So, who else, besides me, is struggling with their tendency to procrastinate?

Very often, the things I procrastinate on are the routine things that might be boring. I find it hard to get motivated to do them.

Sometimes, I procrastinate on bigger projects because it seems so overwhelming and I don't even know where to start!

What are you procrastinating on?

How do you motivate yourself to sit down and do something, or get up and do something, as the case may be?

For me, a combination of Just Do It, Baby Steps/15 minutes, and rewards help. I tell myself, "Just do it for 15 mins. and then, reward yourself with crafting, posting, etc." and it works - sometimes. Sometimes, it takes the threat of dire consequences to get me moving!

Occasionally, however, procrastination pays! For example, I had been procrastinating on finalizing a document for work - today, I found out that there will be further changes to the document, so, it was a good thing I hadn't finalized it, after all! For if I had, then, I'd have had to revise it and do it all over again!

Most of my life, I was not a procrastinator, and most of the time, I am still not one. I don't do well with things hanging over me, so endeavor to start things early. That enables me to take the time I need without rushing, and to avoid a feeling of pressure. This worked well in school and for quite a few years after that. Then real life intervenes, and our best intentions are derailed.

This year I actually got my taxes done by the first week of March! This spared me a lot of discomfort, and it was worth it. I hope to be done even sooner next year, since this year I couldn't finish until my employer sent a corrected W-2 form. But by focusing on the taxes, there were plenty of other things I didn't do. Not only did I not do projects, I let even basic things slide, such as scrubbing the bathroom or kitchen. I think it's fair to say that we sometimes put things off because we don't have time to do all of them, at least not simultaneously. Of course, baby steps help, because they don't take too big chunks out of the day.

At this point in my life, I do find it harder to do things that don't appeal to me. I do the taxes because I have to, not because I want to. And although I've always been a good correspondent, I write fewer letters or even e-mails, because I've stopped writing to people who don't reply. Maybe that's less procrastination than efficiency, though somehow I feel as though I've "slipped," not functioning at my previous higher standard.

This particular month, and for the next few weeks, I need to finish an online computer course (if I don't take the exam by the June deadline, I won't get credit for it) and get DS through exams, as well as, I hope, graduation from high school. If he does graduate (please say a little prayer), he will then depart within about 10 days for Marine Corps boot camp. He will do most of the prep for that. I want to try to fit in a few things before he leaves, such as his 18th birthday observance at the end of May.

I'm procrastinating (if that's the right word) on doing much else until all of these irons in the fire are taken care of. In addition, if I get lucky, maybe I will start a new job - I've been looking for ages, with no luck. I think I will have to do some temp work, since I've not found anything permanent, and hope I won't have a super-long commute.

Does it seem to some of you that you are always in transition, rarely in a period of stability?

I don't think you are procrastinating as such. You are prioritizing and choosing to focus on taking care of the things that are most important to you and delaying the others until you have more time to attend to them.

To me, procrastination is when I know a deadline is looming and I haven't done anything to meet that deadline or waiting until the very last minute to get started! Or when I keep postponing doing something which has no real deadline (and thus, no real consequences for not doing it).

i agree w bless. no matter how much we wish it were different, there are only a limited number of hours in the day. all of life is deciding the best use of our time.

mary

I am a BIG TIME procrastinator. I'm not sure what it is--fear of being overwhelmed. The enormity of my projects just scare me so I don't want to start or I get stuck on something that distracted me & then I get late & dinner isn't started on time & there I go again throwing everything on my to-do list out the window while I try to get the basics done (& hide the evidence of my procrastinating & non-productivity from my husband before he gets home). Literally, I am throwing papers in boxes & hiding them in closets!!!

Or clothes that I had started sewing buttons on (that my husband asked me to do a month ago) or things I was sorting through then got distracted w/a phone call & then I just looked around me & felt like I was buried in clutter & stuff to do...

Almost wish I could do the mistake I did w/my email where I had 3,800 + emails in my in box & was trying to go through them & empty my email box & somehow deleted them ALL by mistake!! Thank goodness I don't use it for work, but you know, it was a kind of relief to have it all taken out of my hands.

Just "delete" everything & not have to deal w/it!!--Suzy

I'm a procrastinator! I procrastinated on getting this topic up, I'm procrastinating on getting two reports done, I'm a procrastinator!

I will overcome!

You sure will STRIVING!

I procrastinated on calling the painter, and the vet last week.
Now today I did it!

Striving: If anyone is allowed to procrastinate, it is you! Let's just say you might have been a tad preoccupied with holding flood waters at bay and caring for two additional foster children.

I agree with Bless. You do so much for others, we (the queen and Goddess) allow you to slack some! (Horns blow while the decree is made) Ta ta ta tah!

I am more like Suzy, only I don't hide stuff in closets, I put it on the dining room table or chair.

One day I couldn't find my car keys and it was during DS2's bday party and everyone was outside playing until we took them to play laser tag however they all decided to come in the house and help me look for my keys.

Guess where they started? The dining room! I was so embarassed but that hasn't stopped me from continuing to do this. I do think I am getting better, maybe, a little bit, a teeny tiny bit. Anyways I am going to clear the table, really I am, I plan to do this by let's say June 1st.

And that means a home to everything on it, not just moving it to the floor, that is not a home in my opinion. Well it is it's just not a permanent type home if you know what I mean.

So DH and I have some financial papers we need to get together and I've been putting it off for a few weeks now and I am also going to try to this this week. So far I have 2 things off the list of about 8. Not much progress but more than the last few weeks.