Monday, 3 June. The incorporation of this Indigenous design in our uniforms is a significant milestone for our School, especially for our 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
It's a numbers game, making mathematics mainstream
Term 2 has been a busy one in the Mathematics department; from multiple year levels having extended assessment tasks to competitions run inside and outside the School. Using mathematical equations to recreate artwork The Year 11 Mathematical Methods students got a chance to be very creative with their assessment - using numbers to reproduce artwork. The boys visited the 2024 Grammar Art Show in Term 1 and were given the task to reproduce a chosen work using their knowledge of mathematical…
Bucolic beginnings, boarding and becoming a bowel surgeon
Coming from a cattle property near Injune I was in awe of the School’s ovals with lush, green grass and immaculate facilities. I found being able to throw yourself around and not risk skin cuts and grazes quite novel. Sharing the same field where many Old Boys and past heroes trotted was inspirational. I found the comradery among the boarders my most overwhelming memory. It was like having 60 brothers with similar interests all living under the same roof. There was always someone around to kick…
Our Other Mother
Meet Ms Janelle Fletcher, the House Mum of Corfe, whose journey at TGS began back in 1992 as an instrumental music teacher. Her story is one of deep connections, love for the arts and an unshakeable bond with the students of TGS. From the time that Janelle first stepped onto campus and shared her musical talents with young minds to now creating her own “mum moments” in Corfe — she has nurtured a profound sense of community and established connections that have lasted through generations. Her…
Fostering a creative generation and getting exhibited at GoMA
2023 Visual Arts student Ben Rosenberg (TGS 2019-2023) had his film “Mitchell” selected and it's now on display as part of the 2024 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art at GoMA. For 30 years the Awards have recognised and promoted excellence in senior visual art education throughout Queensland schools. Secondary schools typically enter the work of up to four Senior students. Previous winners from TGS include Sam McCosker (2013) and Austin Reed (2017). Ben is a filmmaker and…
