...

You see that award for "Best at Working Close to Deadline"? I deserve it, because the stunt I just pulled is actually crazy.

I have this essay writing competition I've been planning to enter. I've known since the beginning of June that the deadline is the 30th of June. So tell me why it wasn't until this week that I even started thinking about it, and that's just thinking o.

Given the topic I picked, I knew for a fact that I was going to spend hours researching before I could even begin writing. But what did I do? I kept pushing it forward with the confidence of someone who had all the time in the world. Not until today did I finally tell myself, "You know what? Let's get to work." Three days to the deadline. 

Ladies and gentlemen, it was not easy.

You know that moment when you keep postponing a task because you've convinced yourself it'll be a walk in the park? You're like, "Shey it's just research. Give me three hours and I'll be done." Then reality humbles you, that's exactly what happened.

One article led to another, before I knew it, I had tabs everywhere, my brain was overheating, and the essay was still looking at me like "We're just getting started"

I couldn't even complain because, honestly, this one na my fault. Procrastination is a scam, and somehow I keep subscribing to it, for me, it's the toxic relationship I have with deadlines.

Dearest reader, if there's one thing to learn from my very avoidable suffering today, it's this: if you already know you'll have to do the work eventually, please start early. Future you is not some magical superhero with extra hours and unlimited motivation. They're just you, the same old stressed, hungry, tired you, questioning every life decision that brought them there.

@favvy_Okwans🖤.