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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone else leave all their important work until it gets urgent?

93 replies

Synny · 30/08/2022 15:16

I'm not great at my job because I don't prioritise my work well.

I pick out all the easy stuff and leave the more important work until it becomes urgent, then frantically try and complete in a short period of time.

I think procrastination plays a big part in it and probably an element of self doubt.

Is everyone out there merrily getting on with their work in the most efficient order, or can any relate to the awful way I work?

OP posts:
Felixfriend · 30/08/2022 15:17

Oh gosh yes I’m exactly the same. Have been for years. It’s awful isn’t it?

PeasOff · 30/08/2022 15:19

No. I prioritise the most important things and do the easier bits in between taking breaks from the bigger/more important tasks.

LBOCS2 · 30/08/2022 15:19

I'm currently undertaking a qualification via remote learning. I have had a year to do this. It is essential to my role, and I will be financially penalised if I don't get it done.

I'm supposed to be on leave, it's a three day course, I started this morning and my access expires tomorrow at midnight 😬

So... yes?!

PonyTime · 30/08/2022 15:20

Yes

But i don't think it's procrastination

Just adapting my workload to how I work best

I thrive under pressure, so enjoy 3-4 days of light work (few hours max a day) and one or two stressful days to get everything done

Dotjones · 30/08/2022 15:21

I learned long ago that there's no point doing things until the last minute. People change their mind and if I do the work as soon as I am able I often end up having to do it again because what they asked for isn't what they want. There's no extra "credit" for getting it done early or doing it twice.

The critical thing is whether you get things done accurately and on time or not. At least it should be the critical thing, we've all had managers chasing us for not doing something they gave us a deadline of next week for.

Offandonagain · 30/08/2022 15:21

Yes, I’ve always been like this… School revision, Uni deadlines, now my teacher planning hasn’t been done for next week yet!… I think I’m more efficient when i have a close deadline

Rebelmcstreettuff · 30/08/2022 15:21

I feel your pain OP
I got up early this morning to complete something I needed for an 11 o'clock appointment today.
Why do I do this!!!!
I am guilty of doing it with all kinds of paperwork for life administration too.
I opened a piece of work earlier as the customer related to it called me,I had put it off and it only took me about 15 minutes to sort so why did I just not prioritise it.
My friend told me to pick 3 aspects of work a day to complete, I have tried this method.

Offandonagain · 30/08/2022 15:23

Dotjones · 30/08/2022 15:21

I learned long ago that there's no point doing things until the last minute. People change their mind and if I do the work as soon as I am able I often end up having to do it again because what they asked for isn't what they want. There's no extra "credit" for getting it done early or doing it twice.

The critical thing is whether you get things done accurately and on time or not. At least it should be the critical thing, we've all had managers chasing us for not doing something they gave us a deadline of next week for.

I agree with this. With uni work for example you end up agonising over it when you have more time, which I think stresses me out more than leaving to the last minute.

Dotjones · 30/08/2022 15:23

PonyTime · 30/08/2022 15:20

Yes

But i don't think it's procrastination

Just adapting my workload to how I work best

I thrive under pressure, so enjoy 3-4 days of light work (few hours max a day) and one or two stressful days to get everything done

Had a similar thing when at university actually, I realised that if I worked really hard on an essay I'd still only get one or two per cent higher a mark than if I started researching it at 4pm the day before it was due and worked through the night. Leaving it to the last minute meant no time to fine tune it, but fine tuning things didn't lead to better results. Surfing the deadline left plenty of time to drink or chillout.

MaryJoLisa · 30/08/2022 15:24

I'm better with a tight deadline, or I do procrastinate terribly. I keep very good checks on what has to be done when and get it done in time, but I'm certainly never early.

KnowtheBand · 30/08/2022 15:28

I can't do anything until its urgent.

DS doesn't have any clean clothes so I'll do some ironing today.

The bathroom has needed cleaning for a while, DS1's GF is staying tonight, so I'll do it.

I'm back to work after the summer on Thurs. There are loads of things I was going to do to prepare over the summer. I'll probably do them on Thurs.

I think I am good at my job, in that everything gets done and when I do it, I do it well and efficiently, but I just can't make myself do anything until it really needs doing.

iwishiwasafish · 30/08/2022 15:29

Oh god yes!

