Procrastination, and I certainly will do … tomorrow!

There is a word from the Latin procrastinatio, which means «put off until tomorrow.» Thus, we can assume that the problem is not entirely new, if it even existed in Latin for this error of a single word. However, it was never spoken more than today. Internet is simply overflowing with a variety of videos and articles on the subject. Moreover, the problem has become popular in the academic environment. Philosophers, psychologists, economists are trying to analyze the theoretical side of the problem, find out the cause of this defect, and offer practical ways to overcome it. It often happens that the work is rather subjective and reflect the author’s personal problems. And, in the end, no one but the person is not able to make it do what you want — to go to the dentist, write a report, to take up foreign language learning. Yet, other people’s thoughts on this subject are not uninteresting.

Speaking of learning a foreign language. Probably, many people (especially those who try to do it yourself) know this scenario: first you have the desire, motivation, you start to work. Then begins the first difficulties, it is necessary to make efforts, and gradually transforms your process of self-education in the ordinary delay. Where to get a second wind? Sometimes it’s not just superhuman willpower, and in the little tricks. The most simple — do not be afraid to promote yourself for work. Some people in such cases helps excitement — argue with your friends. However, there are no limits of human ingenuity. Said Victor Hugo stripped naked and asked a servant to hide all his clothes when he had to write. I do not walk naked, and that had to stay at home and work. The only pity is now his method was not very efficient. Staying at home in our time — it does not mean to take the job. After all, one of the thieves themselves treacherous time — the Internet. Although he undoubtedly can be a great helper.

But John Perry, an American professor of philosophy at Stanford, his views on the matter. It differs from conventional structured procrastination. And if the first type is the infamous bezdelnichestve, in the second case, the person is always doing something, even if it is not the most important thing at this point. Thus, sooner or later, people will do all their business, only need to make them seem less important than something else. Self-deception? Yes, but what’s wrong, I asked Perry …

Whatever it was, but the delay inherent in many people. Prokrastinirovat can be different, some even equate it to art. We offer you watch videos on the subject. Quite possibly, someone finds themselves.

First, analyze the grammar. Almost all the proposals built for the following scheme — «Procrastination is doing smth». The words that you can substitute for doing (avoiding, reading, sharpening, and so on. D.) Are called the gerund and gerund. They are formed, as you’ve probably guessed by the end — ing, which is added to the infinitive of the verb. Gerund functions in a sentence may be different. In this case, it appears part of a compound nominal predicate. If we translate the phrase Procrastination is reading a book word for word, it turns out: procrastination — is reading a book. It is important to distinguish between the gerund of the verb in the Present Continuous. This can usually be done in the sense of, if there are difficulties — ask yourself the question — whether the subject performs the action expressed by the predicate with the ending — ing. Compare Deals: Procrastination is making you depressed and Procrastination is making a cup of tea. In the first case, it introduces a delay into a depression, that is, it performs a specific action. In the second, the delay — is to make tea (the sentence «the delay makes tea» does not make sense).

Also, gerunds used after certain verbs. The simplest is: to like, to love, to hate. For example: I like writing letters and I hate doing dishes. List, of course, is not limited to these three words.

Teper go to interesting words and expressions, which in this video a lot.

Useful vocabulary

To avoid doing something — to avoid doing something. To avoid — one of verbs, after which used the gerund (similar to like, to love, to hate).
To get started — set yourself up to work, start to work.
To descale a kettle — to remove scale from the kettle.
To color coordinating your shelves — arrange things on the shelves by color.
To sharpen pencil — sharpening a pencil.
To spend 30 minutes — to spend half an hour.
To thesaurusize words in your e-mails — to replace the word in the e-mail of their synonyms. The word comes from the thesaurus [θɪ’sɔːrəs] — dictionary of synonyms and antonyms.
To stare out the window — look out the window.
To do the dishes — wash the dishes.
To tidy your desk — to clean up the table.
A fire-escape plan — a fire escape plan.
To rearrange furniture — rearrange furniture.
Imaginary — imaginary.
To pair up socks — socks sort.
To write thank you letters — to write letters of thanks.
To daydream — to dream of something (in broad daylight).
To pet something — something to stroke.
To water a plant — watering pot.
To doodle — doodle.
Verily grow a moustache — to grow a mustache.
To chase — chase.
To tap a pencil — knocking a pencil.
To get something done — pay someone for certain services. For example:
I want to get my bike fixed (I’ll pay someone to repair).
I’ll fix my bike (I’ll do it myself).
However, in spoken English (in particular in this video), the phrase «to get something done» has the meaning — to do something.
To take a nap — nap.
To get drunk — drunk.
To scratch yourself — scratching.
To make a cup of tea — brewed tea.
To oil a bike — to lubricate a bicycle.
To pick one’s nose — pick your nose.
Inevitable — inevitable. To avoid the inevitable — to avoid the inevitable.
To write a list — costavlyaet list.
To over-complicate things — too complicate everything.

We bring you another video, which describes a typical day in the life of the procrastinator.

This morning I got up and got ready quickly because I had to get a lot of stuff done.
I sat down at my desk to start getting my stuff done and I
spilled my coffee so I got a sponge to clean it up and I
figured I’d take an extra minute to clean a whole desk
because a clean desk would help me get my stuff done.
When I was finished I realized I had not eaten anything and
I did not wanna be hungry while got my stuff done, so I went
into the kitchen and I was out of cereals.
When I gotten to the grocery store I remembered a bunch
of other crap I needed to get and figured out it was already
there so I did my shopping for the week so I did not have to
worry about it while I got my stuff done.
When I got home I did not feel like cereals anymore and so I
made an omelet and did the dishes so I would not have to
do them after I got my stuff done and then I went out to
get some oil from the hardware store because my desk
chair is kind of squeaky and I did not wanna be
distracted by a squeaky chair while I got my stuff done.
When I got back it was getting kind of late and I new I
would not be able to get my stuff done by today, so I
started watching the Twilight zone marathon on TV and
just have to make sure I get to bed early because I want
to be well rested tomorrow so I can get my stuff done.

Useful vocabulary

Stuff — in this case: my stuff — my affairs. In general, the word to remember, because speaking English it is used to refer to anything, if not specified what they mean. For example:
I do not need this stuff — I do not need.
That’s very intresting stuff — it’s very interesting.
Get my stuff done — to make all of its business (see the glossary for the first video).
Spill coffee — coffee spill.
To figure — to learn, to understand. For example: I can not figure what she wants — I can not understand what she wants.
I am out of cereals — I ran out of cereal.
A bunch of — a whole bunch of something, pretty much.
I feel like cereals — I want cereal (I would have eaten cereal).
Squeaky — Squeaky.
Wanna = want to.
To distract — distracting.
Well-rested — well rested.

Next time we will prepare another selection of videos on the theme of delay. And if reading this article, you will avoid writing a report or other important work, we hope, your time was still well spent!

 

  5962

Proceedings