Confessions of a Procrastinator

Hanna Jennings ’24 Managing Editor

To my current teachers: you can stop reading now. During my four years at Hopkins, I’ve heard the warning what seems like a million times. When an important project or the infamous research paper is assigned, teachers and advisors co-conspire to make sure that you are not saving it all for the last minute. It’s widely believed that completing a project or studying for a big test the night before diminishes the quality of the work.
I disagree. The ideal way to complete a project or essay is not universal — in fact, the forbidden procrastination technique is sometimes the best way to get work done.

It makes sense that procrastination is looked down upon. When getting ahead on your responsibilities is praised as productive, the assumption is that doing the opposite is being lazy and uncommitted. The issue with constantly getting ahead in your work is that there’s rarely an end; at a school like Hopkins, there is
always more work to do. There comes a time when you have to make a choice: school versus living life. After spending a semester abroad in France, I’ve more and more frequently been choosing experiences over the so-called “responsible” act of being productive.

Don’t get me wrong, I spend most of my free time doing what every other Hopkins student does: homework.
But for that exact reason, if I have the chance to get dinner with a friend or go somewhere with my family, I’ll often say yes — even if it means I spend my Sunday nights finishing a weekend’s worth of assignments. The finished products are no lesser in quality than if I did them during H-block on Friday; I’m just more tired on Monday morning. Justifying that unnecessary fatigue, however, is the joy that I get from taking time for myself as well as the freedom of knowing that my life does not revolve around school.

Not only have I become much happier since shifting my mindset, but the quality of my work has also improved. Since I allow myself to forget about the mountains of homework waiting in my backpack, I am much more focused when it comes time to study. I feel significantly less worn out going through the week, which helps me both emotionally and academically. Just as I have, I believe that many Hopkins students would benefit from prioritizing living life to its fullest just as much as we all prioritize getting an A on the research paper. With the constant demand of a Hopkins schedule, we should consider any form of relaxation as a necessary part of our daily routines, rather than just a luxury that might materialize once a month.

Another advantage of cramming is increased efficiency. Objectively speaking, writing an essay all in one night is simply quicker. Instead of spending the first ten minutes of every thirty-minute writing session trying to remember your prior train of thought, you can just figure the whole thing out as you finish the paper in
one go. Additionally, the longer I spend on an assignment, the more focused I become. Rather than constantly shifting gears from Shakespeare to the Cold War to integration by parts, I can feel fully engaged in my assignments, producing better, more cohesive results. Though I work better in one sitting, this tactic is counterproductive for many students. Some of my friends need to break up their studying, or else the stress of the piled-up obligations overcome them. Sometimes, even the stress of my piled-up assignments overwhelms

other people. There is no right way to go through school; the important thing is that the work gets done (and well).

Oftentimes, teachers believe that they know the correct way for their students to learn. By requiring rough drafts of papers and notecard checks on research, though, they occasionally make many students (including myself) feel as though we’re being shoved into a box that forces us to work inefficiently. I understand that their intent is to teach us good habits, but maybe it’s time to redefine the strict definition of “good” and “bad” study patterns. I am a strong believer in the saying that what works, works. And for me, procrastination is part of my recipe for success.

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Confessions of a Procrastinator