VIP Class Notes (Vicki)

Vocabulary

procrastination – when you put off work till the last minute

put off – delay

dodge – to avoid
i.e. I want to dodge this test that is coming up.

address – acknowledge

procrastinator – someone who waits until the last minute to do the work

adrenaline – 肾上腺素

zodiac sign – 星座

rising – 上升

Aries – 白羊座

Scorpio – 天蝎座

Gemini – 双子座

quadruple – 4
i.e. You have a quadruple self.

decisive – make a decision fast

route – 路线

high-octane – active and energetic

on the go – always moving

relentless – no rest, no stop

nose to the grindstone – always working

switch off – turn off

chill out – to rest

reboot – restart

ease off – relax, to take off some pressure
i.e. I like to ease off from work by watching TV on the couch.

psychotherapist – 心理辅导员

RAMP sleep – deep sleep

pandemic – 疫情

take for granted – 应该的
i.e. Just because I am kind to you, doesn’t mean you can take me for granted.

grant – to gift, to give
i.e. The boss granted me 100,000 bonus.

24/7 – all the time
i.e. I can’t work 24/7.

commute – 通勤
i.e. I have to spend 2 hours every day on the commute.

prevalent – relevant, more popular

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, watching 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.

Read the following paragraph and write down your reflection on procrastination

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.