The Problem of Procrastination

I suffer from lots of disorganization and procrastination (among other things). I liked how this article described the problem of procrastination. It had my name written all over it.
The Problem of Procrastination article

I found it interesting to read of the "lure of comfort tasks."
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Meanwhile, the attractiveness of the non-urgent, non-priority comfort tasks still lure the procrastinator to do them. The result is that the procrastinator becomes subject to the tyranny of the urgent, is unable to establish proper priorities, and constantly seeks reprieve from these stresses by attending to tasks that are neither urgent nor priority!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">That is so me. I can have many, many important things that need to be accomplished and get nowhere on them, but instead will "waste" time doing tasks that are not critical and can truly be put off ("comfort tasks"). Meanwhile, important stuff goes undone. I have never understood that and get very frustrated with myself over that.

I also found it illuminating to read of possible psychological problems that may underlie procrastination/disorganization. I was thinking ADHD might be the prime culprit, but what this article says meshes with what the PNP I started seeing recently had to say:
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Procrastination may also be an indicator of a more serious physical or psychological problem that would respond positively to treatment. Often, such procrastination is not observed by the one procrastinating, but by others close to that person. Extreme anxiety, severe clinical depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity, and illnesses that are related to memory loss are examples of such dysfunctions that may lead to procrastination.

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Maybe this article will be useful to others...

Wow, thanks for posting that! It's so me and what I struggle with. Comfort food and comfort tasks. Makes sense.

Thanks again.

gg

That certainly hits the nail on the head. Now, where's my hammer ?

Sunny,
Thanks for the great information! I also love the book,
"Laziness is a MYTH" by Mel Levine. It talks about motiviations and organizational skills, etc. It is really an excellent book!

Now if I can just find some time to get my butt to the store to by that appointment book, I'll be ready to tackle my procrastination problem.

Good share

I've had a workbook about procrastination on my bookshelf for a good 4 years now. Still haven't really read it.

gg

Must be right there with my To Do List and address book.

How about the Chunking idea?
I'll spend a whole day analyzing and breaking tasks down into smaller more doable chunks. Unfortunately, instead of then doing each chunk, I decide there has got to be a more efficient way and start the process all over. I do the same thing with my priority list (analyze and re-sort over and over again). Very productive indeed!

At least you prioritize. I only get to the making endless lists of minute details level. It's like a brain dump so that I don't keep dwelling on all that needs doing. Now if I only actually did something from the lists...

gg

I have not been able to make a list for a few years. Because seeing all the stuff on it (endless!) made me feel overwhelmed and stressed and hopeless and depressed. About 2 weeks ago I made my first "to do" list in years. I tried not to let it stress me out. And I did some of the stuff on it. My memory has gotten so bad that a list is very helpful to me in simply remembering what I have to do. It is nice to be able to check things off. I still have the problem though of not doing the most urgent and important things on the list in favor of lesser tasks (comfort tasks). Try as I might, it is so hard to not do that!

Up in the ADHD resources thread, someone recommended this book:
10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis
I got it at the library. It's very short and written in simple language (probably so it is as little effort as possible) and has some good tips. It is very practical and I need that now. There are chapters on reducing clutter, getting organized, managing time, how to stop losing things, etc. I'm finding some of the information quite helpful.

Yep, I'll read this one...

...tomorrow.

I'll get back on the task of thinking about not procrastinating when I'm done laughing.

I have hella good news to report. I currently am working on a contract project in addition to my regular job. I have to invoice the funder in order to get paid. I have been working on this project since effing November and have yet to send in an invoice. So I'm unpaid. I just keep procrastinating at creating statements and invoices, adding up my hours, etc. Why, why, why? I get money if I can complete this task. I've done the work already, why not get paid for it.?

Anyway, around 11 pm, after stalling by completing many, less urgent comfort tasks, I was finally able to sit down, add up my hours, and put an invoice together for my hours from November - February. And I emailed it this morning to the person who will be paying me. I can't believe I finally did this! I haven't heard back from her. I hope she still exists and I will get paid.

I was talking to my PNP this week about my problem with procrastination. She told me that many people who are self-employed hate doing the invoices and lots of people actually don't get paid because they fail to bill their customers. Somehow, that made me feel a lot better. I couldn't believe how stupid I was being about not doing the invoices, but hearing that others did it too made me feel much less dysfunctional. I think it helped me finally break through the blockade. My PNP told me I was not stupid and gave me some strategies on how to deal with this. She told me that ADD takes more than meds to surmount, that you need the right coping skills too. Then she wrote me another prescription and doubled my dosage. (So now I'm also left to wonder if taking more meds helped me get over this block? No, no, I did it on my own!)

This coming week I plan to invoice for March-May.

Anyway, just wanted to share my success with my fellow procastinators.

I read it and found it interesting - thank you for posting. I recently have had ADHD diagnosed - have started Ritalin but early days yet - on a low dose to start - I think I'm going to need more to get any kind of effect sustained for more than an hour or two. My main thoughts on the procrastination problem with ADHD is that, once the meds are working and my prefrontal cortex is functioning correctly it should be a hell of a lot easier to get on with things. Am I being too optimistic?

hmn...uh....i have OCD symptoms...

but i shouldnt be thinking about this

*shifty eyes* *is procrastinating*

off to do my hw!

Just reading this entire thread made me laugh hysterically and feel like maybe there's hope for me yet! =D

Thank you guys. I've been here all of... maybe 2 hours (time WELL WELL spent, in my view), and it's given me so much hope, knowing I'm not the only one. It's one thing coming from a therapist, and another coming from real people who deal with the same things.

Thank you.