By Danielle Emeka

We’ve all done it. Put things off till the last minute. It’s called procrastination. That sudden realization that it’s 10:00 pm, something is due tomorrow morning and not one word has been written.

Procrastination is happening even as I write this. The sun is asleep, my eyes are tired from staring constantly at a screen and my fingers are shuffling along the keyboard searching for the right letters. My bed taunts me, callingdaring me to sink into its covers.  

But in these moments my mind makes connections unlike any other time. Some of my best writing and art has come from late night studying. Sometimes it feels like structured sabotage, setting myself up for failure and fighting against it with everything I have. Like it’s all or nothing, using all my mental focus and creative energy combined with the pressures of time. Nothing beats the thrill of finishing the work just before it’s due. Knowing that all I have to offer is in that work.

I don’t know if lack of sleep creates a break in my natural inhibitions, allowing me to develop what comes to me. Maybe it’s just a race to see how soon I can embrace the relief of sleep. But I can’t deny my fascination with my late night creative self.