61–67 of 67 posts
> Procrastinators might chop up tasks into smaller pieces so they can work through a more manageable series of assignments. This was a key insight for me. Knowing that I can finish just this one piece in one sitting makes it doable.
Sometimes you get side-tracked determining the "proper order" of your little tasks in excruciating detail, which feels like work.
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I developed very bad habits as a child. I could screw off, read SF in class, barely study, and still be the best in science. But then I went to university with others like me, and it was a rude awakening ;)
The shock of suddenly being average. No one warned us.
Math and physics majors totally kicked my ass. But at least I was still near the top in chemistry :) And I discovered that engineering math and coding made a lot more sense than, for example, number theory.
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Just like with many other disorders, as long as it's a mild problem you can use a number of ad hoc remedies, but it just won't work for people with real issues. Telling a junky to just do yoga and stay away from drugs is a valid suggestion, but in real-life it's just not enough. Real procrastinator will not do yoga when procrastinating, simply because most of the time you are not even aware that you're procrastinatin…
So what's your solution then? What if I agree with you and say: fine, it's impossible for procrastinators to do their work. Is this the end? Do we all just agree that procrastinators can't do their work and sit around not doing work? What's the solution, if not somehow, some way, gathering the willpower and forcing yourself to do the work? Is there another way around it?
Saying just buckle up to a procrastinator is like telling a very weak guy to just squat 150 KG.
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You could also tell someone to just run a marathon, I mean it's easy: just move your left feet and then the right, and repeat that for next 26 miles. Where's the problem? Problem, of course, is that most of us lack the physical stamina to run a marathon. Likewise many people lack mental stamina/strength to "just do the work", or "just eat less", or "just quit smoking/drinking/doing drugs"... why is that such a hard c…
But they don't lack the stamina/strength. It's just more difficult for them. The possibility is still there. Same with addicts. I know a handful. Yes, it's tremendously difficult for them to quit with the drugs, but it's still possible . It's their decision to make. Any doctor or person at a rehab facility will tell you, they have the ability to do it but it's just more difficult for them than for me. So comparing it…
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Just like with many other disorders, as long as it's a mild problem you can use a number of ad hoc remedies, but it just won't work for people with real issues. Telling a junky to just do yoga and stay away from drugs is a valid suggestion, but in real-life it's just not enough. Real procrastinator will not do yoga when procrastinating, simply because most of the time you are not even aware that you're procrastinatin…
So what's your solution then? What if I agree with you and say: fine, it's impossible for procrastinators to do their work. Is this the end? Do we all just agree that procrastinators can't do their work and sit around not doing work? What's the solution, if not somehow, some way, gathering the willpower and forcing yourself to do the work? Is there another way around it?
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To be fair, sometimes self-interest merely means bribing myself, like for instance with a new Macbook Pro in exchange for seeing a contract through to completion, or maybe an expensive bottle of whiskey. The self-efficacy portion is harder, but most of the failure of procrastinators is due to the self-created problem of not having enough time. Fortunately, focusing on increasing self-efficacy leads one to start makin…
Eh, I have pretty harsh clinical depression, so I only really see horrible conclusions. but, yeah, I have tried a few things. They only last up to a year before I conclude that it's not worth it. I sincerely apologize for this post (because I know you are trying to spread positivity & encouragement), but I think I offer a different perspective where these simple changes do not offer much help.
Honestly though, it sounds like maybe you're trapped in a lifestyle that may genuinely (rationally) not be worth it for you. The only way to solve it may be to fundamentally alter your lifestyle toward greater self-interest (not the same as selfishness) by pursuing what you actually care more about, or being honest with yourself that you don't care enough about what you're pursuing to succeed (fame for most people falls into this category).