Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.

hilarious graphic story (aka cartoon) of the procrastination cycle - READ!!

Allie Brosh is really funny

And attractive and it's just so striking that even she might deal with depression and manic procrastination.

 

The world is strange. That comic describes me too well... 

Very funny... and to me poignant

When I found it I felt a glut of emotions, not least relief because I was sharing these feelings with so many people.

It's poignant especially because when, with aching sides, I showed it to my boyfriend, it didn't even raise a smile. He just couldn't understand or identify with it in even the smallest way.  I don't think he ever grasped what my procrastination was, and still less the attendant emotions!  Seeing the blog now reminds me of the huge isolation I felt at that realisation and how little understanding, still yet sympathy, it is possible for non-procrastinators to have for us all. But that was a year ago and he is now an ex-boyfriend.

However hearing that programme on Radio 4 (that I think brought a lot of newbies like me here) was somewhat empowering and two weeks ago I even admitted procrastination to a respected prospective employer in a footnote about why I'd taken so long to reply to his e-mail.  After that experience with the boyfriend I think I became even better at hiding my procrastination from acquaintances- and not trying to cover it up felt so good! I'm sure you'll be pleased to know I got a sympathetic and kind response from him with no criticism for how long I took to reply. 

Wow

Oh it is so funny ... but for those of us who are in it as a compulsion the results really are devastating. This post is just so insightful about the way I live my life.  I didn't realize it had to do with shying away from being an adult. Like getting groceries and cleaning were some big accomplishment!

Oh no ....

I don't think I want to know that!Surprised It's all so true - but I've got to believe there's a way out.

I can so identify with that!

Thanks for posting - it's food for thought

 H.

(pro)

Awesome, reminds me how GRATEFUL......................I AM THAT YOU HAVE CREATED THIS PLACE WHERE I CAN KEEP "SHOWING UP" NOMATTER WHAT , A WAY OUT OF THE CYCLE, AT LEAST FOR ME, IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS OF CONSISTENT "SHOWING UP" A TRUE MIRACLE, .THANK YOU. v

awesome.

Thanks for pointing that out, Pro. Really funny; also painful. This is no joke — living this way sucks. 

Quite an experience reading the bazillion comments all identifying with the writer. There are a lot of us out there. 

I think most if not all people have some experience with this cycle, but for an unknown percentage of us it becomes pathological. That's true for me. What separates me from "civilians" is degree of misery. Guilt becomes intense shame. Disappointment and regret become incapacitating despair. Rebellion escalates from mild avoidance behaviors to substance or behavioral addictions. There are any number of ways to numb out and try to duck the pain of being present amid a huge stinking pile of fail; I've used a lot of them. 

I've been involved in 12 Step programs for a decade and in my experience EVERY addict's jones is driven by a behavioral cycle like this.

I take my stimulants/antidepressants, but the only real relief and hope I've ever found has been via 12 Step programs. I started out in programs for the things I was doing to knock myself out and avoid pain, but now I'm in programs that deal with what, for me anyway, is the root of the problem: Workaholics Anonymous -- flip side of the manic phase is "work anorexia," "time debting," etc; Underearners Anonymous; Procrastinators Anonymous.

I don't think I'd be among the living at this point if I hadn't found the Steps and the fellowships.

Wow

I think you've just described my life right now. I'm actually teary-eyed. Yeah, the article was funny, and practically every word in it described me, too. Gosh.

Thanks so much for that

Thanks so much for that link! 

re: Funniest article ever

I don't even know if it is funny, even though I had to laugh, especially at the point where she rebels. Ah, do I know the feeling.

I suppose taking up the philosophy of "doing a little everyday gets things done" should help, but yes, I once and again get caught in the cycle of wanting to be perfect from tomorrow onwards.:D

re: funniest article

I love that blog - she's writing a book now too.

Jo

You must see your goals clearly and specifically before you can set out for them. Hold them in your mind until they become second nature. - Les Brown