MONEY THOUGHTS: Wise and unwise delays
"Procrastination is the thief of time."
Almost every serious student of the English language has come across Young's famous line, which is now a standalone adage for the life lesson that it's better to do important things straightaway than to delay acting on them.
Why? Well, once we fritter away time, we can't get it back.
How we manage our time — over the short-term, medium-term, and long-term — determines how our lives turn out. And speaking of life and time, I've been blessed with the singular opportunity to write this weekly Money Thoughts column for you in the New Sunday Times for a tad over 10 years now.
With very, very few exceptions over the decade due to a rare shortage of available pages because of news-heavy developments or major public holidays that stopped the presses, from mid-2015 till today, it's been my privilege to regularly write for you. This column you're reading now in the physical NST 's Sunday Vibes section or online is my 500th.
This half-a-thousand writing milestone is one I'm ecstatic about. And that's why I want to outline here for you four tension-laden lessons that are pertinent to personal success and accomplishment.
They focus on procrastination and our predisposition to delay action:
1. Procrastination is usually bad;
2. Procrastinating is sometimes good;
3. Delays usually leave us worse off;
4. Yet delaying can sometimes be incredibly wise.
ELABORATION
1. Procrastination is usually bad
Four years after the poet Young completed his magnum opus, Night-Thoughts, the English writer, statesman and politician Philip Dormer Stanhope, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, wrote this in a letter to his son:
"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."
In our present work environment, the evaporation of millions of jobs caused by the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI type 1) and robotics is building momentum. As such, we must work harder and smarter than those around us to keep our jobs or grow our businesses. Part of the secret sauce that enables us to do more than others is NOT procrastinating.
2. Procrastinating is sometimes good
Nonetheless, we must recognise that NOT everything which lands on our laps is worth doing.
So, think about which tasks and activities you carry out at home and at work that are pointless. If you're like most people, me included, you'll be able to identify some of those lower posteriorities which should be dropped off your daily and weekly to-do lists to create "space" (and literal "time") in your calendar for vital higher priorities.
As you eliminate some posteriorities, you'll give yourself permission to permanently procrastinate on things you should not be doing because they are not aligned with whatever you deem vital.
3. Delays usually leave us worse off
Note: Even as we tread the fine line between avoiding and embracing Young's "thief of time", we should acknowledge the many times accepting delays in our lives turns out for the worse.
Consider what occurs when we delay starting (and finishing) projects vital for career advancement, or avoid visiting the dentist for regular dental checkups or the doctor for annual physicals, or delay servicing our cars because we're too busy to find time for what Stephen Covey describes as "sharpening the saw" activities which aren't urgent yet are crucially important.
All such delays land us in trouble and cause us to end up in worse shape than if we'd simply completed those important tasks at their right times. As another well-known English adage tells us:
A stitch in time saves nine.
4. Yet delaying can sometimes be incredibly wise
Finally, though, here are two special instances of beneficial delays:
One of the key principles of personal financial success is delayed gratification. It always involves sacrifice, and often necessitates giving up something good for the potential payoff of something great down the road.
Think about the wisdom of opting to buy a, shall we say, too-affordable car or smaller than warranted home so as to have more money to save and invest for the future — to augment our retirement nest egg.
Another example of a wise delay is choosing to accept contract employment beyond the official retirement age — which is currently 60 in Malaysia — to be able to continue earning money for a longer period. Those who stay gainfully employed for longer enjoy two phenomenal linked benefits:
a. They elevate their lifetime earnings, specifically their active income (AI type 2), which enriches themselves and their families, while elevating their lifestyles;
and
b. They shorten their non-earning years (or decades) in retirement, which markedly reduces the possibility they will run out of money in old age.
Take time to decide if and when it would be wise to shun procrastination and delays, and when you should proactively embrace those same tendencies to intentionally improve your lot in life.
