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.

A check-in for today

9 April, 2006 - 4:10pm - craigt

Hey,

I'm new here. I'm 26, in collge, have ADD and I'm very susceptible to depression. Lately I've had a lot of problems with procrastination, even though I'm taking medication, etc. I'd like to thank all of you for putting this forum together and collecting all of the resources you have here.

Today I'm going to email my professors in the classes I'm having problems in about making up late/missed assignments, finish writing my cross cultural paper, finish my behavioral genetics homework, get caught up in enviromental psychology, and make a schedule for the rest of the semester.

Though if I get through half of that I'll be happy.

‹ My first post! everyday's check in. ›

Thanks everyone!

craigt - 30 Apr 2006 - 12:32am

I listened to Gettings Things Done awhile back after posting this, and it helped quite a bit. I've still been pretty afraid of talking to my professors. For me, it's kind of the fear/low-self esteem that's part of the problem.

I'm going to try and finish my genetics paper, and my education and society homework this evening. I'll bookend what I get done.

Craig's Genetics & Ed papers

Normy - 1 May 2006 - 6:10am

How did you get on Craig?

I managed to get another module finished for my therapy studies on Friday before I went away, and I've got another 14 or so papers to catch up on, so I'm plugging along with you!

Normy

HeyyyDon't set your goals

NicP - 11 Apr 2006 - 9:41am

Heyyy
Don't set your goals too high! Set realistic goals and take some time to relax too!

Oh my goodness!

Normy - 13 Apr 2006 - 8:59am

What a list! Unless each of those tasks is very small, I'm not surprised you feel depressed. I'm overwhelmed just reading it. I'm in a similar situation with getting behind with study and assignments, and I have a scary amount outstanding.

I don't have deadlines though (double edged sword for me - if I had deadlines, I'd pull out the stops, but as I don't I procrastinate even more).

NicP's right - your goals need to be realistic. If you set them too high you are likely to fail - you won't have achieved your goal and you'll feel bad about it. If you set realistic goals you can celebrate the smaller achievements.

Speak to your tutors about your problems - not just on the basis of the assignment that's due next - they'll think it's an excuse - but ask for a tutorial to discuss your very real problems, and to set realistic goals for getting back on track. I think something similar has been mentioned on another thread.

Prioritise those tasks and just pick one. Break it down into steps, then START (in caps, because that's the hardest bit for ~me~, and I'm talking myself, now, too because I need the pep talk!).

HTH
Normy