Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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 this isn't just laziness?

39 replies

Chaosandchocolate · 15/04/2018 13:45

I think I'm probably just disorganised.

I leave things to the last minute.

I currently have an essay to write and I have one day to it. I have had lots of good opportunities to do it....i got everything out, did some half hearted reading. Here I am one day to go and I'm likely to be up all night after kids have gone to bed.

I really really hate the pressure but it seems I can only think of what to say once I'm feeling it. I think I'd probably hand in better work if I started it early.
Anyone else?
Is is plain lazy or something more interesting?!

OP posts:
BrownTurkey · 15/04/2018 13:47

Procrastination probably.

TheStoic · 15/04/2018 13:48

It’s not laziness, it’s just procrastination. Not very interesting either, unfortunately. :-/

PlateOfBiscuits · 15/04/2018 13:49

Procrastination. I mean, you’re even doing it now by writing on mn about it...

Masterofkarateandfriendship · 15/04/2018 13:49

Ha!...I'm in the same boat. Currently in bed, trawling through Mumsnet instead of writing up my project. I'd say it was fear and avoidance of seeing how much you actually have to do rather than laziness.

Good luck. Hope you find the motivation soon.

Waitingonasmiley42 · 15/04/2018 13:50

I used to be exactly the same. I think it's a mixture of laziness, fear of failure and procrastination.

blackteasplease · 15/04/2018 13:51

I think it's an extremely common way to be tbh!

Oopsy41 · 15/04/2018 13:54

This was the only way I could do any of my assignments when I was at uni, I only seem to be able to work when under pressure

DairyisClosed · 15/04/2018 13:56

It is a lack of self discipline. You just have to learn to motivate yourself.

Original poster
Chaosandchocolate · 15/04/2018 14:03

You just have to learn to motivate yourself.

How do I do that?

When I worked i wasnt last minute. I used to get a first draft bashed out straight away.

I would rather go Google how to get over procrastination than actually do the bloody work.

Glad it's not just me.

Off to run around the park with DC and start again when we get back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chaosandchocolate · 15/04/2018 14:06

Good luck too Master

OP posts:
AjasLipstick · 15/04/2018 14:06

You just have to do it OP. Just do it. Stop posting or reading here....open the page and start writing. You will feel a million times better.

Cathena · 15/04/2018 14:08

Watch this OP!

TheStoic · 15/04/2018 14:08

I would rather go Google how to get over procrastination than actually do the bloody work.

Grin

Perhaps you’re just not that into it? The subject, I mean.

TheFirstMrsOsmond · 15/04/2018 14:09

Are you enjoying the course you are studying? If not this can have a huge negative effect on motivation.

AmericanBiscuits · 15/04/2018 14:16

Procrastination is like masturbation. It feels good at the time until you realise you just fucked yourself. Wink

Juells · 15/04/2018 14:17

I would rather go Google how to get over procrastination than actually do the bloody work.

Oh I feel your pain. I've been all day on MN when I fired up the laptop at 7am with firm intentions to finish a project - or at the very least do a paragraph or two.

boxyfingo · 15/04/2018 14:19

I am exactly the same. I think some brains just work this way. I think the pressure of things being left till the last minute triggers my brain to work (and produce quite good results), whereas without the pressure I can't really feel engaged with the task that needs doing. My DM would call this laziness but I really don't think it is.

SerenDippitty · 15/04/2018 14:22

OP google Adult ADHD and see if it sounds at all familiar.

wrenika · 15/04/2018 14:25

I'm a great procrastinator! The way I have learned to work around it is to give myself a false deadline, for example, I'm working towards the end of my 2 year graduate development at work. This involves writing a load of reports, which I always put off until the last minute. My deadline is the end of June, so I have said to myself that it is the end of May instead...so I have a month of leeway for panic if anything goes wrong!

strongandlong · 15/04/2018 14:28

This link is often posted on procrastination threads and might give you a bit of insight into the issue.

MagicJay · 15/04/2018 14:29

What is the essay about?

user1493413286 · 15/04/2018 14:29

I was like that when studying; I needed to feel the pressure to really knuckle down but I’m not like it at work now.
On one occasion I made myself start an essay 3 weeks before and I noticed that it still took me the 3 weeks to do it compared to when I started the week before it’d only take me a week and I got the same mark.
However I learnt my lesson when I left it until last minute then had a family crisis the weekend before it was due in but knew full well I couldn’t use the family crisis as an excuse as they would have said I should have started it earlier. I had to juggle both and it was awful

strongandlong · 15/04/2018 14:30

wrenika that doesn't work for me unless I have some outside accountability. So I might agree with a tutor (or colleague or whoever) that I'll give e them an outline by x date and a first draft by y date. Then there's a chance it'll happen!

StringandGlitter · 15/04/2018 14:38

Play the “I’ll just” game with yourself.

I”ll just write the first sentence
I”ll just make a rough list of my main argument
“I’ll just write a rough paragraph

It gets you over the hump of “oh hell how will I do all this?” and gets you moving.

See also “I’ll just wash up the glassware”

“I”ll just answer one email”

Etc.

AnnDerry · 15/04/2018 14:40

Motivation may never come - don't wait for it.
Just do it.
I have a poster on my study wall which reads "You're not missing some important piece of information, and there's no magic pill. You just have to do the things you know you need to do."