Introductions and Procrastination Discussion

I think part of the reason I procrastinate is I get bored with a single task. It's either easy and I get bored, or think I should have done it already, or I think it *should* be easy for me, and then I think I get insecure about how long it may or may not take me, and end up avoiding it altogether.
But if I've got LOTS on my plate, or I'm multitasking, even though that's supposed to be inefficient (I'm sure it is, but if I add up my hours at the end and figure out it should have taken me less, then at least I can use the excuse that well, I more inefficient than usual because I was multitasking, but OMG, LOOK HOW MANY PLATES I WUZ SPINNING!

I found this wonderful quote on Kate's book blog http://katesbookblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/finding-time-to-work.html and thought you might enjoy it. The quote comes from a book by Kenneth Atchity, A Writer’s Time: Making the Time to Write (1995).

 In a productive, well-ordered life two elements must be managed: time and work. Poor time-managers fail to recognize the difference between the two elements: Work is infinite; time is finite. Therefore, you must manage your time, not your work. Work expands to fill whatever time is allotted to it. If your work is successful, it generates more work; as a result, the concept of “finishing your work” is a contradiction in terms so blatant and so dangerous that it can lead to nervous breakdowns—because it puts the pressures on the wrong places in your mind and habits. Time, on the other hand, is finite, though there’s much more of it available than people who manage it poorly think. The real problem is that we don’t have enough disciplined energy to use all the time that’s given to us.

Hi all,

Not really a check-in, so I'll post this here.  (Though not really a question/answer/introduction, either.  More like thinking out loud.)

I'm feeling mad at myself and frustrated.  I'm taking today off, and my intention was to get to bed early last night, get up at my usual time as if going to work, and get some cringe-busting done.  Instead, I stayed up late fooling around on the internet and slept very late.  And woke up into one of those days where I know it would feel good to get things in my life taken care of, but am just dragging my feet on doing anything at all.

Reading all the comments to E's list that included ironing sheets made me think about a friend I had as a child whose mother insisted that they iron all the sheets.  My mother had us iron the pillow cases only!  This friend's mother was literally insane and probably abusive.  One time she ended up sniffing gas in all the corners of the house.  I'm not sure what happened to Kathy!

The reason I point this story out is because people do things for strange reasons.  And then we find ourselves following their example.  No wonder we procrastinate.  I'm sure you've heard the story of the woman who always cut the end of the ham.  When someone inquired as to why she did it, she told them that her mother had done it that way.  Finally she asked her mother why she cut the end off of the ham.  Her mother's reply: "So it would fit into my pan!"

I'm not sure that I can define the spiral I'm stuck in right now.  The word that most suits my state is 'avoidance'.  I know that my actions fall under the heading of resistance.  And the resulting action becomes procrastination.  And yet, knowing the state I'm in doesn't cause a change in action.  My fear overrides my intelligence and I'm left in the vacuum I've been in for years when it comes to moving outward into the money-earning world.

I have great ideas, talents, skills, and knowledge, but I lack the emotional fortitude to move beyond the boundaries of my family.  Having been truly agoraphobic in my 20s, I know I've come a great distance.  (Thanks to 12 step programs.)  But I've hit this boundary so many times without moving far enough beyond it to consider myself successful.  I may be the only person who dies saying, "I wish I had earned more money."  The pressure to earn money doesn't come from outside myself.  My husband is fine being the bread winner.  Although there are definitely societal standards that lurk on every corner, the majority of the problem arises within me, my own mind.

Hi guys...
I'm going through some difficult times and thought you could maybe help me.
My boyfriend has suffered from chronic procrastination since his adolescence (he's now nearly 30). He is a university student and really needs to overcome his procrastination as he is suffering from it terribly. I have bought books on the subjects, printed out tips and strategies, tried to coach him, and found him a psychotherapist but nothing seems to work. I try not to put to much pressure on him and always show him that i trust and believe in him. But he is like stuck in this problem and seems to have tried for so long and not managed to progress at all.

Hello everyone,

I'm not quite sure what to say about myself, but here goes,

I have been procrastinating since about third grade I think, but somehow managed to get into college.  Currently I am buried in school work but avoid it like the plague.  I've really got to get it together or I'll end up flunking out and disappointing not only myself but my husband too.  Up until two semesters ago I had a 3.5 GPA and then it was like something broke and I got a downward spiral to a 2.62.  I'm still not sure what it was that happened, but since then I've felt nearly paralyzed with fear when I start to write or research a paper.  I feel like everything I have to produce for school is under such scrutiny that it scares me.  Plus I have no idea what I would do if I don't buckle down and get this degree.

Hey, I'm sato (named after a comic book character who's a hikikomori, which I would be if I were a little more belligerent), I'm 19, and I've been a procrastinator since third or fourth grade.

so, my past: it started when I got into a gifted program in third grade, and I felt like I was so bad at it that I just blocked it out. I avoided it and never told my parents. it leaked into my regular schooling and during a conference, when they wanted to know why my grades had gone down so suddenly, I couldn't speak. all I did was burst into tears. I've done a lot of bursting into tears in front of teachers in my years. I've always been unable to communicate my feelings. it's weird. my parents want to know what's wrong, but they really actually don't. they just want it to be over. it's weird having parents who spoil you all the time, and then when you show any emotion besides joy they tell straight out to grow up.

Reposted for Journey by Pro (pulled from check-in thread)...

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My family. I'm in the middle in the green sweater holding my grandson. Dad's on the end of the sofa on my left. He's 81 today.

I'm new to this site.  Procrastination is keeping me from dong what I know my Higher Power has for me to do.  If I was doing it for someone else (one with skin on), I'd have it done and on time.  But to do it for myself (and my Higher Power) provides me with innumerous reasons not to do it--like 'whom am I kidding, I can't do this!' or 'people will hate it and I'll receive hate e-mail' or 'I've never finished things before so why even start it."  Then there's the typical--'I'll do it tomorrow--it's too late today or it's too cold', etc., etc., etc.