July 14, 2009
Time is a-tickin.' Don't you have something to do? You know, cleaning, paying bills, and running errands... all the fun stuff. Time to get some motivation and organization and forgo procrastination! Ah, who are we kidding? Everyone procrastinates, and it's difficult to get into the habit of good time management. And is procrastination really all that bad? Rebecca Woolf of Girl's Gone Child asks, "What are your tips to stop procrastinating?
Are you a procrastinator? Do you put off today what can be done tomorrow? Or do you rarely procrastinate? Join the Momversation by taking our poll or commenting.
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17 Comments
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Thu, 2010-03-04 09:41
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Wed, 2010-03-03 17:06
Rebecca, I have a question. I absolutely love your lipstick / lip gloss you wear in most of the videos. Would you mind telling me what Brand/color number it is?
Thanks..
Wed, 2009-07-22 10:04
I procrastinate out of fear, at least when it comes to work. I get stalled or blocked, and I can spend two thirds of the day pacing the hall, eating entire bags of Pirate Booty, and drinking a pot of coffee before I finally get down to it. Once I do, it's all business and I can crank something out in two hours. But the time WASTED to get there is a travesty.
Mon, 2009-07-20 16:30
For me to not procrastinate my laptop needs to be turned OFF! Otherwise it calls to me, beckons me to touch the keys. “Put down that school book, those dishes will wait, turn off the vacuum cleaner and lets read some blogs together”, it says. I even procrastinate at blogging, how bad is that? I clarify it by saying I’m taking a “break”, when I’m just too lazy to write and I’m putting it off. So sad.
Fri, 2009-07-17 15:01
Alice when you said you read productivity books as a form of procrastination I laughed out LOUD .. I do just that.. or google articles like "8 quick tips to beat procrastination" or "take this quiz to find out what KIND of slacker you are..." blah blah.. oh, and to an earlier commenter, RE: Lists? who hasn't done a neat copy of your original list, possibly subdivided by when you're going to Do these tasks, or which order the list should appear. Gee, you can even crack out the highlighter if you're really hell bent on putting it off, er.. I mean... getting organized once and for all, Darn it! :D
I used to justify it because i was a Type A, worked better under pressure, etc but then a few years ago a good friend said to me (as we were on this topic) Just think how awesome you could be if you allowed yourself enough time to actually get the minimum done? Just think how much better it would be? That played to my keener instincts and I revisit that phrase. I also have taped to my monitor "If you open a browser window, and you don't know why... do something else".
My method to stop it before it starts, do SOMETHING worth while as soon as i sit at my desk with my coffee.. reply to email, start on something without doing my little blog role ritual. I make it my reward, like work really focused unil 10 AM and then take 15 minutes to surf and read blogs and facebook, etc. sometimes it works.
I also have a friend who is in the same line of work, who I'll IM and say "I'm unable to get out of my own way! make me accountable!" and I'll promise to her I'll have X done by Y time and I'll IM her to report. This works for me because I'm supposed to be all self accountable and lead by example crap. Once I asked a coworker to keep my gym bag and sneakers at his desk, and if I don't get something done (biggest one on memory was the year end Income & Tax forms for all the staff I HAD to get done and filed with the revenue agency... holy mother of stressful procrastination) then I couldn't go to my lunch time exercise class. I hope this doesn't offend anyone's delicate sensibilities, (sorry if someone already wrote this too) but this classic quote sums it up "Procrastination is like masturbation, in the end, you're only screwing yourself". :P
Great topic, oh so much potential to expand on this (motherhood procrastination, self improvement procrastination, professional procrastination) why, look at me making a list... I don't need to do that chore now, right? I'll go have a cookie with Alice instead.
Thu, 2009-07-16 16:56
It's not that I don't ever put things off, but I do recognize that I feel bad about myself when I procrastinate, and feeling bad about yourself sucks. So I try to be as proactive as possible in avoiding it.
When I start procrastinating at work, it's my sign that I need to find a new job or take on new projects. Because procrastinating means not only do I no longer find the work engaging, but I also know that I can complete it in far less time than I have allotted, so I wait until the last minute to start.
But no matter how fabulous the job, there are always little annoying things--like filing papers--that are so, so easy to put off. I try to schedule regular pockets of time for these; I find it's easier to say "I'll take care of all my paperwork on Wednesdays" and knock it out instead of letting it all pile up for that mythical day when I have all the time and energy in the world.
