procrastinate --
verb: (used without object) 1. to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.
verb (used with object) 2. to put off till another day or time; defer; delay
This is what the dictionary defenition is of procrastinte. To those of us who are unfortunate to be masters of procrastination, it means that we never get anything important done until we have to. For students, it means that papers are written the night before, that tests are crammed for all night long, and that classes are arrived at late, or not at all. For workers it means that reports are turned in late, or half-done, or you arrive to work late, and for houswives, or househusbands, it means that dinner is started right before you have to leave, or the living room doesn't get dusted before the guests arrive.
Although procrastination is looked down upon, I beleive that procrastination is a very helpful tool. It does teach you to work under pressure, and if you do it long enough, you learn how to perfect things as you go, and maybe prioritize things a little better. If somethng is important enough, then it will get down. Although it might not be done to the best of one's ability, it will be done. If something is interesting enough, or there are many deadlines to be fulfilled, it will be done better.
The one thing I have learned through some of my english classes it that although I do write well under pressure, I also write well when I have write a draft, then go back through and edit it. It give me more time, and I get better feed back from teachers and even other students. This helps me improve my writing, and it makes me think about the next thing I am going to have to write. I need to go through some of my old papers, and see if I have improved, but I think I will do that tomorrow.
I'm a big procrastinator. I try not to be, but it always seems to be the case. I once wrote a research paper in one day for an internet college class. That was an interesting experience...
However, I do find that "writing under pressure" can come up with some interesting results. Usually I do some good work, but that doesn't help if it still ends up late!