to think this isn't just laziness?

[Chaosandchocolate]

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?!

If you are choosing to jeopardize your position by starting a thread on mumsnet, rather than making a start on an already much overdue piece of work, then maybe you should just decide that you're not going to do it and deal with the consequences of that decision tomorrow morning? It would be less painful than making it happen by default, and at least, you could spend today as you would like to.

I’m the same OP. I procrastinated my way through my undergrad degree, leaving all assignments to the last minute. I convinced myself things would be different when I did my doctorate, I thought they would have to be different... but they weren’t. I still left all assignments to the last minute. I just can’t motivate myself to work without the pressure of a deadline.

I actually found it was helpful to just accept this about myself. I used to spend lots of time beating myself up, worrying that I should be doing the work etc. so I couldn’t even really enjoy the time when I was procrastinating. Now that I accept it’s just how I work best, I feel like I can chill out a bit more (before the inevitable highly stressed few days leading up to the deadline!).

I have work due Wednesday that is about 15% done - you are not alone

Ha, I've got to pack for a work trip and I've been procrastinating since early morning. This thread has just motivated me to get started.

It could be executive dysfunction.

It's very common for people - especially those who don't have it - to mistake that for laziness. Experiencing it has always felt to me like the part of me that gets stuff done has turned into a car that won't start. No matter how much I rev the engine, it just won't move.

Other than not beating yourself up about it - because feeling any shame at all can make it much worse, as it's added mental pressure - I don't have much advice.

Standard anti-procrastination tips stand a good chance of working, though.

Having a window open helps me a lot for some reason. As does making a list, down to the tiniest detail, of the steps involved in doing what I need to do, such as "1. Open document. 2. Scroll down to end of document. 3. Finish paragraph about [subject]" And so on and so forth.

"I'll just..." works for me too.
But like gwhizz, I've just accepted this is how I work best :)

I heartily second, third and fourth the link that Strongandlong posted. I first read that via another post on mumsnet. It really stuck with me and I have found it hugely useful as someone who is often known as the Queen of Procrastination.
People telling you just to get on with it, or similar, are obviously not true procrastinators. That’s just not how our brains work.
Literally the only way I function in my job is to create mutiple check in/review points with colleagues to force me to stay on track for project deadlines.

It's not motivation you need, it's discipline! Google "discipline not motivation", lots of good articles that might help combat the mindset of "I'm not in the right mood to do it", "I can't get motivated" etc. Motivation is glorified, but discipline is a strong behaviour that can be built up.

Good luck with your essay though, most of us have been there! Depending on whether you've started or not already, write a rough list of all the points you want to include (start, middle, conclusion) and give yourself time frames to achieve them by. Having a timetable helps you to keep accountable. I find that having word count goals by a certain time helps.

A friend of mine had really good results with a motivational life coach for procrastination.

I’m a lecturer and I think 50% of my students work in a similar way. The other half do bits as we go along with the teaching/reading and then just need to pull it all together before it’s due in. I was the second type, but I know many need the pressure of the deadline to really get going.

Ok! Have read the procrastinator link. Really resonates. As do many of these posts. I'll definitely watch the clip posted and there is a TED talk on the link. But for now I am going to go concentrate for an hour while DC watch a film. I think I'll work on my laptop which isn't currently connected to my WiFi - no MN.
I feel better already that I'm not just a bit useless.

I am the same. School, college, one assignment left with OU and I'll graduate - I've never learned.

I'm so like this. That ted talk link was excellent, thanks to the person who linked. The next video up was about the 5 second count down rule/method which I will try tomorrow morning instead of hitting snooze....snooze....snooze!