Not quite as naughty as le vice anglais but far more prevalent is le vice online. Procrastination is practically universal. Research shows that up to 95% of students are prone to procrastinate. Of course, the internet and new media can be a major cause of procrastination - and we’re not just talking from personal experience either. Researchers far less prone to procrastination than us have proven it. Half of the Carleton University study’s respondents ‘fessed up to procrastinating online frequently. Respondents spent just under half of their procrastination time procrastinating online. Writers are particularly prone to it.
Thankfully, the internet and new media can also be a big help. Now there’s an app designed to help writers manage their online procrastination. The app, SelfControl 1.3, allows the user to select a range of websites, email and social media applications to turn off for a period of time set by the user. The app leaves the rest of the internet functional during that time. Once set, the timer can’t be reset, not even by restarting the computer or deleting the app.
On the other hand, maybe procrastination can be something to celebrate. Or at least, something to procrastinate to.