Oh My God! Why am I like this!!!!

[FrustratedProcrastinator]

I have a v.important piece of work that I need to have finished by 5pm today. It will take 2-3 hours if I rush it. I can do it no problem so why haven't I done it?

I intended to do it over the weekend (after telling myself for two weeks to get on and do it) when I had plenty of time but found other stuff to do so I didn't. I realised I'd fucked badly up so rang in sick to work today so I could do it . Won't get paid. Horrendous I know and a one off that will never be repeated!

I've spent most of today on here, doing housework which can wait, eating crisps and drinking coffee.

I am FURIOUS at myself . I do this time and time again and I swore I wouldn't do it this time.

Even if I do it now, which I have to, it will be rushed and a lower standard than it could have been.

I never used to be like this. I used to be organised and totally on the ball!

Tell me I am completely UR.

I'm like this. Procrastinate to the point I make life hard for myself. It's an adhd thing

Ha I could have written this. It’s awful.

Go and do 5 mins of it. RIGHT NOW. NO EXCUSES.

(Once you start you’ll be more motivated to carry on)

OP i had a boss once who said that with least favourite tasks, one should 'just f**in' do it' and I've largely lived by that since. The sooner tasks like that are done, the sooner you can relax

I've been like this my entire life. Over the last year I've realised I have ADHD. (I haven't been officially diagnosed but have done tonnes of research and I've definitely got it)
When I worked it out, everything clicked. I couldn't believe how much better about myself I felt!
I still procrastinate and leave things to the last minute and it's still a chore to keep on top of everything BUT I'm kinder to myself. There's now a known reason as to why my brain functions like this and I feel lots happier.

Be kind to yourself.

Just marking my place in case someone comes up with a failsafe way how not to be like this.

Sympathy OP, now get off Mumsnet and get your work done.

Thanks for the kind words all.

But now I'm going to have to research ADHD to see if I've got it instead of doing my work !

Hahah stop googling!! Also there’s a good video about eating the frog. Which basically means if you have a horrible task, just get it out the way.

Just go and sit down. Turn off your phone. Do it. Get it done and submitted.

Padlock the junk cupboard, disconnect the internet. You're addicted.

No help coz I am a master procrastinator but there is an excellent Ted talk about the instant gratification monkey / procrastination which resonated enormously with me.
Don't watch it until you are finished though......

OP this is absolutely me to a tee and I have been like it my whole life

I have always felt so upset and frustrated at myself for ALWAYS leaving things to the last minute and procrastinating, yet I still cannot stop it. My brain just does not focus. I would give anything to not be like this!

It has literally been in the past year that something in my head suddenly clicked and I realised actually maybe something is configured differently in my brain and it's not just me being lazy, and I have started to think a bit wider about why I am like this.

So really interesting to see PPs mention they are the same and they have ADHD as I think I might have that too!

@FrustratedProcrastinator just make a start now, right now!! Just do 5 minutes and you’ll get into it. DO IT!!!!

This has been my entire life and it goes beyond simple procrastination - it's debilitating and no matter what, I physically can't force myself to do a task no matter how much I need or want to. Turns out it was ADHD and even medication has only made it marginally better. I also wildly underestimate how long a task will take me so I start it too late, then panic because it's taking ages.

Look up executive dysfunction.

Me all over

@FrustratedProcrastinator

Thanks for the kind words all.

But now I'm going to have to research ADHD to see if I've got it instead of doing my work !

I will send you tips at 5pm if you do your work.

I do exactly same thing and its very much a adhd thing, ive watched a lot of videos on youtube channel called 'how to adhd' its been so helpful

There best be no more updates from you OP, until 5pm when you tell us you got it done and I will post a flower emoji.

I totally get it. I annoy myself and have done since school. Why?!!!

I used to beat myself up for procrastinating but then I did one of those Myers Briggs profile and learned that I actually get more energy from working against a deadline. It’s true- I work best when I don’t have weeks to get something done.

Now I’ve accepted it, manage my time accordingly, and stop being so hard on myself for the way my brain naturally works.

I was like this for years and years. Did some therapy and realised that it's perfectionism cause by having quite a controlling/critical mum. It came from a good place but she basically corrected/overguided me in everything and what I learned from it was that I couldn't do anything without guidance and that it was really important for everything to be right first time. I've worked very hard on consciously challenging those thoughts every time they pop up with 'it doesn't have to be perfect'. As long as you can get something down as a starting point, improvements can be made along the way.

I’m like this but I have ADHD and it’s very common in that case. Fucking infuriating though.

I have led such a stressful life because I cannot not procrastinate.

I love this blog post about why procrastinators procrastinate.

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

It might be worth looking at some online resources about procrastination, Wait But Why by Tim Urban as an example. I found it enlightening and it made me really kick my backside into trying to work differently. Last minute pressure might work for undergraduate students but it’s no way to manage in a professional role, not without negative impact anyway.

I’m like this and it’s ADHD (diagnosed) BUT I’ve always been like it, ADHD is a lifelong condition. If you never used to be like this and it’s a recent thing, I wouldn’t start immediately jumping down ADHD rabbit holes.

@TinaYouFatLard great minds think alike!