JumpStart National Caramel Popcorn Day (4/6/26)

QUOTE:  "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." (Don Marquis)

MESSAGE:  Writing this JumpStart is the last thing on my list before Spring Break starts.

Procrastination has hit me pretty hard today, so I thought I’d do the big boy thing and do what I say, not what that silly roommate in my brain (sometimes called the Devil on my Shoulder) tells me to do. See, procrastination gets mislabeled as laziness, but in reality, it’s much more human—and much more complex. At its core, procrastination is a regulation problem, not a time problem. It’s what happens when the discomfort of a task outweighs our current ability to manage that discomfort. In other words, we don’t put things off because we don’t care—we put them off because, in the moment, something about the task feels too heavy, unclear, or emotionally charged.

Goodness knows that writing a JumpStart normally is rather fun - finding a topic that’s meaningful, researching, thinking, writing, editing, etc.  Why is it that today it’s… a lot?  

Probably because compared to what’s on the other side of it, writing seems heavy, and a lot of effort. I knew this feeling was coming, however, so I rearranged my list for today to do the least-wanted items first.

At school, procrastination shows up in familiar ways in all sorts of places: putting off grading, delaying difficult conversations, or avoiding planning when the week already feels full. The key is recognizing that procrastination is a signal, not a character flaw. It’s feedback that something needs to be adjusted—either in the task, the environment, or our internal state.

When you’re already in it, the goal isn’t to “power through” with sheer will. Instead, lower the barrier to entry. Start smaller than feels necessary. Commit to five minutes. Open the document. Write one sentence. Action reduces anxiety far more effectively than overthinking ever will.

Today, I started by finding a holiday, then a recipe, and then the momentum from the successes from those tasks propelled me further.  I know that momentum isn’t just for physics classes - it also works with motivation and finishing tasks.

As I sit and reflect on procrastination and self-reflect on the emotions buzzing around today, I think that to prevent procrastination before it starts, one can focus on clarity and energy. Break tasks into clearly defined next steps—not “plan unit,” but “outline lesson one.” Pair that with realistic scheduling that matches your energy, not just your calendar. Protect your highest-energy times for your most meaningful work. And reduce friction wherever possible: templates, routines, and systems make it easier to begin.

For example, this newsletter is built with a template, and I have a routine and a writing process.  All of that is helping me across the finish line.  When you’re next mired in a procrastinationspiral, just remember that procrastination isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you.  It’s a sign that something needs your attention, and a little more intention in order to get ‘er done.
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DAD JOKE:  A Spanish magician told his audience he would disappear on the count of three.  He wrapped his cape around himslef and counted. "Uno...Dos..." and then disappeared without a tres.