I also find defining the time window to be very helpful, e.g., "I have 30 minutes to focus on paperwork and then I can move on to other things." Because if I give myself all afternoon to do something, I'll take all afternoon to do it.
When I do complete the task or work for the designated number of minutes, I give myself a break away from my desk. Leaving the desk is key for me; if I stay at my desk and mess around on the Internet then I won't feel like I've had a break at all. My favorite break is just looking out the window and observing what's going on; it helps me rest my eyes and clear my head for the next challenge.
Thu, 2009-07-16 13:59
I procrastinate a lot at work. Right now I have in my desk a pile of bills that I have to scan, put in envelopes and mail out. It's 3pm. I leave at 5pm. I usually do things last minute in a rush and then I feel good about it! Last time my boss was out of town and I wanted him to come back and really notice all the work that I had done, notice that my pile in the To-do box was really small instead of the HUGE pile I usually have, so I waited till the last day before he came back to the office to do everything!!! He was really happy though for all the work I'd done! If he only knew that it only took me 4 hrs instead of 2 weeks!
My favorite ways to procrastinate are:
Playing Playfish Games in Facebook (Restaurant City, Pet Society and Crazy Planets)
Reading Blogs (alhtough I consider that to be "research") :)
At home I procrastinate watching tv...
Glad to see I'm not alone! :)
Thu, 2009-07-16 11:10
I procrastinate like it's my job! I don't even know why because most of the stuff I procrastinate on doing isn't even that major! Sometimes it's so bad, I feel like stubborn teenager refusing to do a simple chore. I'll say it, I procrastinate about unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning out the fridge... must I go on.
You know how I get those simple things done? I find something more important that needs to be done, and then procrastinate about the more important thing. For example, let's say, I need to do my taxes. I will decide that there is no way on earth I can do my taxes until I do the laundry. The laundry gets done, and along with anything else I can think of that needs to be done before I can even imagine looking at W-2's and 1099's.
It's a rare art form that I like to call "Productive Procrastination"!
Wed, 2009-07-15 16:01
Want to know how I procrastinate all day? Reading all the momversation's wonderful blogs! I contantly check back to make sure there isn't something to read that I have missed. I'm addicted to the internet, and I know it. I often think I would get so much more done if I didn't have a computer, but then I'm sure I would find something else to do instead of my chores!
Wed, 2009-07-15 17:54
I laughed so hard when Giyen started talking about making lists as a way to structure one's self. I make lists AS A FORM OF procrastination.
It goes like this: Hmm...I have a doctor's appointment to schedule, baby clothes to wash, grocery shopping to do, lessons to plan, copies to make, camping to pack for and eighty-three papers to grade. What should I do about this? I KNOW. I'll make a neat list with CHECK BOXES. (it does actually make me feel better to do this, but I recognized it in college as my favorite form of the P-word.)
:-)
Wed, 2009-07-15 11:04
BeingSuper...I thing we share the same theory! Right now, I'm on summer vacation from my job (school counselor), so I'm procrastinating on the things I put off doing during the school year. Instead of working out, redecorating our bedroom, getting the house super-clean, and organizing all of Jack's pictures, I'm spending most of my time lounging around the house and yard with my toddler. Chalk it up to developing the mom-son bond. We're both intelligent beings:)
Wed, 2009-07-15 08:12
I have a theory about procrastination that I think will make you all feel better about procrastinating. Here goes:
Only highly intelligent, people can procrastinate and still be successful.
Why? Because us procrastinators are so smart, we can wait until the very last minute, "half-ass" our work and it's still great.
A less resourceful person needs to plan and spend a greater amount of time to achieve the same results.
So, that's the theory I live by. It helps me sleep at night. But it also raises the question: What if all of us smart procrastinators stopped procrastinating? Imagine the possibilities.
Wed, 2009-07-15 06:20
I completely agree with BeingSuper. I write articles for my job last minute and they just turn out better somehow than the ones over which I labor and think about and worry about days before the deadline. As far as procrastination, I don't know... I don't really feel like I'm procrastinating when I do that, but rather, making myself feel pressured to deliver a quality product on time. And I write better at night when my son is asleep, or so I tell myself.
I'm currently holding down three part-time jobs. I'm also doing an internship. And my two-year old is being potty-trained. So... procrastination mostly just can't happen with all those things - and one tiny but very important person - competing for my attention. They all get a turn.
