I sit in my 7.30 class and open up my incomplete homework which is due in 2hrs and counting. After speed skimming two chapters and answering the questions, I open the self assessment book and look up this weeks Quiz. Flipping through the workbook I wonder what insight into myself will be revealed by deep reflection and honestly consideration of soul searching questions. (If you have ever taken an OLS class that required these torturous Self Assessments you will hear my sarcasm) I can't help smirking as I read the title: "Are you a Procrastinator". I glanced it over the page wondering why it takes a full 25 questions to figure out that I like to put things off to the absolute last minute! May I remind you that I sit in my 7.30 class working on homework that is due in my 9.30 recitation. =) Well I did the quiz as objectively as I could and calculated my score to be 23/25. It seems correct but may I suggest that only one simple calculation is needed in the place of 25Q. Instead of accomplishing something productive I've decided to give this some thought and have now created my own equation to objectively calculate your, for lack of a more creative term, Procrastination Factor. To find your procrastination factor you simple think of the homework you were doing before you decided that you wanted to check facebook and found this Blog. Now subtract the number of hours remaining until that homework is due from the hours you were given to complete the assignment then divide by the amount of time given. The resulting decimal is multiplied by 100 to make it a percentage and that my friends is your procrastination factor. For me I had a week to complete the Quiz so 168hrs. Remaining time was about 1hr and 15mins or 1.25hrs. So my calculations look like this...(Time Given-Remaining Time) / Time Given x 100
=(168-1.25) / 168 x100
=166.75/168 x100
=0.9925 x100
=99.25
So there you have it...my OLS Procrastination factor is 99.25%!
I am confident that my theory will work for more than just homework...my equation has implications for calculating the procrastination of universally avoided tasks like laundry, cleaning your room, or calling back your mother. =) Just kidding! These tasks don't have set deadlines so procrastination is too relative to be calculated. BUT other everyday tasks like returning movies, filing your taxes, handing in a requests off form at work that have definite deadlines are capital examples!
