A pre-crastinator writes

AUCKLAND, Today: “I consider myself very fortunate that despite my long list of failings, procrastination is not one of them,” wrote columnist Paul Catmur in the Herald on Sunday at the weekend.

“For example, this weekly article is far more likely to be written a day early than an hour late. This may mean that I’m actually a pre-castinator (which is a great attribute for a writer, less so for a lover).

In a country which is renowned for suffering from poor productivity, procrastination is something which we should really look to fix.

“As well as holding back careers and causing issues in our private lives, it also annoys the hell out of co-workers, even if they’re generally too polite to say. So, I’m saying it for them.

“Yes, everyone is late on occasion, but if it happens: Every. Single. Freaking. Time. Then there’s a problem.”

“Procrastinators eventually turn up late with their work explaining how they were toiling all night to get it done and expecting gratitude and sympathy for their incredible dedication.

“Of course, everyone else knows that this self-sacrifice was because the person concerned had been scrolling through TikTok videos and binge-watching Love Island UK for the previous two weeks when they were supposed to be getting it done.

“There is no chance to review the work, no time for a run through, and half-baked ideas full of mistakes are presented. We’re supposed to be grateful for this.

“Yes, everyone is late on occasion, but if it happens: Every. Single. Freaking. Time. Then there’s a problem.”

• Read Catmur’s full column here