Now

This month I would like to discuss a subject which is near and dear to most people. It is something that is quite common, and I am certain that most of my readers can relate well to this topic. It can be the bane of employers, teachers, and spouses, yet nearly everyone has practiced this at some point in their lives. If you think I am taking a bit too long to reveal the theme of this article, you are correct. I will get around to it in good time, when I feel ready, and not a moment before. Have you guessed already? Very well. If I wait any longer, I fear I might lose even those who have read this far. I would like to argue in favor of … procrastination.

The summer months are upon us, and the kids are out of school. Everyone seems to be more relaxed as we downshift into a slower pace. The sun is shining beautifully in the sky (usually), and the air carries the various scents of fresh vegetation. Thoughts turn to vacations, carefree times, and taking a well-earned opportunity to unwind. This is the perfect time to consider putting off our to-do list, kicking back, and enjoying the peace. Sounds good, right?

As religious Jews, we know that every moment is precious. Investing the time to care for ourselves and retool our minds and bodies to keep us healthy has biblical sources. We must maintain the optimal level of health and happiness to enable us to better serve our Creator. Summer vacation is neither the time nor the place for our Jewish guilt to kick in. As long as we maintain our focus, that we are taking time off in order to bounce back and put that renewed energy into doing mitzvos and learning Torah, we transform idle time into a mitzvah in itself.

So, you may ask, what does all of this have to do with procrastination? I am getting to that. I do have to wrap this up while still on this page.

If someone would ask you if you believe that procrastination is a good thing or a bad thing, what might you answer? Don’t say, “Let me get back to you on that….” But seriously speaking, procrastination is generally thought of as stemming from laziness. I do not wish to do something now if I can put it off for later. I am too tired, too weak, too busy, too engrossed, too involved, too disinterested in that thing that needs to be done. Can laziness ever be a good thing?

There is one excellent purpose for procrastination. When the Evil Inclination tempts us to sin, it may feel like we are losing the battle. The constant pressure to give in to our desires can be overwhelming. In truth, we want to do the right thing and avoid transgressing Hashem’s word, yet we are only human beings. It is exhausting to keep fighting the wiles of the yetzer harah over and over again. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could conjure up some way to delay when (and if) we finally give in? How great would it feel to address our internal struggle directly and say, “Ok, you win. I can’t fight anymore. You have convinced me that I can no longer hold out against your onslaught of temptation. I am too weak. Just give me a little while so I can take care of something else, and I will get back to you as soon as I am done with that other thing.”

The something else can be anything at all. It can include making a phone call, catching up on your emails, or even doing a mitzvah. One suggestion includes dragging the yetzer harah into the beis medrash to learn Torah, which is the ultimate antidote to the Evil Inclination. Anything that forestalls that moment of failure is a win. If we are lucky, by the time we have completed the task which delays us from committing the sin in question, perhaps the desire that compelled us before will be weaker or even be gone completely. Wouldn’t that be great?