A not very timely note

This was a blog I once wrote during my high school and early college years. I keep it around for nostalgic purposes, but it is quite obviously no longer updated. I am looking to make a more professional blog presence in the future, but I still like to look at where I was mentally at certain points in time.

- G. Jan 2013

Friday, May 1, 2009

"A Short Burst on: Procrastination" by G.

I don't particularly have much to say today, but I do have one thing that I really wanted to hear other opinions on. Procrastination; most of us have done it, and I'm probably have one of the more serious cases of it. My question is, why, even when we know we will regret it, do we continue to procrastinate? We know the outcome, we know that it will lead to headaches in the end, but sometimes it seems like it takes a lifetime to get started on something anyway. Is that little short term satisifation of not having to begin worth the cost of rushing to finish things at the last minute? What do you think about this? Comment away.

7 comments:

Beverley McClure said...

Maybe you should ask yourself, what do you gain from procrastinating? Is it an adrenaline rush for waiting to the end and making it to the finish line (assuming you do complete what you need to do)? When I work with clients on this issue, there is typically not enough enjoyment out of doing something and so they keep putting it off. Makes sense when you consider we tend to do what we enjoy and it requires real self-discipline to do that which we don't want to do. Soooo, how can you make what you are putting off doing more fun? Be creative with the task or how you think about it. Finally, don't fight the feeling so much, because what we resist gets stronger.

G. said...

I've actually wondered about that, because sometimes I feel that something is too hard to start, but when I finally do I seem to spring into action. Indeed, self-discipline is a extremely valuable asset, although sometimes hard to come by.

Being creative with a task... not a bad idea. I'll try it later...I mean asap. :) But definitly, the more you continue to procrastinate, the harder it gets to actually start.

Thank you for responding!

Rob said...

For me, it's all about motivation. I always procrastinate if I don't value the end result of whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing. Even if it's something I don't necessarily like, I'll still be motivated to do it if I think it's worthwhile. Otherwise...procrastination sets in.

But I do agree that once you actually begin work, it's smooth sailing. Usually. And I actually enjoy burning the midnight oil, so to speak. That bum rush to finish things before the deadline.

G. said...

@ Rob
Sometimes I wonder how valuable that end result has to be to motivate a person enough. But maybe I'm thinking too much of the journey instead of the goal.

No doubt, once you start you can usually keep going... but there is a certain feeling of getting something done right on the mark... I sound like an adrenaline junkie lol. But thanks for dropping in!

Da Old Man said...

Often procrastination is a fear of failuer or perfectionism. There may be such a desire to do something perfectly, that we put it off as we continue to prepare.

G. said...

@d.o.m
That actually makes a lot of sense... although I doubt it's the case for me, I know as a fact that it definitly fits many people's profiles. That desire to avoid failure could even be in the subconscious, making it even harder to deal with.

Thanks for dropping by d.o.m; always appreciated.

Abbey said...

Chronic pain makes procrastinating so much easier. Not that I like the chronic pain any better than working. But then again, I take online prescription tramadol and the pain goes away. No more excuse to procrastinate.