I have a postit note on my desk to try to get me out of the habit … “done is better than perfect”. In other words, if I produced the same standard of work that I do for a deadline, but earlier and within regular working time, life would be less stressful.

chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 15:30

No if I did that I'd be in deep deep trouble

BabyDreamers · 30/08/2022 15:31

I do the opposite I prioritise things based on how important they are but then I think it means I look shit at my job as it's taken me a month to order highlighter pens. We have highlighters so it wasn't urgent but Jan's been waiting for a new pink highlighter. Ordering stationery isn't an important part of my job.

BabyDreamers · 30/08/2022 15:33

Oooo just learnt how to make things bold. I was trying to put a star there to show Jan's not a real person.

BrutusMcDogface · 30/08/2022 15:33

I’m very last minute. Always flying by the seat of my pants!

KnowtheBand · 30/08/2022 15:36

BabyDreamers · 30/08/2022 15:31

I do the opposite I prioritise things based on how important they are but then I think it means I look shit at my job as it's taken me a month to order highlighter pens. We have highlighters so it wasn't urgent but Jan's been waiting for a new pink highlighter. Ordering stationery isn't an important part of my job.

I have learned to prioritise based on what people will notice. If Jan wants a pink highlighter, she'll get a pink highlighter quickly. Things done behind the scenes can wait.

I have two site managers who work for me.One is very good at the high level stuff, his paper work is always in order, he'll change suppliers for a better deal etc, but doesn't enjoy "boring" tasks so neglects them.

The other will drop everything to help carry a box and always makes sure his site is litter and weed free, but actually does the bare minimum. Which one do you think most people believe is best at his job?

Scautish · 30/08/2022 15:38

relate to this?

Does anyone else leave all their important work until it gets urgent?
DelurkingAJ · 30/08/2022 15:56

I have learnt (by getting it horribly wrong) to have a lengthy to do list and pick a sensible number of things a day…slightly more than I can do, often…then I usually get at least most of the most important stuff done. I also try to prioritise things that are a five minute pass onto someone else affair as otherwise I’m begging last minute favours, which isn’t popular!

2bazookas · 30/08/2022 16:01

Nope. At work I cultivated a reputation for being absolutely trusted, reliable, on time, well organised, highly efficient and producing excellent results.

Because the above I got away with my less endearing qualities.

Maisa45 · 30/08/2022 16:09

I'm exactly the same and I seem to be getting worse as I get older and have more stress at home. I spent a large chunk of yesterday's BH day off catching up at home because I've spent weeks of work fucking about on MN and only doing the things I couldn't get away with ignoring.

Petrar · 30/08/2022 16:19

I prioritise the big important bits and leave the easy bits to build up into a harder bits 😐

Lunar270 · 30/08/2022 16:26

Depends really.

I tend to follow a process that aligns with a schedule. So that may involve a range of large/small jobs that need to be done in an orderly way. If I have a choice it'll depend on my mood but generally big jobs first, smaller jobs at the end of the day/week.

In an ideal world, everything runs smoothly. However, at peak times you just don't have the luxury and end up working to whoever shouts loudest!

Oblomov22 · 30/08/2022 16:48

God no, I do the opposite. Get on with all the important bits first. Sometimes I put things off because I don't want to do it. Say a VAT return. Then I have to, so do it. It's never as bad as I think it's going to be. Then I feel better. I speak to my best friend about her bookkeeping and what she's currently got going on and she says the same thing she put things off and then finally when she does do it she feels a whole lot better.

You really need to address this. Badly. You should flip it over, do the most important things first whether you like them or not. in fact often it's better to just do something easy like answer a few emails and then decide that you're going to knuckle down and get on with something vile and gritty and then by lunch it is probably, it could be over with and that will make you feel a whole lot better.

Oblomov22 · 30/08/2022 16:53

I never leave things until the last minute unless I can absolutely possibly avoid it. I'm a planner. I just do stuff, straight away. I do everything straight away. I'm not late, I don't do anything last minute. I'm not very keen on doing it that way. I can but I just don't like to but I'm not so rigid that if something comes up last minute I don't get stressed or I don't get myself in a tizz, I just get on with it, because I'm very practical.