The subject of procrastination has been studied in depth. It is a complex topic and not easily covered in just a few lines. Each person’s challenges are different as to why they might not do something now and push it off for a later time, against their own better judgment.
Many researchers point out that the issue has nothing to do with laziness or poor time management, and therefore using tools such as apps to help with organizing tasks will not help. The issue is more of an emotional one than anything else. At times, we might be in a bad mood, and we simply don’t want to do something, so we procrastinate. Research shows that chronic procrastination can go from bad to worse in a cycle, as we can become depressed because we are not being productive; that is why it is important to recognize that procrastination is not about productivity but about emotions in the first place. If we can get our emotions under control, if we can deal with our anxiety, our fear, our hesitation to face whatever task is on hand, we will be able to tackle our tasks in a timely fashion.
This sounds overly simplified, so the question that we must ask ourselves is, how do we get there?
There are dozens of recommendations in self-help books, such as rewarding yourself for getting a job done on time. In the end, however, all ideas boil down to one conclusion: that for anything to work, the motivation must be internal. It cannot come from anywhere else other than within ourselves.
However, this week’s Torah portion, Kedoshim, takes that concept one step further. Within the discussion of the sin of stealing and the mitzvah of returning the stolen item, emphasis is placed on the importance of not procrastinating in the process of returning the stolen item.
Why is it so important for a thief to return a stolen item right away? After all, the person has to overcome their embarrassment to ‘fess up. Why not give the person some time? Where is our compassion?
So long as the stolen item is in the possession of the thief, there is a “living sin” in the world. This negative reality is antithetical to G-d. Even the thief, who seemingly doesn’t care about right and wrong, should not procrastinate in their process of doing teshuva, of changing their ways and returning the stolen object to the rightful owner, and returning to G-d. Because the issue at hand is not just between the thief and the owner of the stolen object; it affects the whole world while this “living sin” exists in the world. When they correct their misdeed, they don’t only right their own wrong—between two people— they remove this bad stain from the world as well.
And so much more so when we do a good deed in this world! Every positive action that we take doesn’t just have an effect on our personal life, but it has a ripple effect on all those around us.
When we think of pushing something off because we are simply not in the mood, we should not only think about how it will be beneficial to us to do our task right away, but we should think how the world at large will benefit as well.
We are a microcosm of a macro world. We are interconnected. We make a difference.