Academics - how to stop being a procrastinator?

[CityDweller]

I'm a terrible procrastinator, always have been. But it's really becoming an issue. I'm 25 wks pregnant with DC2 and have a shit load to do before the baby comes, including finishing publications that had deadlines months and months ago.

The internet is my biggest vice. I've tried those site-blocking apps (wastenotime, etc) but they only work up to a point (they're too easy to bypass) and I can't completely switch off the internet as I need it to access legitimate research things online, such as libraries and journals.

Historically, the only things that have really got me working efficiently are fear (e.g. while I was a postgrad student - so much work, very clever peers) and rock-solid deadlines (e.g. PhD and book manuscript submissions). Alas they rarely works anymore as I've long since realised that deadlines are not in any way fixed and that there's nothing much to fear anymore (I'm in a permanent post, at a decent uni). Typically I work in fits and bursts of nothing for ages and then frenzied periods of activity to get something done. Ideally I'd like to work in a more consistent, 'chip away a little bit a day' at things rather than my usual tactic of writing a chapter or article in 4 panicky days

Help me! (Although I'm not sure why I'm asking you, cos if you're on MN you're clearly as bad as me )

I'm the same. It is hard to get any oomph going unless there is a deadline.

I am exactly the same. This is what I do:

There is a brilliant app called Freedom that cuts you off the internet for up to 8 hours. I usually set it at the beginning of the day (after reading the paper/Facebook) for 7 hours.

I still have access to emails on my phone for emergencies. My husband has the restrictions password so I can't access the phone browser.

I then do 7 hours' worth of pomodoros; the breaks are for email/coffee/loo.

If there's something I think I need to look up on the Internet, I make a note of it in a notebook by my computer to come back to later.

After the 7 hours are up I am free to do what I like.

It works. I am more productive.

FWIW pomodoros don't have to be complicated. I just say "I'm going to work on x", and then do that for 25 mins.

I agree pomodoros don't have to be complicated. For me it's all about having the timer going for 25 mins.

I like Freedom (the app). Best tenner I've spent in a long time.

I found this blog on why procrastinators procrastinate really helpful in understanding my procrastinating urges. The idea of the place where you spend time procrastinating as 'the dark playground' made total sense. And part two gave me a way of thinking about how to change my way of working.

Not that it's permanent -- I have to re-learn the same lessons every time. But it's made me feel more optimistic to have a strategy.

I don't bother with all the fiddly stuff with pomodoros. Just get that timer going! Like the sound of the freedom app too - would've been good today as I was working from home and spent a frightening amount of time arguing on MN

Having said that, I did get 2000 words written too, using pomodoros. Crap, waffly, unstructured words, but two thousand of 'em nonetheless. And then got an email from a colleague asking me if I wanted to collaborate on a systematic review (my first!) which is quite exciting.

But procrastination still the order of the day here, pretty much. To be honest I just need to turn off MN...

My procrastination is due to loneliness.

Could still try the pomodoro premise (but without needing an actual timer).
Aim for XX minutes of undistracted activity followed by 20 minutes to faff around. Then another XX minutes, etc.

Mind, I cannot do it at home. Office is much easier to tell myself to focus (2 big screens keeps me organised, too). Even though I have an office full of chatterers, sometimes I just want them to STFU so I can concentrate.

I always do the smallest jobs first that's what keeps me organised.

lljk - how odd. That's what I've done today. 1 pomodoro of admin, 20 mins faff time, 1 of writing, 20 mins chatty faff. Off to do another writing pomodoro now before I teach...

Thanks for suggesting it (makes it feel more valid )

I have tried the timer method (ooh-er) today - it works, but it does presuppose that the phone doesn't ring etc (I am head of dept, so sometimes tasks do genuinely appear from nowhere), and that you can estimate accurately how long something will take (got it right for emails and calls, and for writing a reference, but wrong for PhD student chapter). So inevitably the 45 mins of research planning got pushed out and will have to be done after I collect dd1 from summer camp, she will be happy as she will get to play on iPad for a little while (she's 6).

yes, it doesn't quite fit with interruptions. I had a productive morning using it, except when interrupted by a phone call I had to take, and then a tutee was late by half an hour but I didn't know they would be, so was faffing and by the time they'd left it was almost-not-quite time for something else, but I like the principle of chunking out time and allocating it. Bet it's something you get better at with practise.

at the very least it provides the satisfaction of setting out to do a specific thing and actually doing it...a more productive version of the retrospective to-do list

"a single document that captures all the stuff that needs to be remembered" - Buffy that's nirvana! how do you manage that? and how big is it?

