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How to Use Procrastination to Improve Your Creativity

Stop wrestling with the procrastination monster

Jason McBride

Collage illustration by Jason McBride; all illustrations by Jason McBride

I used to feel like procrastination was a monster that lurked inside of me. It felt completely out of my control. My whole life, I would be doing great — then, without warning, something inside of me would surface and choke my will to be productive. I was told I was self-sabotaging, but procrastination felt like a separate entity with its own will and agenda.

Haiku comic by Jason McBride

I tried all kinds of tricks to be more productive. I was once high-functioning. I did well in college, went to law school, and graduated in the top third of my class despite my regular bouts of procrastination.

However, I was always getting things done at the very last minute. This increased my stress levels and meant I would throw up each morning before heading off to work at the law firm.

Eventually, I learned that I had an anxiety disorder and ADHD. This seemed to explain the origin of my procrastination, but it did nothing to help me conquer the beast.

It wasn’t until I decided to study my procrastination like Jane Goodall embedded with a troop of…

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Jason McBride
Jason McBride

Responses (37)

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Creative work requires blank canvases. You cannot create meaningful, high-quality work if you never give yourself the time and space to not work.

I completely agree with you. I always thought I was a terrible procrastinator but I know I'm a reasonably good writer. I can spend hours not writing, yet something worthwhile will always come in the end.
I think it's when you accept that…

Very nice article .I learnt a lot from it. now I will utilise it.

By submitting to procrastination, I took away its power.

I'll try this one