Procrastination is a lot like eating a super greasy cheeseburger. It feels so good as you ingest everything. However, when it is over and the gravity of the situation sets in, the result is generally pretty negative. In the words of Kanye West: “What’s worse: The pain or the hangover?” Does the satisfaction created by looking at Facebook justify the time lost from doing homework. It’s too bad that the medium that is required for us to complete work in classes also can be a tool for massive procrastination. Netflix is only a couple clicks away while you’re working on your paper for International Politics. It is important to weigh the consequences of one’s actions before following through with them.

When I was in high school, I often struggled with my media use. I believed that I had attention deficit disorder for a long time because I seemingly couldn’t control my non-academic media use. I would send hours looking at random videos on youtube and was unable to concentrate on my work until the last minute. Relatively minor projects would take twice as much time as I initially intended to spend on them because I couldn’t control my internet use. I pleaded to my parents several times to have me checked for ADD because I worried about myself. My parents refused to listen to me and eventually I got over it. To be honest, the notion of college terrified me. As the school year approached, I got more and more nervous anticipating that I would treat homework in college the same way as I did during high school.

So far, things are going well. The catalyst for this has been the library. The library has instituted a unsaid culture where procrastination is frowned upon. Every time I go on Facebook or some other social network, I feel ashamed of myself as I look around and see everyone around me hard at work. Of course I take study breaks at the library. I would go insane if I didn’t. But, my study breaks don’t become “study vacations” like they did at home where I would find myself watching an entire episode of “Breaking Bad” instead of doing my work.

The technology of today is a double edged sword. On one side, I need my laptop to do almost all of my homework including electronic reserve readings, scholarly articles, and typing essays. On the other hand, a computer is the central tool in my procrastinating ways. It’s like having an office and a playground in the same building. It just isn’t a good idea. When I don’t feel engaged, it is too easy for me to be sucked into something distracting. It is literally only a few clicks away.

Technology will never go away. Technology will continue to be more and more prevalent in our daily lives. It is my responsibility to have the fortitude to determine and follow through on my priorities before I allow myself to become undone by my own distraction.

Thanks for Reading

– Murph