Procrastination: A Bad Habit
Wastes time and energy: Important tasks get delayed, piling up stress and
reducing productivity.
Creates guilt and anxiety: Knowing something must be done but not doing it
eats away at mental peace.
Hampers growth: Constant postponement means missed opportunities for
learning or improvement.
The Vedic worldview promotes a purposeful life of action (karma),
guided by one's personal and ethical duties (dharma). In this view,
inaction is not an option.
Action over inaction: In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna directly advises
Arjuna, "Perform your prescribed duties, for action is superior to
inaction" (3.8). This teaching stresses that taking action, even if
imperfect, is better than being paralyzed by indecision.
Righteous action: The path to a better life, and ultimately liberation
(moksha), is through performing one's dharma. Following this righteous path
leads to good karma, while neglecting one's duty leads to unfavorable
consequences.
The paradox of action and inaction: Advanced spiritual teachings highlight
a paradox, explaining that true "inaction" lies in performing one's duties
without attachment to the results. In contrast, a lazy person who avoids
work is still accumulating karma through their thoughts and desires, a form
of "action in inaction" that binds them.
B G 18 28: Bg. 18.28
अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध: शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: ।
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko ’lasaḥ
viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca
kartā tāmasa ucyate
ayuktaḥ — not referring to the scriptural injunctions; prākṛtaḥ —
materialistic; stabdhaḥ — obstinate; śaṭhaḥ — deceitful; naiṣkṛtikaḥ —
expert in insulting others; alasaḥ — lazy; viṣādī — morose; dīrgha-sūtrī —
procrastinating; ca — also; kartā — worker; tāmasaḥ — in the mode of
ignorance; ucyate — is said to be.
The worker who is always engaged in work against the injunctions of the
scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in
insulting others, and who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating is
said to be a worker in the mode of ignorance.
But sometimes, a Necessary Evil
Incubation period for ideas: Taking time off from immediate action can let
your subconscious process information creatively — many writers,
scientists, and artists report their best insights after a delay.
Avoids impulsive decisions: Procrastination can act as a pause button,
allowing for reflection before committing to something major.
Prevents burnout: Occasionally putting off work gives mental breathing
space, especially in a high-stress environment.
Acting after due Consideration
எண்ணித் துணிக கருமம் துணிந்தபின்
எண்ணுவம் என்பது இழுக்கு. (௪௱௬௰௭ - 467)
Ennith Thunika Karumam Thunindhapin
Ennuvam Enpadhu Izhukku
eṇṇit tuṇika karumam tuṇintapiṉ
eṇṇuvam eṉpatu iḻukku.
Think before you launch. To launch and then think is disgrace.
Tamil (தமிழ்)
(செய்யத் தகுந்த) செயலையும் வழிகளை எண்ணிய பிறகே துணிந்து தொடங்க வேண்டும்,
துணிந்த பின் எண்ணிப் பார்க்கலாம் என்பது குற்றமாகும். (௪௱௬௰௭)
Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्)
कार्यनिर्वहणोपायमादौ ज्ञात्वा क्रियां कुरु ।
प्रविश्य कार्ये नोपायचिन्तनं कार्यसाधकम् ॥ (४६७)
Procrastination does pave the way to perfect completion or avoidance of bad
reflections in the future.
Balanced View
So while chronic procrastination is clearly harmful, strategic
procrastination — delaying with awareness and purpose — can actually
improve quality of thought and emotional balance.
“Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past
it.”
Sometimes slowing down (even by procrastinating a little) helps you act
with clarity, not haste.
K Rajaram IRS 141025
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