According to the American Psychological Association, about 20 percent of Americans can be described as chronic procrastinators.
Physically it manifests itself in laziness, idleness, indifference and nonchalance. It also shows itself in indifference to improve one’s character, distaste for the spiritual and failure to cultivate new virtue.
Becoming indifferent and not cultivating new virtue is a deadly disease of postmodernism because it deprives our spirit of its zest and zeal.
What best counters this vice?
It is diligence, which is decisiveness in fulfilling the responsibilities of our vocation or state in life. Diligence combats spiritual laziness by keeping us focused and paying attention to the work at hand — be it work of employment or the work of God.
As a teacher, I have experienced procrastination and diligence. Many students with good academic credentials would start the year enthusiastically but then become unduly distracted, spending exorbitant time on the Internet — time better spent on studies.
Some would flunk out because they waited until the last minute to study for an exam. They learned the hard way that procrastination is opportunity’s assassin. It is like a credit card: It’s a lot of fun until you get the bill. Its toll on success and happiness is extremely heavy.
On the other hand, there were students who diligently applied themselves to their studies and made the high cost of a college education worth it. They learned the fruits of this wisdom attributed to Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield: “Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”
The first type of student I mentioned mirrors much of what we find today: office workers idling at their desks; parents putting off to timely lessons they should be teaching their children; lawmakers dawdling on vital issues needing immediate action for millions of afflicted people; political leaders covering their backs instead of looking ahead.
The second type of student mirrors those who decisively apply themselves to the responsibilities of the moment and enjoy the success this produces.
Avoiding procrastination requires two vital principles. First, time must be valued as a precious gift from God because it has been bestowed on us as an opportunity for making the best of our lives.
Second, happiness is experienced best when addressing pressing issues immediately and avoiding the temptation to wait “until later.”
Often, later is too late.
