Procrastinators, get your pompoms. Let's cheer each other on and kick the procrastination habit!

[ProcrastinateNoMore]

Inspired by the thread in AIBU... This is a thread where chronic procrastinators can get together to share tips, hold hands and try to break the habit of a lifetime! We all have our reasons for procrastinating (some conscious, some less so) but this thread is our chance to talk to people who understand the stress and help each other make positive changes.

Useful links from the original thread (thanks to all who shared):

This is the best description of procrastination I've read, written by a chronic procrastinator. This is his attempt to suggest strategies.

This is an excellent website from Carleton University in Canada - the page from the Procrastination Research Group. There is a blog with the key posts - useful for understanding and tackling procrastination. The work on goal focus is quite practical.

This post from BBC suggests apps you may find useful.

It might be useful to say hello and identify the key areas we procrastinate in below. Also think about small steps we can take to change that.

Good luck fellow monkey-minders!

Well I've just done a load of washing up, emptied the kitchen bin and hoovered. Also just read all of the CBT online course linked above. It's very good. Going to print it off and do the exercises for myself. One of the things I liked about it is it explores where the procrastination comes from, e.g being criticised as a child. Is a v non judgemental approach.

Err no had a bit of a upsetting start to the day, which through everything out the window, then work this morning and only a couple of hours this afternoon but taken up by a run on of events this morning,
I'm planning on getting to the dark wood tomorrow.

Ouch, sorry to hear that akaTFB. Be kind to yourself.

Thanks majestic

lotta rumm
It's good to do stuff, I struggle with that stuff too, and always feel good when I manage to do them.

I'll post a bit later ....

Yes Majestic I did the paperwork and paid my corp tax and paid myself my salary and am generally swinging between relief and stress that I have to do it all again next year and I want it to be easier! :o

for aka and Lotta I will definitely check out that CBT stuff!

Got to make dinner - eek look at the time!

(Still here. Shit. Fucking dark playground!!!!)

Don't tell me you lot are all off working incredibly hard while I browse MN?

Goals for tomorrow:

• 3 loads of washing
• Put away clean clothes lying about in bedroom
• Sort DC's clothes

It ain't glamorous but it will ease us into the weekend... Getting a bit of paid work done would be nice too!

Ok I'm going to post my goals for tomorrow.

Do passport renewal form (this is a tough one, I've been avoiding it for weeks)
Work prep for evening appointments
At least 1 load of washing
1 hour on analysis of my research data (yuck)
2 x other admin tasks off my to do list

Majestic if you even do the first three you'll be doing well. Can I gently suggest you don't aim to do TOO much? I often decide to'do ALL the things' and then collapse half-finished and feeling like a failure. Instead of going, 'Yay me for doing these three things!'

(If you've never read Hyperbole and a Half that link is to my fav one ever - 'Why I'll never be an adult' :o )

Can't resist copying this in ... link to the rest as above!

"I begin to feel like I've accomplished my goals. It's like I think that adulthood is something that can be earned like a trophy in one monumental burst of effort and then admired and coveted for the rest of one's life."

Sorry, I'm going now :o

Re goals, one of the things recommended in one of the links is to prioritise them and then break them down into much smaller tasks. Makes them more real and achievable.

Tomorrow I will tackle my Kindle problem...

Well done everyone! :)

Like that link procrastinate :)

I feel impressed with myself when I manage to fill my car with petrol before it gets to the red line!

Tomorrow more laundry. Must do it before work. Have emptied and re filled the dishwasher. I'd like to be able to get to the stage of doing this stuff without putting it off!

Good point with the goals. Yeah I know. Aim too high -> inevitable sense of failure -> undermines self-confidence -> more procrastination.
I know I will do 2 of them for sure anyway, because they are not things I procrastinate over. So I will set the goal of also doing one of the nasty ones.

Which one did you choose majestic?
I'm procrastinating about getting up.

Morning. Laundry load one is in and dishwasher is unloaded. Plan is to get dressed, take other laundry to the machine so it is right beside it (using Lotta's cunning plan for breaking it down into smaller steps) and then head out to do some paid work. So when I get back the laundry is ready and waiting. ..

Do it now peeps!

Some great links here, lots I identify with. I definitely have that 'not returning emails because I feel guilty about not returning them earlier' thing!

A lot of my procrastination is linked to stuff I feel anxious or inadequate about, plus when I have started procrastinating over it I just feel more anxious and inadequate and I just get into a spiral of paralysing negativity.

Whilst I'm on mat leave is a really good time to try to tackle this and get better - I'm going to read more of the links and try to develop some strategies that will help. I like the idea of emailing 'future me' - I really do make life shit for future me, I need to think about her more!

Yes, the emailing 'Future Me' is a really good idea. I may set one up for next week, next month, 3 months and so on. You're not alone Plate - we get you :)

Having a totally crap day, didn't want to get out of bed, took ds to school ran a couple of errands but couldn't wait to come home, beautiful day out side, wishing I wasn't wasting it. Have loads of carting around to do after school pick up lots of back and forths, so won't be in a settled until later tonight. Their for I feel the pressure of later looming so cannot get myself to focus on anything but the dark playground. But I feel so bad.

Aka can you pick one thing you want to achieve and do it by 5pm? It doesn't matter how small it is. It could be 'put one load of washing on' or 'wash the two plates from lunch'. One small thing - you do it, you have exercised your will, you have done it. Go and do it now. Something tiny.

I'm on the school run now so won't be in until later tonight now.
I've walked to the local shop(something I should have picked up earlier at a cheaper shop) after parking up , and feel ten times better out in the sunshine and will now be busy until tonight.

I was going to go shopping today. Got to train station and realised I'd left my card at home! Only had about £7 on me. Damn! So I decided to do something productive, went to Poundland and bought some useful household items I needed for £5. Bargains! Also used my Boots card to buy cotton wool. Felt so virtuous I walked home ( 25 mins) in the glorious sunshine! :)

Well did the three loads of washing and lots of freelance work. Didn't sort all DC clothing and only put away half of what's lying about our room. Plus I will now have all the clean stuff to put away no good deed goes unpunished :o

I am bloody shattered! Well done to everyone today. I
am watching the clock till DC bedtime and then getting into my PJs with a glass of wine and some chocolate!