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Original poster

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

206 replies

ProcrastinateNoMore · 25/02/2015 16:08

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! Thanks

OP posts:
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AWholeLottaNosy · 14/03/2015 20:18

Thanks aka. It's a situation I've been living with for a long time now and I've dealt with a lot of the grief and frustration of it now. Just have to deal with the practicalities of it now. Am definitely finding, mainly due to this thread, that the more I do, the more motivation I have to do more. ( so hopefully will have the strength to do some of the really difficult things soon...)

MajesticWhine · 14/03/2015 21:25

That sounds like such a tough task you have there lotta. Well done so far.

FrugalFashionista · 15/03/2015 09:14

Lotta you are approaching a daunting and difficult task beautifully! Sending you lots of positive vibes...

I have a few specific home and organizing related itmes I want to get today. I often neglect these and next week would be much easing were I able to sort out some of the paperwork and packing today. Trying to relax too...

Aka you are onto some important stuff, very reflective and helps me too, how are you doing?

AWholeLottaNosy · 15/03/2015 15:56

So I've got 20 bags filled with stuff ready to go to charity. Books, clothes and videos. It's a tiny fraction of what will ultimately need to go but it's a start. Having the deadline of it being picked up on Tues has been really motivating. Felt a bit sad today as it's like removing what's left of my mum bit by bit until eventually there'll be nothing left.

Also was a bit upset last night as I started ( was supposed to be lighthearted ) thread on what would be a nice thing to spend that cash I'd found and was accused by some people of being a thief and having no morals...Sad

akaTFB · 15/03/2015 20:00

The weekends been good thanks frugal
I didn't manage to write my routine out, Blush but have made a conscious effort to put the radio on instead of the TV , I have actually managed quite a few domestic jobs. Also I had a very long and extended bath in the middle of the day yesterday totally guilt free.

lotta I'm so sorry for the way that thread went. Flowers

FrugalFashionista · 16/03/2015 06:35

Lotta so sorry about that thread. There was a thread some years ago on S&B where someone inherited some money from a relative and wanted to buy a designer bag with it. She got flamed too - apparently the right thing to do was either to donate it to charity or to use it to buy a park bench with the relative's name on it. Please don't do either Wink

I think what you are doing sounds difficult and emotional and I think you are going about it in an remarkably clear-headed way. And you got a good start yesterday Flowers

Aka loving the bath! I often procrastinate on getting organized, making a list etc although I know it would help. Yesterday I spent half day 'preparing' to get started, thinking that I should write it all down and feeling resentful because it felt like a lot. Then finally I just did one task, then another, procrastinating on making the list by taking items off it by getting them done Wink The one thing I did not get done was to go to the basement to take a big suitcase there. Cannot undestand why not. It would take all of five minutes... But I got a nice post-lunch nap and we went out for dinner in the evening so the day was quite relaxing.

AWholeLottaNosy · 19/03/2015 18:05

Hi all how are we doing this week?

I got rid of 20 bags of stuff on Tues, was picked up by a charity and am currently packing up more stuff to go next week

Did a load of washing today.

Sorted out loads of spare change, enough to exchange for a fiver.

All little wins but they are giving me a sense of momentum and achievement, especially with the house clearing.

What about you?

akaTFB · 20/03/2015 05:18

Hello, nearly lost this thread as i haven't been around for a bit. Yet again all my plans went out the window. Had a problem with my car on Sunday. Which left me trying to sort it out and find a new one quick. It's a long story but I just didn't get time to procrastinate Or eat Grin I'd start to wonder why I was ravenous by tea time.

Anyway normal service is resumed today.

BakewellSlice · 20/03/2015 10:26

20 bags! Wow, well done.

Original poster
ProcrastinateNoMore · 20/03/2015 21:18

Hello Procrastinators! It has been a stupidly busy week (with another one on the horizon) but just wanted to say hello and well done. Lotta special well done to you, it sounds like you are dealing beautifully with some real challenges.

My copy of 'Your best year yet' arrived today so I'm going to head up to bed and get settled in for some bedtime reading Smile

OP posts:
AWholeLottaNosy · 20/03/2015 23:44

Thanks for your kind words Procrastinate. Hope you find the book useful. It's really useful to sit down with a pen and paper and look at your last year, you'll probably be amazed at what you have achieved. And even with the 'failures', when you analyse them you can usually see a pattern ( which tends to be a mirror image of the skills/ qualities you used when you did achieve stuff)

Let us know how you get on!

akaTFB · 24/03/2015 10:54

Hello all, well I was feeling very pleased with myself earlier, before doing the school run I managed to empty and load the dish washer clean the whole kitchen, sweeping the floor de-cluttter the utility wash mucky finger marks of doors and walls put some washing on, clean the bathroom, hoover right through. Wrote a list of things to do today, took ds2 to school feeling very smug.......

