Have you ever walked by your colleague's desk to find them playing solitaire, candy crush, mine sweeper, or some other time-wasting game? Ever wonder how that person was able to do that and still get his/her work done? It turns out that procrastination is actually a good thing.....as long as it is done in moderation.
Don't worry leaders, I am not telling your staff to go out and play games all day and not get any work done. However, I am telling you that sometimes getting to work on a project immediately after you are told to do so can stifle your creativity and work output. Taking a bit of time to focus on other things (yes, mindless things) can actually give you time to think about it and come up with creative ideas. The key is to find the sweet spot for procrastination because if you put the task off too long and are then rushed just to get the product finished, you also stifle your output and creativity. The goal is to take a bit of time before you begin working and then aim to complete the project with a few days/hours/weeks (depending on time frames) to spare. This gives you ample time to think about the project, come up with new innovative ideas, and create the best work you can!
So take a deep breath and play Candy Crush for a few minutes before you get back to work. It just might make your current task even better!
