Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think no one procrastinates as much as me

113 replies

Mumtumwhatever · 21/02/2015 21:38

I have a serious problem. I put things off until I jeopardise deadlines (but never actually miss them), work projects, personal to dos, taxes etc and I stress out about them, nightmare about them and then when I do them I realise they were either easy and I should have done them earlier and saved the stress or I should have started them earlier because they will take forever and I have to pull 3 all nighters to finish them. Why don't I just get on with it instead of distracting myself with mumsnet, DM Online, emails and Facebook??? I know what I need to do but I just don't. I'm watching Take Me Out now (I'm bloody 40 years old!) and I should be starting a work project. I honestly need help!

OP posts:
Nothavingfunrightnow · 21/02/2015 21:39

I'll think about it and let you know tomorrow.

Original poster
Mumtumwhatever · 21/02/2015 21:54

Touché! ;)

OP posts:
LuisSuarezTeeth · 21/02/2015 21:56

YABU, I've got to check my emails and then I'll tell you why.

paulapantsdown · 21/02/2015 22:09

I'll just finish watching this programme and I'll be back to you.

MrsGoslingWannabe · 21/02/2015 22:22

Hahaha! I don't know why you for it but I'm the same. Would having a plan for work projects help? Lots of mini-deadlines so you realise earlier on just how much you need to do? Plan to make a plan!

MrsGoslingWannabe · 21/02/2015 22:24

*do not for

Charley50 · 21/02/2015 22:26

It took my 25 years to learn to drive; then another 2 to buy a car. Still not married or bought a property; although I am a mum, as it's quite easy to procrastinate and make a baby simultaneously.

MajesticWhine · 21/02/2015 22:30

Yes, I do this too. Several £s of therapy later and I'm still doing it (only partly joking). The short term gain of not doing the work is beating the long term gain of starting earlier.

DrFoxtrot · 21/02/2015 22:31

YABU I'm fairly sure nobody procrastinates as much as me Smile. I've realised I need the stress of an impending deadline to give me the motivation to do something. I try to work with it as best I can and rationalise that this is just the way I am.

TheHobbit · 21/02/2015 22:33

My procrastination is so severe my father said that I'd never die as I will keep putting it off Sad I jeopardise everything because of it

ArmyDad · 21/02/2015 22:33

I procrasturbate. Wanking to put off work

DrFoxtrot · 21/02/2015 22:33

It's taken me three years to get a pedestal fitted under my bathroom sink, and that's only because I had to call a plumber as there was a radiator leaking.

justmyview · 21/02/2015 22:34

I feel your pain. I jump from one task to the other, instead of completing one and moving on to the next. Any ideas why that might be? I know it would be better to complete one task & move on to the next, but somehow I just don't work that way

ConferencePear · 21/02/2015 22:35

I remember some years ago someone trying to set up an organisation "Procrastinators Anonymous". No-one ever got round to joining it.

justmyview · 21/02/2015 22:35

We have lived with bare plaster for 4 years in our house ..........

DrFoxtrot · 21/02/2015 22:38

I once did that Myers Briggs personality test and it was accurate. It made me see that the way I am is just that and trying to find ways to be more regimented and organised was unnatural for me.

I'm the same justmyview

DrFoxtrot · 21/02/2015 22:39

I can't even bear to think of the things that need doing in my house Blush

mineofuselessinformation · 21/02/2015 22:40

I have to say I'm with you - I'm not a great one for 'grasping the nettle'. But then I have a sudden burst of energy and get loads done.... This is usually assisted by a list!
Write one, and put it where you can't ignore it, but only write urgent things or it will be as long as your arm IME.

Hassled · 21/02/2015 22:44

I painted the kitchen ceiling recently rather than sort out DH's tax return. Which was a piece of piss, it turned out. This was after many sleepless nights fretting about the fact the tax return wasn't sorted.

Charley50 · 21/02/2015 22:45

Grin conference pear
In the time it's taken me to put a shelf up, friends have added an entire new floor to their house.

CremeEggThief · 21/02/2015 23:10

Ha! I spent 6 years thinking about going back to Mass, when I lived in a different city. Moved away without ever managing it there!

Brandnewattitude · 21/02/2015 23:18

I am exactly the same. I have achieved precisely nothing today. I put things off and I also do that little bit of everything thing and even though I am aware I am doing it, I carry on anyway and never finish anything.

Is it just laziness?

ClockwiseCat · 21/02/2015 23:19

Perfectionism is often at the root of procrastination. Couple that with a low boredom threshold and you're doomed voice of bitter experience

CheeseBored · 21/02/2015 23:26

So anybody got any strategies? I use the pomodoro technique a bit- set timer for 45 mins, work solidly, break for 15. Also lists help, and the satisfaction of crossing things off.

squoosh · 21/02/2015 23:27

I bookmarked an article called Why Procrastinators Procrastinate over a year ago, still haven't read it. I'm beginning to realise that becoming a person who lives by daily to do lists is my only hope.