Sleep when the wind blows

So, you may know that in addition to working with students, I also work with horses and run a small boarding barn. When I first read this, I felt like I struck gold because it so eloquently states how I like to look at my barn work on the weekends. Then I read it again from the perspective of an academic writer: 

SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

A farmer needed an extra hand to help on his farm. One young man came to interview for the job. "What are your qualifications?" the farmer asked. "I can sleep when the wind blows," the young man said. This simple reply confused the farmer, but he was desperate for help and the young man was hired.

The young man was a diligent worker through the harvest season, but the farmer still questioned his answer.

Autumn ended and the first cold storm of winter came late one night. The farmer panicked as the winds began to blow. Calling the young man for help, the farmer grabbed his coat and pulled heavy boots on his feet. He was disappointed to find the young man asleep in bed at a time like this. Grudgingly he ventured out alone planning to shuffle all of the animals in the barn and then fix that last hole in the roof. He mumbled about the young man sleeping and was sure all the farm equipment was left standing in the field, collecting rust from the snow.

However, when the farmer reached the barn all the animals were tucked safely inside. In fact, clean hay had already been set out for the new day. Not a single hole could be found in the roof, and the tractor was parked perfectly in the shed.

"Who could have done it?" the farmer wondered. And then, he realized what the young man's answer meant, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

As academics, there is always something new being thrown our way, and procrastination is the enemy of progress. 

• There's a great conference coming up, but the proposal is due in a week? If your research is clearly defined, your results are already articulated, and you have your basic elements in place, then there's no reason to scramble and panic.
• Just surfed around your institution's website and discovered that the deadline to defend your dissertation is five months away and you haven't handled your proposal or prospectus yet because "there's plenty of time?" 

Don't let your procrastination stop you from getting where you want to be.
Your future is out there waiting, let's get to it!