Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Frank Lloyd Wright, J.K. Rowling. What do all of these people have in common? They’re all procrastinators. We usually see procrastination as a negative trait but there are new studies showing that it may actually help with the creative process. We’ve done some research and the common theme is that medium, productive or active procrastination is linear with higher creativity. All of those terms mean the same thing. Let’s go back to our previous creativity article where we talked about the different kinds of creativity. Mozart said he had melodies just come into his mind while he would be doing a random task, such as eating dinner out somewhere. He would then whistle them until he would get home and was able write them down. He wrote, “It seems to me impossible to say whence they come to me and how they arrive; what is certain is that I cannot make them come when I wish.” Oh, he was a major procrastinator according to the history books too by the way. What he is describing here refers to the spontaneous and cognitive creativity, where one has those big “Eureka Moments,” where the unconscious mind takes over and solves something for you. It typically happens when doing some mundane task.
Now, let’s circle back to the idea of procrastination. When we think of procrastination, we think of it in the traditional sense where one is lazy and just waits until the last possible minute to get something done. This is also known as passive procrastination and it should be noted that it differs from active procrastination, according to a scientific study published in Science Direct. Active procrastination is defined here from the psychological characteristics that differ from passive procrastination. Active procrastinators are those who prefer time pressures, intentionally decide to procrastinate, have the ability to meet deadlines and are satisfied with the outcomes of their decisions. This type of procrastination requires time to reflect on the work you’re doing or maybe not reflect on it at all. This allows the unconscious mind to run amuck and give you all the creative answers you’re looking for. According to a study done by psychologist Benjamin Baird in 2012, periods of short breaks that involve some engagement with an undemanding task can actually increase creativity up to 40%. This indicates that after beginning a task one should take a short break where they do some easy task. Doing nothing lets the mind wander too much and doing a demanding task doesn’t allow for it to wander at all. Distraction in moderation is key for productive procrastination. Hence, why people find the creative answers they’ve been looking for when they’re folding the laundry.
So, what if we reframed the idea of procrastination and turned into a positive one? Can it can be harnessed as part of the creative process as a whole? Can it be use it to your creative advantage? We think so. The next time you begin a project, try to use this productive procrastination as a tool to advance your creativity.
