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Procrastination

(102 Posts)
MawBroonsback Tue 18-Jun-19 10:28:25

I wish this was not one of my worst weaknesses.
It’s not laziness (I think) but usually something I don’t really want to do which I put off and off perhaps in the hope it won’t be necessary. Taking Hattie to kennels (even booking) for example. I have known for weeks that I am going on a weekend granny duty on Thursday afternoon but have just steeled myself to ring the kennels.

I have 4 bags ready in the garage for the charity shop, but perhaps I don’t really want to part with the contents? (Including some of Paw’s things)

Putting it off does not make it go away and when I do get round to ticking things off my to-do list I feel as if a load has been lifted off my shoulders.
So why?
Anyone else suffer? I would so like to be like the Nike ad - and “just do it! “

Jaxie Tue 18-Jun-19 13:15:13

To widgeon3, I'm on lots of medication for high blood pressure, underactive thyroid, cholesterol: could side effects be the incredible lassitude I feel that causes my procrastination?

Forestflame Tue 18-Jun-19 12:52:51

Welcome to my world!!

widgeon3 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:43:29

Yes, I do procrastinate.... always have but previously, the pressure of some sort of dead line worked wonders and, surprisingly enough, somehow I knew internally how long it would take to complete the dreaded task. That is the time I allowed myself.

My problem is that I no longer care about any deadline.
I feel tired. I asked the doctor if it were her medication. She denied it and yet, on line, the medication chat line is full of exhausted people on the same drug..
The second doctor I tried said I was intelligent but bored and should find myself something to do.
i asked my consultant at the hospital if it were old age ( 79) She said yes.

Please, can anyone help me find out what might be causing it. Cannot find any useful books on the subject.

anniesgrannie Tue 18-Jun-19 12:39:33

I had a quote for removing a tree recently. The man said it was a nice tree and it could be cut back rather than removing it. I have artificial grass and the tree sheds leaves all over it. Now I keep changing my mind what to do. I know if I book him to remove it, I will have changed my mind when he comes. Since my husband died I have realized that he always made the decisions.

GreenGran78 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:36:24

Do I procrastinate? I’ll tell you tomorrow! wink

pamdixon Tue 18-Jun-19 12:33:44

whoops meant motto

pamdixon Tue 18-Jun-19 12:33:20

my mott is 'why do something now when you can do it later/tomorrow/next week/next month/next year!!

gransal Tue 18-Jun-19 12:28:42

I am really bad at putting things off. However, I do have the ironing sorted. I send it out to the ironing service. Worth every penny. !!

Opalsusanna1 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:23:13

I'm the procrastinating editor Grammaretto. I get the stuff in and take ages to get through it; I have a printer who is tearing his hair out. I drive myself mad!

vena11 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:22:41

My favourite saying is Don't do today what you cant put off until tomorrow .

LightAmber Tue 18-Jun-19 12:19:30

My partner procrastinates all the time and it drives me up the wall! Kitchen Project planned, I've got spare time to assist and he calls a halt because he's not sure if he needs xyz (whichwas included in the delivery from b&q) after a day or so of asking me rhetorical questions (which if I actually answer thinking he's asking me for an answer he gets agitated) he may start then grinds to a halt because the "light has gone, he feels tired, etc"

I'm this |-| close to paying someone to come in and assemble my kitchen and leave it shiny and new for me.

At least he won't have any reason to be do bloody tetchy then!! (kitchen was his idea btw)

vena11 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:19:20

My favourite saying is don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow .

GrandmasueUK Tue 18-Jun-19 12:14:48

A few years ago I joined an art class one afternoon a week and I loved it. I and OH used to treat me to a few art supplies when we went shopping and I built a garden shed 'studio' so I could paint in there. I have boxes and cupboards filled with paints, papers, pencils etc. I spend so much time arranging them that I don't get to paint any more. I am now retired but don't have enough time to create!

I now find myself making lists of things to do (rather than actually doing them) grin

Lupin Tue 18-Jun-19 12:09:08

I was born procrastinating. I was 2 weeks overdue so family legend had it.. The habit has never been lost and I can't seem to do anything unless it's urgent. It's that perpetual guilt that goes with it I could do without and I often think that if only I could put the energy into the original task that I put into thinking up reasons to avoid it I could break the habit. It's true that deadlines and appointments help.

Elvive Tue 18-Jun-19 12:07:17

Maw, if it was an open cheque book and a trip to a new East shop would you be procrastinating?

Is it just fatigue or something more serious?
It can be linked to low mood.

hellbells, your post reminds me of looking round a monastery and one of the group was slightly obsessed with self flagellation. It was very funny in an accent which I mustn't mention for fear of being called racist.

Fernbergien Tue 18-Jun-19 12:05:52

I don’t iron. I have a wardrobe rail in airing cupboard in front of boiler. Put clothes from wash on hangers and hang up. Clothes come out perfect. On the other hand I do not get jobs done mainly because I tire very quickly.

Witzend Tue 18-Jun-19 12:05:19

Here's my lovely cardi - almost as good as new!
I really am going to do that ironing now...

FarNorth Tue 18-Jun-19 12:02:23

Witzend, do you really need so many tea towels?
Stop torturing yourself.

hellsbells148 Tue 18-Jun-19 12:01:28

I flagellate myself at every opportunity about my procrastination - and like many others, I feel so much better when I have completed something. But that feeling like lead thing! I thought it was only me and a testament to my laziness! I'm trying to tell myself that I'm an intellectual and my mind is on higher things but that doesn't work as I was too lazy to study!!

Saggi Tue 18-Jun-19 11:57:54

I actually think procrastination IS laziness!! There is no excuse otherwise is there!? I’m a Nike person...Just Do It!

Jaxie Tue 18-Jun-19 11:53:54

To Grannysyb, Oh dear; I hate cleaning too. A friend called yesterday. I asked her if the house smelt, as I have a horror of having a house that smells "old people". She said it did, but said she couldn't identify the smell! I made a vow to scour the whole place out today, but instead I'm reading a novel by Kate Atkinson that I can't put down interspersed with looking at clothes I don't need on the John Lewis website offers page. Is it because I live on my own? Now the washing machine is beeping to tell me it's finished it's cycle but I'm not being bossed by it so I'm ignoring it.

EllanVannin Tue 18-Jun-19 11:51:45

-------been the same all my life ( except when working )

Glad to hear I'm not the only one, so I'll carry on as I was hahhaha. Well I'm not going to change now am I ??

sodapop Tue 18-Jun-19 11:51:06

I'm not a procrastinator, I like to tick things off my list. My husband though is a different kettle of fish and drives me mad. He started thinking about a visit to his daughter in March and finally made it last week.

Craftycat Tue 18-Jun-19 11:50:30

Oh Yes- this is me too!
Then I get a sudden urge to blitz a room or mow lawn or something & I have to do it then & there.
I am never going to be the woman with the immaculate home although I was when I was first married- before children!!

Witzend Tue 18-Jun-19 11:48:37

Oh, yes, the dreaded ironing!

My excuse now (not that I ever just did it as soon as it was there) is that since retirement dh has taken over my former ironing room as his study, and is up there at least half the day.

There is also a small TV there, so when I was in the mood (not often!) I would go and do some while watching Homes Under the Hammer, or Heir Hunters.

But he is out now, so I have no excuse for not going and getting on with a huge pile of it, including a load of tea towels that were washed at least ten days ago. Not that I would bother, but they fit better into limited drawer space if ironed.
Maybe I will actually get off my a*se and get on with it now.