© 2025 Rajen Devadason
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Six-year-old boy enters MBR by identifying 65 currencies in one minute
Thanks to this unique skill, his name has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the achievement of 'Most Foreign Currencies Identified by a Child in One Minute'. 03 Aug 2025 10:02am Devakshean, who was born on Sept 10, 2019 said he loves the Malaysian flag as well as Mathematics, English and Science and aspires to become a firefighter. - Bernama photo SEREMBAN - Who would have thought that at just six years old, a boy named D. Devakshean could make history with his extraordinary ability to identify 65 currencies from various countries in a single minute. Thanks to this unique skill, his name has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the achievement of 'Most Foreign Currencies Identified by a Child in One Minute'. Devakshean - Bernama photo His mother, G. Devamalar, 37, from Negeri Sembilan, said her son began showing interest in national flags when he was just one year old, and could already accurately identify and name the Malaysian flag. "From an early age, we could see his extraordinary abilities. When we showed him pictures or flags, he remembered them quickly. So, from there, we started training him, and at the age of two, he set a record by identifying over 200 countries and cities. "His memory is truly exceptional-whatever we show him, he can remember. Not only flags and currency values but much more-he picks things up quickly,' she told reporters after a certificate of recognition was presented by MBR representative V. Menaga to Devakshean here today. Devamalar said she and her husband, A. Devakumaran, 41, have always supported their only child's interests and development. She also said it took about a month of preparation to train Devakshean before applying for MBR recognition this year. "My son loves watching YouTube. So, we uploaded content such as lists of foreign currencies and the like to YouTube, and he learned on his own through that platform. He rarely plays-he enjoys reading books and learning on his own. That's just his nature. We've never forced him-it's his passion,' she said. Devamalar also hoped her son's extraordinary achievement would open doors to more opportunities, including possibly entering the Guinness World Records, and uncovering other potential areas that could be nurtured in the future. "Not many people know him yet. I hope that through media coverage, more people will learn about him and he will have opportunities to go further,' she said. Meanwhile, Devakshean, who was born on Sept 10, 2019, said he loves the Malaysian flag as well as Mathematics, English, and Science, and aspires to become a firefighter. - BERNAMA
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Balancing BM and English
Maryam: By continuing to speak Malay, even as the world changes, we help keep a part of our identity alive. IN kindergarten, I was surrounded by adults who mostly spoke Malay. My only exposure to English was through television, so it was no surprise that I was much better at Malay. Things changed in primary school when I enrolled in an international school. The medium of instruction was English, and I interacted with people from diverse backgrounds. Over time, my Bahasa Malaysia skills weakened, as I hardly used it at school or at home. I was even placed with second-language learners of Malay. To say I was satisfied would be a lie – I wanted to be fluent in my mother tongue but struggled, especially with imbuhan (prefixes and suffixes). Still, I pushed myself to be the best in class, although that wasn't hard since my classmates had limited knowledge of the language. When Covid-19 hit and we went into lockdown, I saw it as the perfect chance to brush up on my Malay. I started speaking more with my parents and friends during online hangouts. I was determined, and eventually, I moved up to the first-language Malay class in school, which was a big step, but one I was ready for. These days, although the community I am in mostly speaks English, I cherish the moments when I get to use Malay – like when buying from stalls run by neneks and atoks who aren't fluent in English. Some are genuinely surprised that I can speak Malay beyond basic phrases, unlike other youngsters they have encountered. It is in those moments that I feel proud I didn't give up on my roots. It is important to stay connected to our heritage. For me, that simply means continuing to speak Malay. By doing so, even as the world changes, we help keep a part of our identity alive. So maybe it is time you picked up a Malay book or newspaper, took small steps and showed the world who Malaysians are – a people who can connect globally through English, the lingua franca, while preserving our national language and identity with pride. Maryam, 17, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
NST visit inspires young writer, thanks to two editors' kindness