A really helpful thread - I struggle terribly particularly when I don't have an imminent deadline - I've faffed about and done virtually no marking today though have looked up lots of non-essential stuff on the internet and checked FB, MN and email several dozen times :(. Niminy - that blog you linked to hits the nail on the head for me - will try to keep it in mind as I try to deal with the problem. Sometimes I almost feel paralysed...

I started using a to do app that syncs acroess all my devices and enables me to do similar to Buffy's word doc. Can separate out into different 'hats' (research, admin, teaching, etc) and have separate projects within each one. Has helped me keep track of what I need to do. but doesn't in itself stop procrastinating

The one I use is called 2Do

Thank you this has been really helpful. I like the blog post and the dark playground reasonated with me and that feeling of being almost paralysed ......,

I use the timer thing too for just 20 minutes and sometimes for 5 minutes if it's really bad!

Part-time postgrad here. The single most helpful thing I have done is to start scheduling in time for faffing. I have accepted that I am going to faff. Instead of approaching things with the belief that I need to not faff, ever, and get down to work, I now specifically make time for it!

Do you know what kind of writer you are? Phyllis Creme identified various different types - some info here: www.nottingham.ac.uk/studyingeffectively/studying/writer/types.aspx - and I wonder if you are trying to work against your 'type'?

Lastly, I find it helps if I think of something more boring to do, like housework. I then procrastinate from that by working...

Oh the irony - I found this thread whilst avoiding writing an article. Thank you for the reminder of pomodoro. I've used it before and it helped but not recently, for no good reason.

The other things that (sometimes) helps me (a bit) is mentally connecting the actual task to the things I really care about. So 'I want to write this paper because I am so fed up of hearing people say 'x' when my data clearly shows 'y' or 'I want to write this because I want to say x' or even just 'I really want to get promotion/a better job and this paper will help me do that'. So trying to connect it to good things, rather than just fear (which is my best method too!)

Right, off to set my pomodoro timer going and write some more of this wretched paper.

This is brilliant

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

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I recognise that pesky instant gratification monkey Destiny!

Buffy I read that book a while ago, and while I see that the philosophy behind it is really solid (building up habits, doing it every day) I think it probably works best if you already work in a certain kind of way. The ultimate result for me is that I spent ages beating myself up for not being able to force myself into the 'little bit every day' work pattern.

For others that struggle with internet distractions, I've found the 'mindful browsing' app useful. Whenever you click on a site you've 'blocked' it makes you stop and think before you actually go to it. It also kicks in periodically once your'e on the site. I have found it's decreased my mindless browsing of MN

And yes, Lovage the 'ultimate goal' motivation is useful. I'd forgotten about that, but it's what lit a fire under my arse to get my PhD written in record time (I wanted to get out of the job I was in and into a better one - it worked).

Right - back to it people!

I find it's helpful to stay off of MN :)

More seriously:

-- whatever your most effective time of day is, when you are most creative/thoughtful/productive: do the "big" things at that time. For me that means not sitting down in the morning to do email; I can do that when my brain's fried later in the day. Same with admin, etc.

-- decide on ONE thing you're going to do between now and (say) 5pm - about a 40 minute period, and JUST DO THAT and nothing else.

-- extension of the above: take eg ONE HOUR of work to a cafe. While in the cafe, don't do anything but that. I find this one really good.

-- close the email tab so you don't get into responsive mode, distracted by every little zoopla email and seminar posting that drops in

-- More desperate measure: work productively on 1-2 high priority things for just 2-4 hours per day, say 4-5 of your pomodoros in a row. Then go somewhere else and do something fun! Catch up on sleep. Make cake with the kids. See an exhibition you've been meaning to see, whatever. The joy of academic life is that no on cares where and when you work or for how long, as long as you deliver over the 1-month, 1-year time frame. 9 hours at your desk (including 6 procrastinating on the internet) isn't better than 3 hours of work and 6 hours off... It's amazing what you can do in 3 effective hours / day. If you feel guilty, do the emails and admin bits in the evening from home.

I haven't read the whole thread but I'm amazed an academic has time on their hands. I'm so frazzled I'm applying for other jobs