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

188 replies

Galvantula · 03/02/2019 12:54

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?

OP posts:
woollysocksforwinter · 05/02/2019 19:30

And I love this one, ADHD as a super power!

woollysocksforwinter · 05/02/2019 19:32

I got 81% on the test.

Ootscoot · 05/02/2019 20:13

@woollysocksforwinter
Thanks so much for the clips, I’ll have a watch later on. Have just posted a thread about this in MH too.

It is good to know there’s a reason for it and I’m not just being lazy and disorganised on purpose!

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 05/02/2019 20:20

I think I took the wrong test Confused

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 05/02/2019 21:03

@woollysocksforwinter
Welcome to the tribe Smile I once got lost in a one room swimming pool, never knew what drama was going on with my class or work mates, always finished papers after all nighters - so never worked to my abilities. I was great at ad hoc oral papers though. I started to get my stuff together only after my DC were diagnosed - at 45.
How to ADHD has been rcommended - she's great.
Bullet journalling works (RC has also been diagnosed - or so he says).
If you know how you brain works, you'll find ways to live with it.

I still regret that I didn't get the help I needed when I was young, though.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 05/02/2019 21:04

@woollysocksforwinter
Sorry - I intended to delete this tag line and forgot Blush

Galvantula · 06/02/2019 17:50

How are you doing today procrastinators?

We're over here >>

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/ninety_days_only/3499944-Thread-for-procrastinating-self-saboteurs-to-be-less-of-an-arse-to-themselves-Share-your-tips-and-encouraging-words-here

After some time i actually posted in the thread 😂

OP posts:
Grapetree · 06/02/2019 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galvantula · 06/02/2019 20:51

Still time for a quick read up on it before bed grape?

Good luck anyway 👍

OP posts:
Steala · 07/02/2019 08:57

Slowly catching up on this thread (rather than working). Dontbuy asked why procrastinators write the day off if they've done nothing by 5. I think this is the key to my procrastination; I am very all or nothing, combined with perfectionism. This means I can't break down tasks and I can't imagine achieving a task unless conditions are perfect.

So, if I need to sort out the kitchen, I need a clear run of three days, which I'll never get, so I never start. It was a revelation to me when I researched TOMM that people cleared out one cupboard whenever they had a spare 30 minutes. Literally, it wouldn't occur to me, even if I pondered the problem for days.

Similarly (again TOMM), my mind was blown by the sentence "I have 10 minutes before I need to leave the house, so I'm going to put them to good use". Slots of time smaller than a clear day (or preferably weekend or week) don't register with me. If I don't have the perfect set up, I feel i can't start or at least that there's no pint starting.

You would think that these revelations may have led to some behaviour change but it's hard to address your automatic thinking. I'll have to try to correct my thinking on this. Perhaps I need to keep a record of what I can achieve in 10/30 minutes to try to convince myself that any available time is "worth it".

Does this resonate with anyone else?

Misty9 · 07/02/2019 09:48

Definitely resonates with me steala - in fact I think I've posted a thread asking what people would do with two hours before! I can waste so much time just sitting doing nothing...

I started one of my reports yesterday and it's taking a lot longer than anticipated so good job I have. Tidied whole house in advance of cleaner coming this morning and now pondering doing some more work. For me, it's the overwhelm which gets me: the list of what I could do is so long that I do none of it.

Onwards and upwards... good luck everyone today

MorrisZapp · 07/02/2019 09:53

I'm a bog standard ordinary procrastinator. I always manage tasks, I just manage my time very poorly.

My mum on the other hand is a ninja level, nuclear strength procrastinator. This has caused countless issues and embarrassments since my childhood and is currently threatening my entire relationship with her.

She's amazing in other ways but simply wont engage in discussing anything practical. God help me, a part of me thinks it'll be heartbreaking when mum isn't here any more but christ in some ways it'll be a relief.

I never, ever want my son thinking that about me.

Coronapop · 12/02/2019 09:14

The 5 minute technique is useful: if there is a job to be done that only takes 5 minutes just do it now. It helps get small jobs out of the way.

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