“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
A Musical Reflection
As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…
TGS Success in GPS Sport
In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…
An Exceptional Learning Experience
As a member of the Junior School Leadership Team at Toowoomba Grammar School, my role involves ensuring that the Junior School’s Teaching and Learning programs are designed, implemented and managed effectively. This role is grounded in the vision, mission, and values of TGS and is crucial in supporting the Head of Junior School and the Director of Studies in providing an exceptional learning experience for our boys. At TGS Junior School, we prioritise the use of explicit teaching to ensure that…
An Inclusive Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to introduce the newest addition to our education team, Amanda Gibson. Amanda commenced in Term 4, 2023 in the pivotal role of Head of Diverse Learners and will bring new direction and focus to the position in alignment with our commitment to inclusive education, aligning seamlessly with our Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the Inclusive Education Policy. “I am very excited about developing this role,” said Amanda. “I have a passion for fostering environments where…
Get Involved in Everything
As Senior Prefect at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have had the opportunity to witness the benefits of being an all-rounder firsthand. With the various activities and programs the School offers, the ability to be involved in as many things as possible is not only enjoyable but brings about numerous benefits that extend far beyond the school years. Ranging from sports to drama and debating, participating in anything the School has to offer is an excellent way to make friends and build networks of…
The Importance of Knowledge
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed traveling great distances. As a child growing up in rural New South Wales, this was inevitable. The region was speckled with towns, some more vibrant than others, and diverse landscapes where hillside ruins whispered tales of bygone eras. Over time, these landscapes and towns transformed into familiar scenes, with even minor changes in the community and environment growing more noticeable during each visit. Education parallels this journey, as…
Senior TGS Students' Advice for Starting Senior School
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023. Get involved in different sports and activities Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I…
Transition to Senior School at TGS
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Irrespective of whether your son is joining us from the TGS Junior School, or if they are just starting at Toowoomba Grammar School, this is the start of a long and special journey. Your son will have a lot to digest with a new, possibly larger campus to navigate, different teachers and lessons, making new friends, where to go and what to do at morning tea and lunch. There can be a…
The Transition to Year 7 - from a Parent and Staff Member's Perspective
Regardless of your history with the school, you are all equally welcome here and should feel comfortable in knowing that we value every family and their son’s contribution to our School. Toowoomba Grammar School was built by the community, for the community and it is a School that I am immensely proud of. In 2025 we will celebrate our sesquicentenary or Grammar 150 and your sons will play a vital role in those celebrations. Our pedagogy is modelled on explicit instruction which has its roots in…
