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I have a habit of procrastinating things til the last minute, and for the past few years it's been affecting my work life. It makes me dread daily standups and become more reclusive around my colleagues. Each day I say what I expect I'll be able to accomplish and then I just...don't do it. Instead I read, or play video games, or clean. When I get even 1 hour of solid work done in a day it feels like an outstanding accomplishment relative to my day-to-day.
I'm wondering if you're able to share some insight that might help me gain some perspective. How do you deal with a lack of focus? How do you hold yourself accountable to your commitments?
2023-12-15 · 5 months ago
@oldernow
That sounds like idealism. While I don't hold to that school of philosophy myself, I do think it deserves serious consideration.
As for advice, leverage one thing you can do that other creatures just can't - train yourself. Start by committing to something small, and if you go through with it, give yourself a small reward that you actually want.
You could also promise "punishment" for particularly critical things, though it takes discipline to do that. Maybe something like, "If I don't finish this report, it's no web comics for a week" or something like that.
But be advised that positive reinforcement works much better for forming a lasting habit than punishment.
Firstly I'm sorry to hear you are not living up to your goals, that can be tough to cope with over time. It seems to me that being focused and industrious results form a positive mental attitude so I assume that your work is simply boring or depressing you in some way. If only it were so easy to change your mood after reading few comments online! Maybe start an endevour/project that really makes you happy and then maybe instead of needing a deadline to get your work done, knowing that finishing your work means you can go a do the thing you love. Maybe that will put your world into focus.
It is a viable strategy which eventually pays off: one day you will die and it won't matter if you didn't do the laundry. But jokes aside, I feel your pain. My accomplishment for this week is taking my mom to lunch, and I am too tired to think about doing anything else...
I think procrastination happens when people hide from tasks that they are fearful of or anxious about. When you realize you're procrastinating, tell yourself you're going to take 5 minutes to think about your task. Set a timer. Spend 5 minutes thinking only about the task itself. Not why you have to do it, or who wants you to do it, or how you feel about it. Think about the steps needed, or the physical process itself. You'll need a new document, you'll need file folders, or a new notebook. You'll need to talk to Jane and Michael. Don't make a list or a plan. Just roll it around in your head for 5 minutes. Then stop and do something fun. It's aversion therapy for your task so that you don't feel so much like hiding from it.
If this has been going on for years, is it something which has been brought up as a problem by your boss during that time? If not then maybe you're not really procrastinating, but instead are blessed with a very light workload :)
medication helps (sometimes)
worried now that last comment sounds glib.
if it's a problem that has been recognizable through your life, it could be worth asking the question, if you haven't. more broadly, about potential neurodivergence i mean - obvi medication is only one tool for that.
procrastination was one huge problem i had, always, until a few years ago when i finally investigated my ~~mental health~~ situation, got help etc. not as if all my problems have evaporated overnight, but it's been incredibly constructive for my life; one of the best things i ever did for myself.
it also could be just that your job is just not engaging enough for you. another worthwhile question. maybe time for a change?
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