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Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

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Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#51

Post by wslh »

drb311 wrote: post #6

There's an old saying: "If you want something done ask a busy person." Busy people always come through for you. I used to think this was because they were super efficient, super disciplined. But maybe your task is a welcome distraction from something even worse? And besides, everything we do is a distraction from the most looming, vaguest, most intractable deadline of all. The End.

> I used to think this was because they were super efficient, super disciplined.

I also used to think this when I was working in hourly task units like software development or consulting. Then when I started managing people I realized that being less busy while being efficient and organized was better. Flexibility is a great asset. I am not talking about working 4 hours but having room to think outside your daily or weekly issues.

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#52

Post by JoeAltmaier »

xlm1717 wrote: post #41
vinceguidry wrote: post #34

What I have found is that the subconscious will resist taking action on something perceived to be important until it's worked out an appropriate approach. As a result one can avoid doing things like planning and preparing and simply query the subconscious as to whether you're ready to work on something. Yes has me start on it and either complete it or hit a snag. If it's a snag, then I'll analyze it briefly and then…

Honestly, this sounds like justification to go days/weeks/months just reading articles to me. "Don't worry boss, maybe next week my subconscious will come up with a brilliant solution that will sink our competitors. You'll see." A little planning goes a long way. You can avoid doing things like planning and wait days/weeks/months for your attachment to the task to clear up. You can also plan out what you'll need to a…

A matter of scale. Your subconscious isn't going to make big plans; but it can solve knotty problems. Its tactical. And of course once you come up with something, you can do all that planning-review stuff on the brilliant idea, confirm its really a good idea.

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#53

Post by benmanns »

atrilumen wrote: post #14

Thinking about this lately... I guess I'm not really a procrastinator. What I am is always laser-focused on a project , and not at all impressed by all the other things that the world is trying do demand of me. I'm certainly not averse to hard work. I often choose it. (And somehow the reward is intrinsic.) I'm averse to any work that doesn't seem to directly factor into the success of whatever it is I'm presently obs…

I'm a 10x engineer for a very specific x.

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#55

Post by toomeyism »

jtheory wrote: post #12

Notice that this is just a short essay. A blog post, maybe. But it's also potentially a reason to search for available domain names; to actually register one (after exploring the compromises around what registrar to choose), to find a host (navigating the truly bewildering options), to decide whether wordpress might be the right way to go, and what theme, and what big header image. Plugins? And what if it really goes…

You've essentially listed all the tasks that have been/are currently on my mental to-do list. I'm procrastinating by reading about procrastinating. On the plus side- I've now registered for and posted my first HN comment after lurking for the better part of two months. See: PROGRESS!

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#57

Post by Retra »

etingel wrote: post #48
rdudek wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This actually makes sense. I seem to be more efficient at getting things done when I have multiple things to do, but can never get something done if it's one and only thing left. I get easily distracted by other things that keep me away from accomplishing that one task or goal.

Could it be that we humans are afraid of running out of things to do? After all, if we finish that last task, it would seem that we no longer serve a purpose. As long as we have one task left, there is still hope that we can find more to do. Of course, that is a poor way of thinking since all it does is make you lose your sense of purpose before you actually run out of tasks, but the human brain is weird like that so…

It's probably not so much an innate fear of nothing to do, but a resistance to the mental costs of having a slow workflow.

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#58

Post by blatherard »

A simple todo list system that I love, and that is built on the idea of structured procrastination, is Mark Forster's "Final Version Perfected" system. It is described here: http://markforster.squarespace.com/blog/2015/5/21/the-final-...

Re: Structured Procrastination: Do Less, Deceive Yourself, and Succeed Long-Term

#59

Post by Retra »

meesterdude wrote: post #2

This is all well and good, except when you procrastinate over things you want to do. It also throws discipline into the wind in favor of just procrastinating. It's true, some things you can put off, and nothing bad happens. Other things, you put off, you lose your job or your house. Ideally you can separate the two, but maybe not. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, or don't feel like doing. And tha…

I feel like you might be ignoring the possible benefits of "waiting for inspiration" on some things. Usually, when I'm procrastinating, I'm just waiting for a time when I would enjoy the work. Without that, I often don't enjoy it.

Oftentimes I'll get out of bed with an unbearable drive to accomplish a single task that I've been putting off. And when this happens, I usually feel that I am more creative, dedicated, and much faster working. When you put that together, if you are trying to maximize work speed and creativity (ignoring deadlines), this kind of procrastination is optimal.

But ignoring deadlines to maximize speed and creativity is basically a way of maximizing personal fulfillment in the work. It certainly isn't maximizing any external factors.

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