Why do I procrastinate?

[Lisa D]

I waited MUCH too long to start a project and now the deadline is breathing down my neck. Why do I do this to myself? And how can I change my behavior?

[Capn Sunshine]

1. I'll get back to you on that later

.

[WCGreen]

2. Ah yes....

[mia]

3. Skating on the edge and Parkinson's law

You've learned from past experience that "The amount of time which one has to perform a task is the amount of time it will take to complete the task."

Watch out. Adrenaline rush will only take you so far.

[Lisa D]

8. I've never heard of Parkinson's law.

That's fascinating and absolutely describes my thought process.

[Swede]

16. Here is a list of eponymous laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_eponymous_laws

[Lisa D]

19. Thanks!

I'm going to print it out now and read it. That way I can delay working on my project for just a little longer

[Swede]

20. Chanes are there will be a named law for procrastination.

I'll look it up for you some time.

[mia]

4. Work Smart: Do Your Worst Task First (Or, Eat a Live Frog Every Morning)

http://www.fastcompany.com/article/work-smart-do-your-worst-task-first

[seabeyond]

5. i do it every time. and i do well and finish on time, every time. and i tell myself NEVER again

yet, still, i wait until the absolute last minute. maybe i need the challenge of getting the shit done in the most effecient, head donw... this this this this.... done.

if i had time it would be a little here, a little there. and that is not how i do it. has to be straight thru in the straightest line.

[Lisa D]

6. Never Again

Yep, I've said those words so many times that my family makes jokes about it. And here I am posting on DU when I should be working. Maybe it's time to unplug the internet.

[seabeyond]

7. lol. i was wondering why you were here posting when you should be doing, lol nt

[scatalogical]

9. hello everyone

I am not going to feel guilty today, this is my first post on here, and yes, i am a born putter offa lol

[PassingFair]

10. Welcome to DU!!!

Last edited Sat Jan 14, 2012, 08:33 PM - Edit history (1)

My father was known as the "Great Procrastinator".

He lived by the maxims "Never do today, what you can put off until tomorrow" and
"Any thing worth doing, is worth doing half-assed".

He procrastinated so well, he staved off his own death for many years.

[scatalogical]

11. thats so true lol

i have found several websites to help but i cant be arsed most of the time

[seabeyond]

13. welcome scatalogical. nt

[seabeyond]

12. that is funny. what a hoot the family would have if i adopted the attitude

no wonder they want me to get off du, lol. too many good ideas that are not conducive to their anal ways.

[dawg]

14. "I think you *like* it that way!"

That's what one of my smartest friends told me once when I was complaining about being up against a deadline with little time left to finish an important project that comes around every year. She pointed out that I had been in the same fix for three years running, so that must be the way I like it.

Not entirely true, but she does have a point. I shouldn't put things off, but when it almost always turns out that I'm able to rise to the challenge just in the nick of time, that tends to reinforce my bad behavior (because I feel like I can get away with it).

[seabeyond]

15. I'm able to rise to the challenge just in the nick of time,

see, everyone has this in their discussion when talking about their procrastinating ways. i gotta figure that is the big part of it. the challenge and success with a job well done.

[Lisa D]

21. I think there's some truth to that.

Now I *have to* completely immerse myself in the project and I have a valid reason for refusing any requests of my time.

[dawg]

23. In my case ...

I don't really like it that way, though. It really stresses me out. And my friend knows me well enough to know that. It was just her gentle way of poking at me and reminding me that if I don't want to end up this way every time, I need to make better choices beforehand.

But I have come to realize that the main thing that allows me to get into such fixes is that I am extremely confident of my ability to pull off the last minute miracle. One of these days, if I don't change my ways, I'm going to crash and burn.

[HopeHoops]

17. Send me a PM with your address and I'll send you a "round tuit".

I make them.

[rrneck]

18. Don't think about it. Thinking

about starting is procrastinating.

Sometimes I distract myself into starting the process. Putter around it until it becomes interesting. Or maybe structure things so you have to start before you can do anything else.

[Lisa D]

22. Yes, it's the resistance to starting

that's the problem. I can make so many excuses. "I'll start in one hour." "I'll start when I win a game of spider solitaire." etc. I just keep pushing back my start time until the day is over and then it's "I"ll start first thing tomorrow morning!"

I like your idea about distracting myself. I'll give it more thought when my deadline is over

[PuffedMica]

24. Bookmarking to read later