Theophrastus highlights traits of the procrastinator from "summary" of The Characters by Theophrastus
In the procrastinator, we observe a peculiar strain of sloth, a deliberate idleness that seems to hang on their every action. There is a certain air of indifference that surrounds them, a lack of urgency that pervades their very being. They are always putting off until tomorrow what could easily be done today, forever postponing tasks that require their attention. This tendency towards delay is often accompanied by a sense of unease, a nagging feeling that they should be doing something, anything, other than what they are currently engaged in. And yet, despite this internal conflict, they are unable to rouse themselves from their state of inactivity. It is as if they are trapped in a cycle of indecision, unable to break free from the chains of their own inertia. The procrastinator is also marked by a certain lack of discipline, a failure to prioritize their responsibilities in a meaningful way. They are easily distracted, constantly seeking out new diversions to occupy their time and attention. This lack of focus only serves to exacerbate their tendency towards procrastination, leading them further down the path of delay and avoidance. Despite their best intentions, the procrastinator often finds themselves overwhelmed by the sheer weight of their own procrastination. They become mired in a sea of unfinished tasks and unmet deadlines, struggling to find a way out of the mess they have created for themselves. And yet, even in the face of this mounting pressure, they continue to put off confronting their responsibilities, choosing instead to bury their heads in the sand and hope that the problem will simply go away on its own. In the end, the procrastinator is left with a sense of regret, a feeling of missed opportunities and wasted potential. They look back on their actions, or rather, their lack of actions, with a sense of rueful resignation, wondering what might have been if only they had been able to overcome their tendency towards procrastination. And yet, even in the face of these regrets, they find themselves unable to break free from the grip of their own procrastinatory habits, condemned to repeat the cycle of delay and avoidance once more.
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