I've been doing some research lately on "procrastination."

It all began when I realized that my husband, a colleague, a relative and a close friend were all procrastinators. (Even my editor confessed to being a "krahtzer," the Yiddish term for procrastinator.)

These are all highly talented individuals possessing this irritating and often infuriating tendency. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more it became apparent that some of the smartest and most creative minds are afflicted with this condition.

My investigation began.

A perfunctory search on Google sent me to a number of websites. I learned that procrastination is defined as "the avoidance of doing an important task which needs to be accomplished."

According to psychologist William Knaus, 90% of all university students procrastinate. Of these, 25% are chronic procrastinators, who usually end up dropping out of college.

These are large numbers, substantiating my original suspicion that procrastination is a widespread malady.

Further research indicated that procrastination "has a high potential for painful consequences." It can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt. Sadly, it interferes with the success of many individuals.

Imagine all the pain, disappointment and suffering the procrastinator experiences and inflicts upon those relying on him! Even the most gifted individuals aren't spared from its destructive hold, and are prevented from completing essential projects and goals.

All this thinking about procrastination started me wondering about whether You, G‑d, were also afflicted.

After all, we're still waiting for You to bring Your cosmic plan to its rightful and idyllic conclusion, with the arrival of the Final Redemption, which will transform our world, take us out of the misery of thousands of years of Galut and reunite us with You in the most intimate reunion imaginable.

Ever since the beginning of time, we have been waiting for You to complete this project. With all due respect, You must be the Greatest Procrastinator of All. Five thousand seven hundred and sixty five years sure is a long time to keep us lingering! All the pain we've endured because Your ultimate task still awaits its finishing touches...

And so, with a new note of urgency, hoping to solve the world's problem, I resumed my research. I was looking for the causes of procrastination, with the ardent hope of discovering its cure.

I found that procrastination has many sources. Hastily, I read each one to determine which might apply to You. Here's what it said:

Many individuals cite the following reasons for avoiding a task:

1) Lack of relevance — if something is neither relevant nor meaningful to you personally, it may be difficult to complete.

No, this wasn't pertinent to You.

Bringing the Redemption is the most relevant task possible. From the very beginning of time, when the spirit of Moshiach hovered over all of creation,1 it's been the most meaningful pursuit there can be.

On to the next cause.

2) Acceptance of another's goals — if a project has been imposed or assigned to you and is not consistent with your own interests, you may be reluctant to see it to conclusion.

Also not relevant.

Redemption for the world was Your goal since the very inception of time. In fact, our world only came about because You wanted a "home" for Yourself, a place where You'd feel comfortable, here in our physical world.2

3) Ambiguity or fear of the unknown — If you are uncertain of what is expected of you or if you are venturing into a new realm, this may inhibit your desire to begin.

No, again.

Who could be more certain than You about the reason for this all? You have explained, in the clearest details, how the Era of Redemption is a time of peace and prosperity, when the knowledge of G‑d will suffuse all of reality and the true soul and purpose of every created thing will be revealed and actualized. No ambiguity here.

4) Inability to handle the task — if through lack of training, skill or ability, you feel that you lack the personal resources to do the job, you may avoid it completely.

We can easily skip this one.

You are the Omnipotent Creator of all, certainly having any and all capabilities.

We're getting near the end of this list. Here's the last one...

5) Perfectionism — having too high standards will impede the completion of the task; remember perfection is unattainable.

Ah, here we are!

So this is it. You want Your work to be perfect. You are waiting for us to make our world a little more right, a little more bright, a little more perfect with the addition of just one more—and then just another—mitzvah.

We're onto something. We've found the cause. Now it's time to look at the solutions. I skip down to:

What to do about Procrastination:

1) Make honest decisions about your work.

Let's be honest, You are dealing with us, finite human beings, full of faults and inconsistencies. Very finite beings.

2) Weigh the consequences of various amounts of investment in a project and find the optimal return for your investment.

Granted that the ultimate gain of redemption will be well worth all the hardships of exile. But isn't all this "investment in the project" getting out of hand? "Weigh the consequences" — thousands of years in exile, decimations, persecutions, misery and suffering, that we've endured as a result. It's enough!

3) Acquire an adequate understanding of what is necessary to accomplish a task within a given time frame. Devote only that amount of time which is appropriate for the task.

From all the prophecies and explanations given by our Sages,3 I know I'm on safe ground here.

The time for the Redemption is long overdue! The project deadline has long been extended—and overextended, again and again. That doesn't sound to me like an "appropriate time frame."

4) And, finally, be reasonable in your expectations. Perfectionistic or extremely strict expectations may sabotage your progress.

Let me repeat the words of the Chassidic master, Rabbi Leib of Shpolei, who turned to You and said: "Master of the Universe! The sages of the Talmud pleaded before You to bring the Moshiach, but You chose not to do so. The holy Kabbalists of Safed begged You to bring Moshiach — again You were unwilling. We have reached the point where it is left to someone of my ilk to ask for the Redeemer. Still You are holding out.... Mark my words! There will come a generation who will have no interest in You or Your Moshiach. Then You will have no choice but to bring him..."

Isn't it time You relinquished Your perfectionism and allowed Yourself the enjoyment of the fruits of Your creation...?