Word of the Day: Procrastinate

pro·cras·ti·nate Pronunciation[proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-]

–verb (used without object)
1.to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost. –verb (used with object)
2.to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.


[Origin: 1580–90; <>pro-1 + -crāstināre, deriv. of crāstinus of tomorrow; crās tomorrow + -tinus suffix forming adjs. from temporal advs.); see -ate1]

Will it help if I use it in a sentence? " Procrastination is something I've come to master as a Ph.D. candidate."

Gets on my nerves really. Once I start working, I can stay focused for hours. My problem is actually gathering the will to sit down to "work". Arrgh, I was not like this, what's happening to me??? I've come to realize I work much better under pressure, with deadlines and such. When left on my own, I will take my time to finish "boring" tasks. Somehow, there always seem to be more urgent tasks to be done than writing, or experimenting, such as rearranging the books on the shelves by authors' last names, doing the dishes/laundry, wondering what to eat for dinner and looking up recipes, or rearranging items on desk for better work efficiency (for the 5th time that day). Sometimes my floors suddenly look like they badly need vacuuming, and sometimes I just have to scrub my bathtub (there'a a certain element of "analness" in my nature by default though, in case you can't tell) before I can start work-or not. You would think with such a tidy desk and a clean house I would have no problems concentrating on work. Things that usually don't occur to me when I'm having fun suddenly start mattering once I sit in front of the computer or pick up a pen. In the lab, since there's no housework to be done, I find myself washing bottles, and cleaning countertops. If my house and lab are clean, you can sort of tell I've been trying to work. I am by no means a slacker, I always get things done on time, and can really work hard if I concentrate. I don't have this problem when I'm making lesson plans, or grading papers, or working on proposals. The procrastination always comes hand in hand with dissertation work, not much of anything else really. I think this is why liking your topic matters...I've got nothing to be excited about. :S

I think I must get my advisor to set my defense date sometime in late fall...That will definitely put my bum to work. After all, a good dissertation is one that is DONE I guess.

Oh...And sometimes I get a sudden urge to blog...I wonder why!