By Anna Meredith

Originally from London, England, Anna now calls Vancouver home, and is comforted by the similar gray and rainy weather these cities enjoy year-round. Anna enjoys drinking wine and singing along to foreign songs in languages she cannot understand. She daydreams of moving to Spain, opening a tapas bar and becoming a flamenco dancer. When not daydreaming, Anna works on her graduate degree in cardiovascular pathology, happy in the knowledge that wine is good for the heart.

A PROCRASTINATOR’S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE (OR IN DEFENSE OF DELAYING THE INEVITABLE)

Empirical research would suggest that almost 90% of people are chronic procrastinators, with acute exacerbations occurring most frequently in student populations[1]. Given the incidence of this condition in the general population, it appears possible – even likely – that this behavior confers selective advantage, and since this trait enjoys continued popularity and prevalence in our society, one could suggest – as I will – that there is an evolutionary basis to its existence. Furthermore, as a procrastinator first and scientist second, I feel I can speak to some of the overlooked benefits of this type of behavior. To procrastinate is…