But now I've been sitting in the dark playground, feeling almost sick at getting the list and starting it. I really need to book Ds1 birthday party I can't leave it any longer. Problem is the last time I booked this, it was not straight forward, was an absolute pain in the arse to organise. I think with this knowledge it's stopping me from doing it. I really do feel queasy at the thought of doing it. I don't like feeling like this and just want to get on with it so I stop feeling like this. But here is am stuck Sad

AWholeLottaNosy · 24/03/2015 11:39

Aka why is it a pain to organise? Is there anyway of making it simpler?

akaTFB · 24/03/2015 11:56

Hi, lotta I was just coming on to say DONE IT Grin after writing the post just got up got the list and rang them.

It's a pain because I was missold a load of tickets, and when I went to book the first party their were 'extras' and lots of small print. Which I complained about and had lots of phone calls to sort out. They finally admitted misselling But it caused a lot of hassle and on the day the manager was a complete arse too. Anyhoo rang them booked it easily as they Have put all the previous stuff on my account record so it was sorted first time this time Smile

How's things with you?

AWholeLottaNosy · 24/03/2015 13:01

That's fantastic! Ironically when we actually DO stuff, it usually tends not to be anywhere near as bad as we thought it was gonna be!

Well, I've just got rid of 12 more bags of stuff, so that's going well. I also had a erm, gentleman caller coming round last night so spent most of the day cleaning and tidying. Place looks lovely today! Funny how some things are more motivating than others...Smile

antimatter · 24/03/2015 14:09

I can share with you that I am much better last 2 weeks with my daily tasks than I have been for years!
Dishes are done and clothes washed!
I even cleaned my fridge yesterday!
My plan is to get to the point where 30-45 min daily will be all I need to do. Or it feels like I am spending all weekend just doing the catching up!

akaTFB · 24/03/2015 18:21

anti that's great Smile and you get to really feel the benefit at the weekends so double the time in the happy playground.

lotta yes some motivations are so much better then others WinkGrin

crimsonh · 28/03/2015 06:57
Grin
Procrastinators, get your pompoms. Let's cheer each other on and kick the procrastination habit!
AWholeLottaNosy · 28/03/2015 07:26

That's a good one!

AWholeLottaNosy · 30/03/2015 10:01

So I've got a job application to do by Friday - I hate doing them but it's got to be done. Can anyone help me get motivated and not procrastinate about it....please?? Sad

AWholeLottaNosy · 30/03/2015 16:01

Getting lots done today! Contacted a gardener and plumber about getting work done on the house. Am also filling in an application form for a job. Am cooking with gas today!! :)

Come on everyone, where have you gone? Share your wins, your obstacles, we're all dealing with the same stuff. This thread has really helped me, let's not procrastinate, persistence is the key!!

AWholeLottaNosy · 07/04/2015 18:05

WHERE HAVE YOU ALL GONE??

Stop procrastinating and get back on here!

Pleeeease, I need you! Sad

FrugalFashionista · 07/04/2015 20:19

I'm back to work after a couple weeks of travel (a tightly scheduled work trip and a week of hols). Getting started with work today was really hard and I didn't get the thing I most wanted to do today but took care of other difficult tasks and feeling okay.

WholeLotta it sounds like you are getting really major and important things done! What's next on your list?

AWholeLottaNosy · 07/04/2015 23:27

Well in the last week I've got a washing machine bought and plumbed in ( my poor old mum only had a twin tub God bless her), got BT wifi and the gardener is coming round next week to give me a quote on getting the very overgrown garden in shape and lawns extended ( am currently living in my parents' house and working on making it more modern and liveable in)

Still cracking on with removing their possessions from the house but did 5 loads of washing over the weekend, thrown out very old towels and sheets and bought a few nice bits for the house.

Only 500 books and 2,000 records to go...

( don't mean to sound heartless, but it has to be done and I've been putting it off for a really really long time...)

FrugalFashionista · 09/04/2015 08:48

WholeLotta that clearout sounds like a nightmare but you are doing so well, tackling really tricky stuff!

I'm very slow getting started in the morning but making decent progress at work. Yesterday I tackled a difficult task that I have been postponing for months. I think I'm also becoming more realistic with what I will actually be able to accomplish. Wish I could streamline the process of getting started a bit. I've done my exercise before starting to work but might try to do that in the evening now that it's no longer pitch dark after the workday.