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 did my tax return at 3pm on the 31st I had 'pottered' during the week before though, getting all my info together a bit at a time so it was quick and easy when I did finally bite the bullet

I’m awful for this too. I don’t have adhd but I’ve always procrastinated over stuff like this.

I was terrible when I was working from home back in the 1st lockdown. Fuck about most of the day loading the dishwasher, hanging washing out and stupid, pointless stuff like that, then be up half the night working.

I work a lot better with a short deadline. If you tell me my deadline is today at 5pm, I’ll get it done in time. Tell me it’s 2 weeks away and I’ll faff for the whole 2 weeks.

I just have to force myself in the end. TV off, phone in a different room, get every scrap of information I need together and turn the WiFi off on my laptop and crack on.

If I ever have to Google something or look for further information I’m done for.

I tell you what though - i can procrastinate for England when it's time to do the bathroom. No amount of 'just pottering' gets me to do that.

I have to shame myself by forcing myself to look closely at the state of the bath ...

I used to beat myself up about this when I was doing Uni work; I was never a ' pull an all nighter' student, but definitely was racing against the clock a bit.

I eventually made peace with it in the third year, as I realised I needed the ' edge' of an impending deadline to have the right amount of concentration and focus.

I'm like it with job applications, I can't just do bits in a nice timely fashion, I need to have to do it on the last day or it doesn't flow or have any ooompf behind it.

If you are unhappy with the end result, then obviously you need to make changes, but if it's more or less the same quality but you have had the guilts over not starting it, then don't give yourself a hard time, maybe a pat on the back for realising when you are in the ' zone' !

Ha, glad it's not just me Laiste, that's exactly the sort of thing I'm doing and it's working!

I've always been like this and when i did my first degree it was at its worst because obviously you have to meet deadlines. I'd forgotten about it and decided to do a second degree and well, it's going exactly as you'd expect...ha!
I hope you get it sorted.

Me too - all the time.

You aren't alone - so stop beating yourself up - and crack on with doing it.

And then we can start an MN procrastinators support thread.

If it helps do it in 20 minute bursts (set your alarm for 20 mins work, 5 min break repeat)

I don't know. I'm the same. Unless I have 10 million things that need to be done NOW then nothing gets done. All I can say is I read this and felt seen.

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

@Laiste

I tell you what though - i can procrastinate for England when it's time to do the bathroom. No amount of 'just pottering' gets me to do that.

I have to shame myself by forcing myself to look closely at the state of the bath ...

I could have procrastinated for England too, if I had ever gotten round to it.

I'm like this too. I don't have ADHD - I know that leaving things until the last minute is a trait of ADHD, but plenty of people who don't have ADHD are terrible procrastinators too.

I work in a job that's quite deadline-driven, and often, if I'm not given a deadline to do something I simply don't do it. And in fact, if I know the deadline is an artificial one (ie that there is no real knock-on effect from not meeting it) I probably won't do it either.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm just someone who needs the impetus of pressure to get something done. For example, at school and university I always performed very well in exams because it was a race against the clock. I don't think I ever wrote an essay until the night before I had to hand it in, and nine times out 10 I'd pull an all-nighter to hand it in on the morning it was due.

I really wish I wasn't like this, because it's a really stressful way to live my life.

I always want to laugh when people's response to posts like yours is 'You just need to knuckle down and do it!' or 'Just bite the bullet and get started' - I know it sounds that simple, but it's not. It's like telling someone with insomnia to just close their eyes and fall asleep.

I'm like that too but I didn't used to be (so not ADHD). People used to comment on how organised I was.

I can't decide if I blame my phone or the low level anxiety I've had over this last year or two or even the simple fact that I've now taken too much on that I'm dropping balls.

TBH, I had to take time off sick for an operation and I was so much better when I came back that I think the cure might be an actual break from everything and starting with a clean-slate. Can you take a week off to catch up with everything else that's hanging over you?

Daenerys77 v good!

I’m a lost cause! Just read that gratification monkey blog, read up on ADHD and spent 15 minutes googling how to write an academic poster in the shortest possible time . I know the content, I just can’t put it in my own words!

It’s a Uni assignment. I started the course before being offered a part time job which I applied for before starting Uni as I didn’t think I’d get a decent job after being a SAHM for many years. Too good an opportunity to turn down and I love it. As well having to submit a complicated Tribunal appeal for son’s SEN (have to submit in 10 days) as well as running a house with 4 DC with a —useless— DH who works very long hours so doesn’t think he has to do much other than load the dishwasher occasionally.

Excuses. excuses but I don’t want to give it up!

Starting NOW (well after one more cigarette in the garden)!

I watched this a while ago - I could relate to it

Tim Urban: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | TED

@Teacupsandtoast

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

Same, I’m doing it now

Diagnosed with ADHD at 38!

I admire procrastinators. They learn to work extremely well under pressure.

I am useless under pressure. I flap, panic, give up. Procrastinators have terrific skills I lack.

I am exactly like this - and it's awful in my job, which is deadline after deadline. I also know several other people who procrastinate dreadfully. If it is any consolation they are some of the most intelligent people I know (one of them is actually my boss - went to an amazing university, qualifications coming out of her ears, still leaves tasks for MONTHS! )

Lipsandlashes just think what we could achieve if we actually knuckled down eh

Yep my first thought was ADHD - this is exactly what I have done all this weekend - and I'm medicated!

Watch some of the How to ADHD videos on YouTube for some good ideas on how to manage a bit better.

It is so fucking difficult at times though!

I work a lot better with a short deadline. If you tell me my deadline is today at 5pm, I’ll get it done in time. Tell me it’s 2 weeks away and I’ll faff for the whole 2 weeks.

I just have to force myself in the end. TV off, phone in a different room, get every scrap of information I need together and turn the WiFi off on my laptop and crack on.
This is me, you are me, I am you, coo coo kachoo.

I use Cold Turkey on my laptop and Forest on my phone. Unfortunately you have to pick up your phone to turn the things on and I’m awful for “I’ll just check” instead of straight to the app.

How did medieval peasants procrastinate without the internet?

When I found myself procrastinating by googling 'How to stop procrastinating' I knew i was in trouble.

I am a 'just fucking do it' person now. More or less. I think my issue also is perfectionism and also had a hyper critical mother. I often find a key tip for me is to 'just get anything down'. Literally just start writing (if it is a task where writing is required). i will start writing for about 20 minutes then stop and review where I am. i am usually more or less in a zone by then and can carry on.

I think we should all stop posting so OP can't use this thread as an excuse anymore!

(half joking)

This me right now. I have a midnight deadline for a 6000 word assignment today.

But it's like my brain almost finds it fun to see how relaxed it can stay so close to the deadline. Not even stressed now even though I know this is completely stupid and I'm risking failing, making more work for later etc.

Was going to do some this morning but did yoga. Then at lunch but decided to spend my break cooking an extravagant meal instead.

Why am I doing this?!

How did medieval peasants procrastinate without the internet?

I've really got to dig up those yonder turnips, but am content here picking mine own nose and watching the sun set ...