Sooner or later some drug company is going to come out with a medication for procrastination. (Did you know it’s thought to originate in the same part of the brain as attention deficit disorder?) The market would be huge—experts say 95% of people procrastinate from time to time and nearly 20% make it a habit. But we’re not so sure we’d take that pill. Although being late can complicate, in some instances it’s a smart thing to do. Consider these six instances where it might just pay to be tardy.
Exercising: Many women think it’s best to work out in the morning, and they drag themselves out of bed at dawn to do it. While this is a good strategy psychologically, it’s not wise physically. The best exercise time for your body is actually 5 to 7 PM. That’s when its core temperature is naturally high, muscles are warm, and you’re more likely to have a strong, injury-free workout. Plus, it’s a great way to blow off the day’s stress.
“Rescuing” a child: If your child has scrambled to the top of the play set and is looking a bit worried, pause before running to “save” them. As long as there’s no immediate danger, studies show it’s better to let them figure out how to free themselves. It builds self-confidence.
Boarding a plane: Why is everyone so anxious to be the first one to sit down in the tiny space where they’ll be sitting for the next 3 hours? Unless you are traveling with a child, have a large carry-on, or got an upgrade to business, wait until nearly all rows have been seated. Then just walk on, sit down, and take off.
Answering the phone: Instinct makes us jump up to get it. Instead, try training yourself to use the ring as a cue to take two deep breaths. When you do this throughout the day, it can help you relax. Imagine that!
Buying the latest technology: Whether it’s the newest cell phone or digital camera, resist the urge (or your husband’s urge) to own the latest. Let the bugs get worked out first. The second version of everything is better (and often cheaper).
Getting out of bed: The best type of rest happens in the last stage of sleep, usually between the seventh and eighth hours. This is the longest stage of REM. If you’re getting up early, you’re missing out. So sleeping longer isn’t necessarily lazy—it could actually make you more alert and productive the rest of the day (imagine that!). Now how do we convince the kids to let us sleep in just a bit longer?!
Perfect! I always knew that being late was a good thing, just needed someone else to confirm it!
Consier it done! LOL!I agree about the phone one too. When we lived with my Mother in law she taught me that one.
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