Structured Procrastination Method

Overview

Structured Procrastination is a productivity strategy developed by philosopher John Perry that works with human nature rather than against it. The method accepts that procrastinators will avoid certain tasks and channels that avoidance into completing other valuable work.

The Core Insight

Procrastinators rarely do nothing—they do other things instead of what they should be doing. Structured Procrastination harnesses this by:

1. Keeping a list of tasks to accomplish
2. Putting seemingly important tasks at the top
3. Using those top tasks as procrastination targets
4. Actually completing all the other important tasks below them

How It Works

The Task List Structure

Top of List (Procrastination Targets)

• Important-seeming but not truly urgent
• Have flexible deadlines that can slip
• Provide good excuse to avoid them
• Create motivation to do "lesser" tasks

Middle of List (Real Work)

• Actually important tasks
• Do have real deadlines
• Need to get done
• Get completed while avoiding top tasks

Bottom of List (Easy Tasks)

• Quick wins
• Simple completions
• Mood boosters

Example Task List

1. Write comprehensive report on company strategy (Procrastination target)
2. Finish quarterly review (Procrastination target)
3. Complete client presentation (Gets done!)
4. Review team budget (Gets done!)
5. Update project documentation (Gets done!)
6. Answer important emails (Gets done!)

Key Principles

1. Accept Human Nature

• Stop fighting your tendency to procrastinate
• Work with your psychology, not against it
• Recognize that procrastination is about task aversion, not laziness

2. Strategic Task Ordering

• Top tasks should seem important but have flexibility
• Real important tasks go in positions 2-5
• Create illusion of prioritization
• Let procrastination work for you

3. The Art of Self-Deception

• Convince yourself the top tasks are crucial
• Believe your own deadlines
• Feel good about avoiding "important" work by doing other "important" work
• Experience productivity while procrastinating

4. Deadline Flexibility

• Top tasks need movable deadlines
• Real tasks need real deadlines (just not at top of list)
• Don't put actual hard deadlines at the top

Advanced Techniques

The Rotating Top Task

• Keep 2-3 tasks rotating at the top
• Procrastinate on each by working on the others
• Eventually complete them all through mutual avoidance

The Mythical Important Task

• Include a task you might never complete
• Something grand and vague ("Write book," "Learn advanced calculus")
• Provides perpetual motivation to do everything else

The Scheduled Procrastination

• Block time for tasks you want to avoid
• Use that blocked time to do other tasks
• Feel productive while "procrastinating"

Why It Works

Psychological Reasons

Reduced Anxiety

• No guilt about procrastinating—it's expected
• Feel productive even while avoiding top tasks
• Accomplishment from completing many tasks

Task Aversion Management

• Diverts avoidance into productive channels
• Provides justified excuse to avoid unpleasant tasks
• Creates positive association with work

Motivation Through Avoidance

• Easier to do Task B when avoiding Task A
• Procrastination provides energy for other work
• Multiple tasks feel easier than single daunting one

Advantages

• Works with natural tendencies rather than fighting them
• Results in significant productivity despite procrastination
• Reduces stress and guilt about procrastination
• Maintains motivation and accomplishment feeling
• Flexible and adaptable to individual psychology
• Humorous and lighthearted approach to productivity

Disadvantages

• Truly urgent tasks might get delayed
• Requires self-awareness and honesty
• Can become excuse for genuine procrastination
• Might not work for highly deadline-driven work
• Some people need more structure

When to Use

Ideal For:

• People who procrastinate despite best efforts
• Creative work with flexible deadlines
• Knowledge workers with autonomy
• Those feeling guilty about procrastination
• Individuals with multiple projects

Not Ideal For:

• Highly regulated industries with strict deadlines
• Medical, legal, or safety-critical work
• When all tasks truly are urgent
• People who need external accountability

Combining with Other Methods

With GTD (Getting Things Done)

• Capture all tasks normally
• Organize them in lists
• Strategically place "next actions" using structured procrastination

With Pomodoro

• Use Pomodoro sessions for tasks you're "procrastinating into"
• Take breaks between productive procrastination

With Eisenhower Matrix

• Put Important/Not Urgent at top as procrastination targets
• Important/Urgent in middle (get done through avoidance)
• Not Important/Urgent also in middle

Common Misconceptions

Myth: It's just an excuse to procrastinate Reality: It results in high productivity through psychological alignment

Myth: Nothing important gets done Reality: Many important things get done; only the "top" tasks are delayed

Myth: It doesn't work for real deadlines Reality: Real deadlines go in middle of list, not at top

Implementation Tips

1. Start with honest assessment of your procrastination patterns
2. Identify flexibility in task deadlines
3. Create strategic list with procrastination targets at top
4. Allow yourself to procrastinate on top items
5. Celebrate completion of "other" tasks
6. Periodically update top tasks to maintain effectiveness
7. Be flexible with the method to fit your psychology

Real-World Example

Professor John Perry (creator of the method):

• Put "work on book" at top of list (seemed important, flexible deadline)
• Procrastinated by grading papers, advising students, serving on committees
• Eventually became department chair and won teaching awards
• All while "procrastinating" on the book
• Eventually wrote the book too!

Critical Success Factors

• Self-awareness: Understanding your procrastination triggers
• Honesty: Admitting which deadlines are actually flexible
• Strategy: Thoughtful task list construction
• Acceptance: Embracing your procrastinator identity
• Humor: Not taking yourself too seriously

The Paradox

Structured Procrastination embodies a productive paradox: By accepting that you'll procrastinate and structuring tasks to leverage it, you become more productive than if you fought it. The method turns a "weakness" into a strength through clever psychological positioning.