Rest is a revolutionary act. It’s a statement that stands as a defiant whisper against the cacophony of modern life's incessant demands. Rest is as much an act of resistance as marching in the streets or holding up protest signs. But imagine coupling this radical rest with another counterproductive concept—procrastination. Yes, you read that right. Imagine using procrastination as a revolutionary practice.
In Tricia Hersey's manifesto "Rest Is Resistance," she emphasizes that our society conspires against us finding the tranquility we so desperately need. "All of culture is working in collaboration for us not to rest," she writes. "When we do listen to our bodies and take rest, many feel extreme guilt and shame." The same could be said for procrastination. We're conditioned to view any delay in productivity as a flaw, a moral failing. But what if procrastination could be reframed as a form of pushing back against a system designed to exploit every waking minute of our lives?
Contemplating Julia Watts Belser’s take on disability culture provides an enlightening parallel. Belser elucidates that living with a disability necessitates detoxing from the capitalist grip that equates worth with constant productivity. "My work is not my worth," she asserts. Procrastination fits seamlessly into this radical realignment of values. Like rest, it can be a refusal to bow to the relentless pace that capitalism demands.
Albert Einstein, the quintessential 'lone traveler,' professed a similar sentiment, albeit in a markedly different context. "I have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart," he stated. Sometimes, pulling away from the crowd, marching to the beat of one’s own drum, is the very essence of reclaiming one’s mental and emotional landscape. Procrastination, then, can serve as a modern-day expression of this idea—a refusal to engage, a stepping back when the pressure to produce feels insurmountable.
Picture this: you're lying in bed, supposed to be cranking out those quarterly reports. Instead, you find yourself meandering through YouTube videos about the sleeping habits of tree frogs. You’re not lazy; you’re engaging in a quiet revolution. By procrastinating, you’re pushing back against a culture that equates every minute not spent working with time wasted. You’re taking a stand, albeit horizontally.
Incorporating humor into this conversation isn't just beneficial; it's essential. The gravity of these concepts can be exponentially more accessible with a pinch of levity. If you find yourself delaying a task, imagine telling someone, "I’m not avoiding work; I'm participating in a revolutionary act of self-care!" Picture the perplexed look on their face turning into a chuckle. Procrastination and rest can become tools of comedy, turning guilt into giggles and shame into snickers.
In a world where our lives are often measured by our achievements, daring to rest and even to procrastinate can be profound acts of self-reclamation. As Hersey poignantly notes, "Resistance is laying down when you have been told to keep going." So, the next time you find yourself procrastinating, remember, you’re not just delaying—you're defying. You're grinning in the face of absurd demands, and humorously, revolutionarily resisting.
