Comments on: Exploring procrastination

By: tia sedgwick

tia sedgwick — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:21:53 +0000

I am most definitely a decisional procrastinator. I have serious perfectionism issues. I have to make sure everything is done to the best of my abilities. For instance, this is embarrassing but I make to do lists and probably throw out 10 copies until my writing is perfect. I also glue pieces of paper over journal entries that I feel I messed up on, ever just a letter. It’s messed, I know. I’m still in grade 10 and my grades are suffering. I hate thinking about my teachers judging my work. Especially when it’s personal. I’ve started and finished projects many times and neglected to hand them in because I don’t think they’re good enough. I know that the truth is I get better grades than most of my peers when I actually hand in my work, but it is really hard to have my work graded. I guess I take it personally sometimes. I hope i don’t come off like a freak haha..

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:01:00 +0000

I fall into all three areas at times, but I think I have the most trouble with decisions. Of course, the idea of having to make decisions makes me want to avoid doing it.

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:42:13 +0000

I think it’s much easier to tackle tasks when I have at least a semi-clear image of what it will take. I’m a white-collar worker (researcher/designer) 2 years out of professional grad school, working in a field that’s complex and that I’m still learning the skills to do effectively. Thus, sometimes I’ll have to do an analysis of how to improve a piece of software and I’m hazy about where/how to begin. I have incomplete knowledge that it isn’t always clear how to break through, I’m concerned that the project team expects me to bring clarity, etc. I’m slowly learning that part of my job is to set up meetings and brainstorms where I can unearth all the knowledge that the team has, so that I can then begin my work. Since I’m new to leading such meetings, I sometimes put them off or don’t identify when they would be most needed. But the solution is often facilitation rather than organization.

I did find a book called “Time Management for Architects and Designers” that seems to hit on some of the difficult aspects of certain kinds of work. I haven’t done all the exercises, so I don’t know how helpful it is, but I definitely see a difference between work stuff I procrastinate and, say, fixing my bike at home — the latter is something I know has an endpoint and is accomplishable, and that I can find answers in a straightforward way.

In my work situation, I think mentorship — the ability to air what I’m thinking with a knowledgeable person I can trust — could really help in getting me through feeling “stuck” and moving to the facilitation phase.

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:51:37 +0000

Hey! I’m an arousal procrastinator. I always thought I was just crazy..

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:38:43 +0000

Geralin’s tips are, as usual, spot on! My wife and I are avoidance procrastinators. Personally I have to be psychologically in the mood and mentally prepared to take on certain, undesireable tasks. There are certain days when I have the faculties to take on certain challenges. As a Software Engineer I have to agree whole-heartedly with Geralin, that breaking large complex tasks into smaller more achievable ones is the only rationale way to accomplish complex problems. This Software design technique translates perfectly to the real-world as well.

By: kadavy

kadavy — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:32:45 +0000

I might be an arousal procrastinator, because sometimes I’m up all hours of the night, thinking about my projects; but then I avoid doing those projects, so I might be an avoidance procrastinator. I can’t decide

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:02:16 +0000

Guilty of all three, much to my wife’s dismay. However, the longer I work in consulting and get hammered because of client procrastination, the less appealing it becomes – at the risk of triggering content sniffers, being the agent of someone else’s arousal procrastination is not arousing at all… even if it does get repeat business, so to speak.

By: Lorie Marrero

Lorie Marrero — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:02:00 +0000

I am an Avoidance procrastinator, but what typically happens is that I am actually PERCEIVING the activity to be hard but it really isn’t. Sometimes I even enjoy the activity! And it usually doesn’t take as long as I thought. We recommend to our Clutter Diet members to time yourself doing tasks you dread… so that knowing the true amount of time it takes can make it easier to get started. For example, folding a load of laundry really takes only about 3 minutes. Knowing this makes it easier to tackle.

Thanks, Geralin, your tips were right on!

- Lorie Marrero

By: gthomas@metropolitanorganizing.com

gthomas@metropolitanorganizing.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:55:04 +0000

@ all,

I’m thrilled to see such interest in procrastination as a topic of discussion; your comments are greatly appreciated.

I’m enjoying this e-versation because I’m starting to see a few patterns evolve.

Anyone interested in the topic may want to Google the term, “Delay Discounting.” The term is generally used when discussing additive behaviors/rewards & pleasure/impulse controls, etc.

Researchers are using delay discounting data for treating procrastination…rewarding oneself, more often, studies show, tend to motivate procrastinators.

@ Lori–if it comforts you at all, most people DREAD the laundry and the final step, putting the clothes away seems to be the most procrastinated chore of all (not sure if I just made up the word, “procrastinated”)

@ Patty–you are right; Dr. Frost has a ton of great information about this topic. His lectures are wonderful!

@ Ruth–what you mention is called, “paralysis by analysis” meaning you tend to overanalyze things and do nothing for fear of doing it incorrectly.

Thanks again for the feedback everyone!

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:39:58 +0000

As a professional organizer I’d like to think I don’t procrastinate, but I believe that I am the victim of avoidance procrastination. I don’t mind helping other people with their hard or boring tasks, but when it comes to my own it seems those things linger on my to do list. Geralin’s insight has brought this back into the light for me and thus will (hopefully) cause me to be more aware and use her tips to conquer my procrastinating ways!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:02:19 +0000

Erin,

Great! Perhaps I should give up my day job, after all.
If I didn’t have an unnatural obsession with unclutterer.com, I’m sure I’d have no idea when to look for new posts. Lucky for me, I’m a junkie.

Sarah

By: Vickie Dellaquila

Vickie Dellaquila — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:34:28 +0000

As a professional organizer, I sometimes struggle with procrastination. I would see myself as a avoidance procrastinator. I do not like to do hard or boring tasks and will procarstinate.

Thanks for the great tips Geralin!

By: Elaine Shannon

Elaine Shannon — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:37:05 +0000

Hello my name is Elaine….
I am a professional organizer….
And yes I am a procrastinator…..
We are real people who also get caught up. Thanks Geralin for the awesome tips. So many people beat themselves up over this topic.
What I have learned is that I procrastinate about what I hate to do. These are the things that I am a 3 out of 10 at. I will never be a 7 or even a 5. So I have learned that there are people who love to do what I dislike to do. Delegate and do the things that you can be a 10 at.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:48:42 +0000

@Sarah — Oh, I got that you were joking!! I just thought that it would be fun to let people know that we do actually post on a schedule. I write six or seven posts a week here (two extra on RealSimple.com), Matt writes four, Teri writes one … I wonder if people notice this or not?? We notice it because we live it … so sometimes it’s fun to just drop things into comments.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:31:59 +0000

Erin – I was just teasing because it’s a post about procrastination! (Sometimes my sarcasm doesn’t translate in typed form.)

Lori – I have 16-month-old twins, and I work from home. It’s not procrastination when it’s self-preservation!