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.

How does this whole site work?

OK, so I am new to all of this.  I am a 58 year old loner who hides out from life and my responsilities (especially bills).  I NEED this support.  I am not very techy'.  It looks like there are meetings on line I can somehow join, right?  I know about the chatbox.  Anything else I should know?  I need help.  The way I escape is lots of laying around and day dreaming (being in my head), isolating, eating or excessive internet surfing.  My self esteem is in the tubes. I have a truely addictive personality.  Thank u for being there so much all. Your input, experience, stregth and hope, in response, are more than welcome.

welcome finally!

So glad you found the site, you will find that everyone here can relate to your post in some way! For me, the best part of the site is being connected - it is easy to stay isolated - but knowing you have a supportive place to come and share is really wonderful and helps me to reconnect spiritually also.

This is how I have used the site and I'm sure others will share their thoughts as well for you.

1. Keep coming back - make it a daily routine.

2. I go to the daily forum/check in everyday and post a to do list and any other thoughts or issues or inspirational things that I want to focus on for the day. Just look to the right for the "active forum topics" for that day's date. It is helpful to make a public post so you have some accountability to do what you say. It has slowly helped me to have a more realistic to do list as I am able to clearly see what gets done and doesnt!

3. Chatbox - have used this less lately because of my changed summer routine with dd, but it has gotten me through many days and late working nights!  For me it is a way to talk through the things on my list and get them done - even when no one is chatting but me, it is a help. The fellowship here is a great help.

4. Online meetings every Sunday. There is usually a post in Sunday's daily check in to remind everyone the time and how to look for the right time for where you live. These are very helpful and I attended the first couple of months I was here and think it was very important for me to do to really commit to the site and recovery.

5. Articles and other people's posts. Another great thing for me about this site has been awareness - realizing that my thinking/feeling is flawed and led me to a pattern/habit of avoidance and feeling bad about myself - so to start attacking it as an addiction rather than just feeling as if it is something bad about my character has really helped. There are lots of great articles, book reviews and insightful posts from people dealing with the same issues we are and it helps to read them and stay connected.

6. One step at a time. The 12 steps are really important for me as well as following the tools for recovery suggested here. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by just how much there is to fix in me, my life - so by focusing on a reasonable to do list and one step at a time, the next right thing done the right way - I can make progress and not quit because it is too much.

7. Post successes and failures - i have had many good and bad days, staying here and posting during both has been important and has helped me recover more quickly when I feel myself slip into avoidance.

Be encouraged, you have made a big step to join and post and you don't have to be "techy" to benefit from the fellowship here! Everyone is supportive and understanding and helpful and you will fit right in ;)

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.