Introductions and Procrastination Discussion

Howdy folks,

My name's Lucas and I'm a procrastinator. I actually signed up to this forum some time ago (years, I think!), when I was working (or not working!) from home. I have to admit I never really engaged with the forum though. More recently I've started to see how helpful it could be to participate in the forum on a day-to-day basis, though... so here I am! it's nice to 'meet' you all... I hope I can learn from you, overcome some of my procrastination issues and help others to do the same!

ALl the best,

Lucas 

So as a longtime PAer I know the motivation follows action. It's generally a good idea to DO something rather than waiting until you feel like doing it.

But what about long-term things? I think most of us would agree that it is best to "do what you love". But what do you do when it doesn't really feel like you love very many things?

Let me explain further. I always "wanted" a Phd. But I never really thought about WHY I wanted it- mostly to show off. Which is a really bad reason. People who get Phds in say, physics, do it because they LOVE physics.

Through some google search or other I found this Wikipedia article on "Experiential Avoidance".

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance

 For me it added to my understanding of my craving for procrastination/avoidance behaviour.

I'm now making a tentative start on practising "Mindfulness".  I've had a good day, where I got things done that I'd been putting off; and a bad day, where being sick and tired made my craving for avoidance stronger than my choice to be mindful.

 Reading this article: http://www.2knowmyself.com/Self_regulation_and_parenting made me think about my own procratination roots. It has been clear to me for a while that my upbringing has played a big part in my problem. But it took me a while to come to that realization because my parents are so far from the image of stern, extremely strict and loveless that a phrase like "authoriative parents" conjure. 

I'm back after a long time away and hope this is the right place to post a sort of reintroduction.

I am in a mess with tax, business and housing. This is a result of my procrastination over a long period of time.

What do you do when people put you down? When people say really hurtful things- you are lazy, trash, stupid, etc.? My parents don't understand that I am messy because I am SAD. That I have a hard time getting things done BECAUSE of the hurtful things they say. And other things I don't even bother with anymore because I know it won't be good enough anyway. It is very very hard to get started when people are less than encouraging.

I am frightened about planning too much, that is I plan eveything to a small detail, it becomes too much as I have so many small things to do or I spend all my time on a perfect plan as it has to be right so that I can get doing what I have planned. Does anyone else feel this? any tips to get out of this? Do more and plan less?

The past few days it has occurred to me that my procrastination seems closely related to or resulting from a lack of commitment. When I was a young teen, I set a goal to go to a particularly competitive college. I got the application form as a freshman in high school and then developed a detailed, ambitious plan for high school that was designed to get me accepted into this college. I executed the plan pretty much flawlessly.

Dear friends,

have you ever used this tool? It is quite common and consists in working in small blocks of fifteen minutes.