Has anyone ever fixed their procrastinating, self-sabotaging self? I'm so annoyed at me.

[Galvantula]

I am fed up making my own life more difficult by sitting doing stuff like this, instead of just getting the fuck on with what needs done and then having time to have fun.

Even having read this about why i do it, i still go back to the same patterns.

waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html

Any magic tips for not being a total arse to yourself?

I read Playing Big by Tara Mohr. It gave me amazing insight into why I procrastinate. I have crippling imposter syndrome and fear of success. I fear taking up more space in the world and having a voice.

I have to work at it every day. I own a multiple 6 figure company and I hope I appear more confident than I am. It's so hard OP. You have my empathy.

I'm the same with the impostor syndrome.

I can't start/finish things in case they are shit.

I love a book though so will look that one up

I'm terrible. For me it's getting started, once I'm doing it I'm fine and look forward to the end result. But the task itself is always boring like the ironing.
Should be no problem, stick some music on and get on with it, 30 mins/ hour later all done.
Can I be arsed, no.

Does anyone have any tips on how to stop?

I even do it at work. Shit mounting up to be done and i'm there messing with my phone/googling something i heard on the radio. Just nonsense.

Then before I leave I am rushing around like an idiot being stressed instead of calmly leaving.

I can keep the pace up for a bit then i lose it.

Just marking my place for any inspiration. I have just retrained in a new career and have landed my dream job but imposter syndrome and procrastinating are crippling me!
I was thinking about the whole self sabotage the other morning when I was wondering why the hell i’m staying up too late watching shit on Netflix and surfing the web when I know tiredness makes my mental health so much worse. All I need to do is go to bed early, not eat shite and put in a few extra evenings to keep on top of what I need to do to make work better for myself and I’m currently doing none of these things. Why why why??

Following
I’m a student, (2nd year undergraduate) and no one seemed to believe me when I genuinely did less than 2 hours of revision for an exam

Also, I’ve had two coursework assignments (essays) - I did both in one day. Hadn’t even planned or done any reading before hand left them both to the night before

It’s like my brain fakes an interest in any old shite to justify why I’m procrastinating

E.g. I’ll suddenly be really interested in a show/topic/book which I wasn’t before but after the deadline is over I don’t care for it anymore

I'm a dreadful procrastinator. I can spend whole weeks days doing next to nothing and yet I still seem to be considered productive and efficient. I can't being to imagine what my colleagues do all day, but I suspect we're all as bad as each other

See i don't think my colleagues are. They just seem to get shit done.

I'm in this gang! I started writing a book, maybe 3 years ago, then gave up. 2 years ago I was 'clean eating' & in the gym - now I'm fatter & not leaving the house.

I had been planning on moving DS old bike & his wheelchair from outside my flat door into a cupboard in my flat. Never got round to it. Friday a builder told me I had to do it over the weekend. I wanted to say "no, fuck off! How dare you". I've just done it. [the dust from leaving it all that time, set off huge asthma attack & I pissed myself. Is that a lesson?]

LilQuim it's a metaphor x

I hear you all.
Total waster here and it effects my mental halth no end... vicious circle.

OP I hear you. I should be planning lessons for tomorrow but am watching Finding Nemo whilst Mumsnetting. I am really scared of trying new things in case I don’t stick to them. The only person who can make me stick at something is me, so why can’t I do it?!

I've found my people. I hate this about myself.

I have no oomph, could waste hours doing nothing practical then run round like a nutter doing things that need doing at 9pm, tired and resentful.

I do suffer from anxiety and depression and take medication which I think helps a bit. I'm still a lazy, frustrated person and it's not nice.

@KaliforniaDreamz haha. Metaphor for my whole life. X

Could we start a group / thread where we encourage each other to take baby steps, share accomplishments & check in? Would anyone be interested? Bit of accountability if it might help?

i'm in... we can just carry on here if you want

maybe starting tomorrow as i have already fucked up today

although i have more stuff to procrastinate about later so i might check in when i am home

Perfect! I've done my bit for today. After the pissing down my legs bit, my only other plan is a shower. At some point 😳

I just need to get up off the sofa and get cracking, I'll feel better for it, I know but I just caaaaannnnnttt do it

Solidarity fist bump to my sisters in procrastination!

I think I do it out of fear of failure - better not to put too much effort into anything, because then at least there's an easy excuse if it's shit

I need to chase up insurance money. It's been on my to do list since November. I need the money. Every day I make a mental note to call them. Every day I put it off because of blah blah blah.

Work-wise a friend taught me about pomodoro and things are much more productive. Then I use this as my instant gratification monkey not to sort my shit out at home.

I'm like this. I will spend hours and hours watching crap on Netflix just to avoid the 15 mins it would take to empty the washing machine and put a second load in.

I've actually had some success by giving myself mini "rewards" for each small cleaning task. I set up a Tetris style grid and get one block for each task. Like a small child getting stickers on a star chart. I started at the beginning of January and have had a tidyish house for the month. I reckon another two months and being tidy will be a habit so I can move on to focus on a different aspect of my procrastination.

I've been using pomodoro for studying something that i stupidly signed myself up for. So far it's ok, but as the exam gets closer I'll probably shit it and watch Netflix/Facebook cat videos. Or read all the books in my huge tbr pile.

I do have some success with list making. Sometimes.