VISITING the New Straits Times (NST) office for the first time remains one of my most vivid and cherished memories. It was a day when curiosity and determination led me to the man behind the "Letters to the Editor" column, to which I regularly contributed. That meeting would go on to deeply inspire my writing journey. I parked my motorcycle beside Balai Berita, the building that housed the NST. The entrance was modest but carried an air of history and importance. Upon entering, I was greeted by a receptionist whose warm smile immediately put me at ease. I told her I was there to deliver a letter to the editor of the "Letters to the Editor"; she told me to look for Zainon Ahmad, affectionately known as Pak Non. She said that his office was next to the editorial team and told me to take the lift to the third floor. The lift's wooden panels gleamed under soft lighting, exuding a classic, almost nostalgic charm. The gentle hum of the machinery was accompanied by the faint scent of aged wood and polish, a reminder that this building had witnessed decades of journalistic history. Stepping out into the third floor, I was immediately enveloped by the vibrant energy of the newsroom. The editorial room was vast and alive with activity. Journalists sat at their desks, some typing furiously on computers, others tapping away on typewriters, the clatter blending with bursts of laughter and animated conversations in corners. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint rustle of newspapers and the occasional ring of telephones. It was about 5.30pm, the most intense hour for the editorial team, yet the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I approached a man who was focusing on his computer screen, and asked for Zainon's office. He pointed towards a room with a wooden panelling and a glass window that allowed one to see inside. Looking through, I saw a man. He had neatly combed hair, slicked back with hair cream, a goatee that framed his face and an untrimmed moustache. His thick, black-framed spectacles sat low on his nose, giving him an air of scholarly seriousness mixed with approachability. As I introduced myself, his eyes widened in surprise. "I thought R.K. Ravindran was a retired old man," he said, laughing heartily. "My God, you're so young to be writing letters!" That warm, genuine laughter broke the ice instantly. I told him about my involvement with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia and my passion for writing. Then, almost playfully, he asked if I could speak Tamil. When I said yes, he began speaking fluent Tamil, and I was completely taken aback — a Malay man conversing effortlessly in another language! It turned out he was from Kedah, just like me, and had grown up in the estates. That shared background created an instant bond between us. Our conversation flowed easily for about 15 minutes. I took the opportunity to ask why my letter about the Bukit Jalil estate had not been published despite sending it three times. I handed him a copy, and after reading it quickly, he explained candidly: "The estate has some of our regular advertisers who bought parts of the land, so it's a sensitive issue." He suggested I speak to his boss, who was in a room nearby. I thanked Pak Non profusely for publishing all my other letters without fail and made my way to his superior. The woman at the door greeted me warmly, asking the purpose of my visit. When I mentioned Pak Non's referral, she opened the door to a man seated inside. He was handsome, wearing a crisp white shirt and tie, with spectacles perched precariously on his nose. He looked up and asked for my name. After reading my letter in a few seconds, he asked what I wanted him to do. I explained the dire condition of the estate and my hope that the letter could be published to raise awareness. He made no promises, but assured me that he would try. We shook hands and I left. That was P.C. Shivadas. Walking back through the editorial room, I was struck by the sense of purpose and camaraderie among the staff. Though I didn't know anyone else then, I felt a deep connection to this place — the very newspaper I had grown up reading. To my surprise and delight, within three days, my letter was published prominently. I called Zainon and Shivadas to thank them. Their support and encouragement made me feel valued and inspired me to continue writing. Pak Non remained a close friend until his passing. He was a man who loved his teh tarik at the Hilton Petaling Jaya and carried a gentle spirit beneath his sharp journalistic mind. Shivadas, too, remains a legend in my life, embodying patience, love and care. Looking back, those moments at the NST office were more than just visits: they were life-changing encounters with two great stalwarts of Malaysian journalism. They weren't just editors, they were also mentors who inspired me to cherish the beauty of our world, our people and the power of the written word to make a difference. Their kindness and integrity left an indelible mark on me and my writing. Stepping into the NST newsroom was more than just entering a building — I had stepped into a world where truth, passion and humanity converged, shaping not only a newspaper but also the lives of those it touched. I am one of them. Although Pak Non has since passed, and Shivadas has left the NST, I offer my salute and deepest thanks to both of them.
