Procrastination

What a relief to know I'm not alone in putting things on 'tomorrow's' list. Since we moved to Brittany five years ago there are still twenty!! boxes in the barn not unpacked. I knew it was my job to unpack them because my DH has had two hip replacements and three knee replacement ops (he really is my bionic man) but his ops are not the problem.

When we moved in things needed doing so the boxes could wait. The real problem is in my head I think. I don't want to venture in to retrieve boxes because they're now festooned with cobwebs and also probably housing other little four legged things.

In the first month after arriving we had mice in the house - not since though, fingers crossed - and I've never really got over it. They were in the chimney, oven, toaster and furniture. The previous owners mustn't have been bothered but I was beside myself and hence, find the murky barn a scary place to go in.

I have promised myself that after my husband's imminent back op I will take out two boxes per day and bag up as much as possible for the Emmaus charity which is big in France. I'm scared though but know I can't delay any longer. I also know I'll feel great afterwards.

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.

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!!

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.

-------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 ??

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.

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

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!!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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!

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. !!

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

whoops meant motto

Do I procrastinate? I’ll tell you tomorrow!

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.

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.

Welcome to my world!!