I think real procrastination richly deserves the rap it gets.
If you've ever found yourself frantically slaving away at priority # 10392 while priority # 1 goes all to hell, and you're miserable because you know exactly what you're avoiding (and what it's costing you), you'll have some idea of why procrastination has an evil reputation.
I think your point is more that "be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all" is absolute crap advice. I'm absolutely agreed with you on that. There are also tasks that should be delayed, because they may change or even prove unnecessary if you put them off.
Procrastination, though... chronic procrastination (and a whole slew of psychological defenses that grew around the basic action paralysis) has pretty much destroyed my father's life, work, relationships, etc.. I've had my own issues, though I do a lot better now than in the past.
If you've ever found yourself frantically slaving away at priority # 10392 while priority # 1 goes all to hell, and you're miserable because you know exactly what you're avoiding (and what it's costing you), you'll have some idea of why procrastination has an evil reputation.
I think your point is more that "be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all" is absolute crap advice. I'm absolutely agreed with you on that. There are also tasks that should be delayed, because they may change or even prove unnecessary if you put them off.
Procrastination, though... chronic procrastination (and a whole slew of psychological defenses that grew around the basic action paralysis) has pretty much destroyed my father's life, work, relationships, etc.. I've had my own issues, though I do a lot better now than in the past.