Procrastination

According to the Oxford English the word ‘Procrastination’ is derived from the Latin ‘procrastinare’ which translates into: the prefix pro-, 'forward', and the suffix – ‘crastinus’, meaning 'till next day'. Which is fair enough, some things have to be done tomorrow or next week or year. But ‘Procrastination’ comes with an overtone of dawdling or dallying (which is a word I quite like).

procrastination clock

I actually don’t like procrastination. I like getting stuff done and out of the way. I can then relax. I like a ‘to do’ list in the morning with things done from yesterday that I can put a line through.

I was thinking that there would be a single word to describe getting stuff done in time but the various synonym sites don’t think there is one. I think there should be. As procrastination comes from the Latin I’m going to follow the same path.

Using a couple of Google sites I’m going with ‘in tempore suo’ which means ‘in its time’. I think I can use ‘in’ as the first part of my new word. How about ‘tempor’, so that’s ‘intempor. I’m presuming I can mess about with the ending as ‘suo’ could be tricky and anyway ‘tinus’ goes to ‘tinate’. I’m going for ‘intempesate’. Then it could be intempestation.

I’ve just looked it up and there are no references to such a word other than what seems like a misspelling in a paper’s records in the 19th century.

the intempestate man is able to relax

When I was looking up various sites about procrastination I came across pages and pages of self help advice as to how to avoid it. For instance this from The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

...It can be difficult to tell when you are procrastinating. Think about the clues that tell you that’s what you’re doing: for example, a nagging voice in your head, a visual image of what you are avoiding or the consequences of not doing it, physical ailments (stomach tightness, headaches, muscle tension), inability to concentrate, inability to enjoy what you are doing.... 

How do you procrastinate? Try to ignore the task, hoping against hope that it will go away?

Over- or under-estimate the degree of difficulty that the task involves?

Minimize the impact that your performance now may have on your future?

Substitute something important for something really important? (For example, cleaning instead of writing.) 

The University’s advice for those with a problem is actually good and useful for all and not just students. And even if one is not a procrastinator then the following is appropriate:
‘While you are thinking about where to write, consider also when you will write. When are you most alert? Is it at 8 a.m., mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early evening, or late at night? Try to schedule writing time when you know you will be at your best. Don’t worry about when you “should” be able to write; just focus on when you are able to write.’

When I was looking stuff up I also came across the fascinating Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis. Apparently he is best known for his epigrams, which became popular and influential in European poetry over a millennium after his death. 

M Valeri Martialis

In these short, witty poems he satirises city life and the scandalous activities of his acquaintances, and romanticises his provincial upbringing. And some of these poems made me blush. He wrote a total of 1,561 epigrams and also coined the word plagiarism.

Procrastination by Marcus Valerius Martialis (c. 40-104)

LVIII

To Morrow you will live, you always cry;
In what far Country does this Morrow lye,
That 'tis so mighty long e'er it arrive?
Beyond the Indies does this Morrow live?
'Tis so far fetch'd this Morrow, that I fear
'Twill be both very Old, and very Dear.
To Morrow I will live, the Fool does say;
To Day it self's too late, the Wise liv'd Yesterday.

Translated by Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)

from M. Valeri Martialis Epigrammaton, Liber Quintus

Thanks for reading, Terry Q