Travis+D’s+2017+OpEd+Article

= Inaction  =

by Travis Dabbous
 I write this now hoping that by the time I end this muckraker I'll experience an epiphany and finally rid myself of this vile and nefarious habit that plagues myself -and all of human kind. I've already spent the majority of the morning -and the past 2 weeks- foreboding and dreading this assignment; I have finally chosen my topic the night of, on some cliché that most likely has been done a myriad of times... oh well. At this point, it feels as if I try to give my future self more of a challenge. "Human beings have always been pain-avoiding creatures. We seek to avoid the things we don't like or that could bring pain to us, and we pursue the things that bring us pleasure and happiness. Oftentimes, this human practice takes form in procrastination" (Bill Anderson K.cur.org). Not only is it coded into our genes but can be influenced through nurture, "Parenting can have an impact on the procrastinating habits of children" Liese, who is a Psychologist and Professor of Family Medicine at KU Medical Center, suggests that, " 'over-functioning parents,' or parents who simply do everything for their child doesn't enable a child to develop a sense of independence and self-control." Extreme cases may even lead to "Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)." I would personally condemn the simplicity and unengaging curriculum in the earlier stages of education; the class and homework provided creates a habit for kids to procrastinate because the work is so simple and requires little to no effort for many. So once promoted to middle school, and later high school, it is assumed to be just as easy.

 "Many people 'get away' with procrastination time and time again, causing a perpetual cycle that reinforces a lack of discipline"(Dr. Bruce Liese).These habits are not ideal to maintain through college and the transition into adulthood. "Pychyl and his fellow researchers surveyed 122 university students," they found that, "not only did procrastinators put off working on things like term papers — they also put off seeking treatment for illnesses, and such wellness behaviors as exercise and the maintenance of a proper diet" (Dr. James Aw medical director of the Medcan Clinic).

Inaction, procrastination, dilly-dallying, stagnation, laziness, whatever you'd like to call it, is the source of stress, anxiety, and sleep loss that not only us amexer's experience. It definitely does not help when we constantly have a little buzzing distraction within arm's reach, constantly getting invites from friends to go to IHOP (but that's for another discussion). School work isn't the only antagonist: the diet your aunt is always saying she's going to start, your mom constructing yet another excuse to not get that cute ass puppy you always eye at the pet store, the driving test that you continue to put off, because who needs a license anyway when you can leech rides off of your friends, cleaning your room finally after the 10 other times your mom yelled at you to do it, even though it only took like 5 minutes to do anyways. If we can't seem to kill the beast that keeps us from our duties than maybe we can tame it.

 Thus they can achieve greatness
// - //// Laozi, //// Tao Te Ching //, chapter 63

The strategy Laozi explains is very effective for homework. Instead of starting with the most difficult and working down, Laozi recommends procrastinating these difficult tasks and doing the easier tasks first. Along with splitting the larger tasks into multiple easy tasks. This strategy allows the user to clear the majority of his/her stress as fast as possible and makes harder tasks seem less difficult. Using procrastination to your advantage.

Hopefully I'll learn -probably not though.