I don't put off doing any household chores; it's right now, when I see that it needs doing. That's one major area I just won't hedge on. I came home from the hospital 12 hours after giving birth and deep cleaned the whole thing myself. My husband was raised with a live-in maid, cook and gardener (yes, an actual staff that lives in his parents' home), so a lot of the household tasks are my responibility. The best thing I bought to help, though, was a Roomba robot self-propelled vacuum. It was half off the day after Thanksgiving and I have never thought a purchase was more worth it than that.
I will admit that it did take me a couple of years to finish my son's baby album... I bought it in March of 2007 when I was 6 months pregnant. The child is now 2 years and 3 months old, and I just finished gradually piecing the thing together last Tuesday, not because I really wanted to capture his early childhood through time (I do, but it's going to have to be on a digital camera because I refuse to do any more albums... the whole scrapbooking thing is too detail-oriented), but because it just took that long to cut and place all the little ribbon pieces and photo tags and write nice things... I'm so glad it's done. I wonder what project I can start now and finish in 2012?
As far as ideas to cut down on the procrastination, I too agree with the concept of cookies. Or in my case, spoonfuls of ice cream. One page written, one spoonful of ice cream. One meal that I didn't want to cook made, one spoonful of ice cream. One car vacuumed, one spoonful of ice cream. At least it's not ... I don't know, one cocktail... mojito.... after each task. There are days when that would be the better alternative... It's summer and it's very hot...
I think it really does depend on your personality. My husband is totally unlike me, procrastinates on everything and basically calms me down from being a type-A. It all works at the end of the day.
Wed, 2009-07-15 11:20
Yes! I am so glad that it is a common trait. I suffer terribly from the disorder :-) : I check momversation, blogs, e-mail, and other sites compulsively, hoping for something new to read. I have discovered that I am more of a procrastinator when my days are relatively quiet. The emptier my days, the lazier I get. It is terrible. I am aching to recover a long-lost sense of productivity.
I stare at all the laundry that has to be worked through, all the toys that have to be picked up, and it just overwhelms me....with the result that I do NOTHING but stare at it and wallow in self-pity.
However, it is also just a matter of taking control of ourselves: once you get into a routine, it is easier to keep up with the rhythm. And vice versa! So, let´s make those lists, and set those goals. And, most importantly, focus on one thing at a time. That seems to be the most effective way of breaking the habit of leaving everything to the last minute, or completely undone.
Ah, if only the inspiration and diligence would last for over an hour!
Wed, 2009-07-15 06:08
Because I hate the phone, email is essential to my communicating with the people I care about. So Rebecca, you're amazing. I once took a week off email, and it was one of the best weeks of my life! Alas, I hate the phone more than I love disconnecting...
Like Alice, I sometimes have to trick myself or bribe myself, but mostly (like dieting) I find that if I tell myself I absolutely cannot have/do something, it makes me obsess about it.
So instead, I try to find tools to help me be more productive. Freedom (macfreedom.com) - is a program for Macs that lets you disable the internet for a set period of time. Gmail Notifier (for Mac: toolbar.google.com/gmail-helper/notifier_mac.html - they do have a Windows version too) keeps me from staying logged in to Gmail or checking in too often. Even iChat, believe it or not, helps me be productive because I open my Google Talk account and then cover it up with my work, and if someone contacts me the iChat logo will pop up and down -- again, I don't have to check in (like I do with Google chat in my email). So for me, a lot of my tricks are passive, meaning that the distractions are there but not actively distracting me. Because for me, the biggest distraction was checking to make sure there was nothing else "productive" I could be doing.
And like the title of this Momversation ("Just Do It!") I find that I am happiest if I just do the things I don't feel like doing, because when I'm done, I'll realize how productive I was and how much time I still have left in the day for myself!
Wed, 2009-07-15 06:02
It's 4:30 in the morning on Wednesday. I have 20 pages to write before Friday morning.
Instead, I visit Momversation to see if Wednesday's video is up yet. I don't even have kids. It's just where I go to procrastinate. So much so that it is the second website on my Google Chrome "most visited" sites.
And lo and behold, the video is about procrastination. Talk about irony.
I should probably either go to sleep or finish the paper.
Great topic, ladies. =)
Wed, 2009-07-15 00:26