The hidden powers of procrastination

Oopsadaisy1

Found this one on Pinterest

I found one like mine, which is a plate but couldn't post the picture on here. My own is packed away somewhere at the moment, hence the inertia!

I'll keep reading the one you posted 😁

You spend more time thinking about not doing something, than actually getting on and doing it. Well, I do anyway.

Found this one on Pinterest

Allira

I have A Round Tuit, it's decorative absolutely indispensable and I do read it occasionally for inspiration.

I had one but it got lost in one of our moves.

No! If something has to be done I just do it! My DH is the complete opposite and drives me nuts!!

DH calls it "displacement activity" and declares this to be my default setting. I will spend ages doing unneccesary things to avoid doing what I SHOULD be doing.
He also has a term for that thing most DH's do at times - you know the one where you'll be chatting away and realise that he's NOT LISTENING! I say " DH, you're not listening are you?" and he'll reply "Oh, sorry, I was filtering, just filtering!"
[i.e. filtering out the bits of no interest to him.]
I love DH.

Oreo

Casdon

Do you find that when you really don’t want to do a particular urgent task, you procrastinate by doing other useful but much less important things?
I’ve had a very productive day today, I got up early, I cleaned the whole house (rare in one go) and then finished my longstanding ironing pile - all because I had to fill in my tax return, having procrastinated for at least six months, and the deadline is tomorrow. I’ve just done the return, which took me less than two hours after all that angst. It’s ridiculous, I can’t seem to change my Last Minute Annie approach, but at least the house is spotless now.

Do you think it’s something to do with the distraction technique widely used by cats when embarrassed , worried or alarmed they suddenly sit and start washing a back leg like crazy for ages.😽
I can’t stand the the thought of putting an important job off so am opposite to a procrastinator, I would have done it before breakfast 🤭

I don’t know, I think there’s something in what Laura Norder said, about doing your best work when you have a looming deadline. For creative stuff, writing essays etc. I would procrastinate for ages, then write the whole thing in one go without really trying, and it would be fine without editing - it’s buying thinking time when you procrastinate. I’ve got no rationale for the tax return though, I just loathe doing things I find boring so I’ll distract myself with other tedious jobs so I don’t have to do it until the last minute. We all have our crosses to bear I guess.

I have A Round Tuit, it's decorative absolutely indispensable and I do read it occasionally for inspiration.

My teaching colleagues always benefitted, when my forward plan was due, I would bake.
As soon as they saw the staffroom table laden with goodies, they knew I hadn't done it.
I am another who works best under pressure.

petra

No.
Because I hate having a niggle of something that has to be done in my head.

Oh yes, it can niggle away but it can be dismissed by more interesting thoughts such as cleaning, sorting out a cupboard etc 😁

GrannyGravy13

Oh how I enjoy a good bout of procrastination.

You can get so much done when procrastinating!

A teacher once suggested to me that DD was similar to her that's why she understood her - she never managed to do something until right on the deadline!
That's not the term she used but it might not be pc at the moment.

Casdon

Do you find that when you really don’t want to do a particular urgent task, you procrastinate by doing other useful but much less important things?
I’ve had a very productive day today, I got up early, I cleaned the whole house (rare in one go) and then finished my longstanding ironing pile - all because I had to fill in my tax return, having procrastinated for at least six months, and the deadline is tomorrow. I’ve just done the return, which took me less than two hours after all that angst. It’s ridiculous, I can’t seem to change my Last Minute Annie approach, but at least the house is spotless now.

Do you think it’s something to do with the distraction technique widely used by cats when embarrassed , worried or alarmed they suddenly sit and start washing a back leg like crazy for ages.😽
I can’t stand the the thought of putting an important job off so am opposite to a procrastinator, I would have done it before breakfast 🤭

MayBee70

One of my school reports said that I procrastinated. I had to look the word up. But, no, I don’t just do less important things these days. I just lie on the sofa with the dog watching box sets.

Sounds good to me😄

The very best thing about procrastination at home is that if you leave some things long enough you might not have to do them at all.

We put off repainting our fence for a couple of years and the wind blew parts of it down so it all had to be renewed. I'd have been mad if I'd spent hours painting it and it then got blown down.

LauraNorderr

For those of us who do our best work under pressure procrastination is our friend.

Yes! LauraNorderr. 🤗

MayBee70

One of my school reports said that I procrastinated. I had to look the word up. But, no, I don’t just do less important things these days. I just lie on the sofa with the dog watching box sets.

😂😂!
I sit and knit, or put my feet up and read. But I did actually do my tax return on 17th January! Felt quite smugly pleased with myself.

There's a Cornish saying;
Don't put off till tomorrow what you can leave until the day after.

One of my school reports said that I procrastinated. I had to look the word up. But, no, I don’t just do less important things these days. I just lie on the sofa with the dog watching box sets.

Petra I’m with you. Leaving things until the last minute is just too stressful.

GrannyGravy13

Oh how I enjoy a good bout of procrastination.

Me too!

For those of us who do our best work under pressure procrastination is our friend.

Good luck tomorrow nightowl, I’ve been there too. I was caught out in the year the system crashed on 31st January, that is why my official deadline is now 30th, or the stress gets too much!
I’m glad it’s not just me, but I fear grannysomerset is right, there is no cure.

My house was immaculate whenever I had exam marking to do. I have always been able to put off today what I should have done yesterday. I'm still guilty of it.

Casdon I’m afraid doing your tax return today qualifies you as an early bird in my book. It’s not even the 31st yet

I still haven’t started mine and the house isn’t spotless either

When I was finishing my OU degree and had an essay to write, my house was so sparkling you could eat your dinner off the floor!