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Structured Procrastination (1995)

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Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#101

Post by FakeBlueSamurai »

cnnlives546 wrote: post #84
codesnik wrote: post #15

I'm doing the same, or at least trying to do it. Worst periods for me were when I had one clear, important goal, not particularly hard but hairy, and nothing else to do, sometimes because I myself cleared it up. I could spend months doing nothing useful , and end up very, very tired and burnt up. I also several times had a conversation with managers, whom I told that I'd rather work on something very urgent, or other…

> I'm doing the same, or at least trying to do it. This post gives me hope as someone with ADD. I have a MTHFR mutation and cross-dominant eye, with a little autism spectrum, psychosis, OCD tendencies, depression, injury, sleep apnea, and insomnia. I recommend eggs, spinach, potentially fasting, walking, and maybe some kind of fidget device. I also recommend giving yourself a little slack. If you’re like me, we don’t…

Im a fellow pirate and yes eggs, spinach, etc. help me. As does neurally dense music. I no longer have a micromanager boss. My life is better as long as I see a flotilla of non-sense to raid and an idea I get the silent treatment on.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#102

Post by IanCal »

codesnik wrote: post #15

I'm doing the same, or at least trying to do it. Worst periods for me were when I had one clear, important goal, not particularly hard but hairy, and nothing else to do, sometimes because I myself cleared it up. I could spend months doing nothing useful , and end up very, very tired and burnt up. I also several times had a conversation with managers, whom I told that I'd rather work on something very urgent, or other…

This is exceptionally early days (hours really), and perhaps over sharing a little personally but I found the same things hard and easy that you describe for working - personally I would work either by rapidly jumping between things (becoming the fix-it guy or go-to person for short things, I was totally fine being constantly interrupted because my head is doing that anyway), or working when exhausted so I found it harder to be distracted, or working last minute for deadlines.

I started some ADHD medication today. I have been able to see distractions and just not engage. I've got a bunch of things done. I've been able to cleanly focus blocks of time that I'd drift away otherwise. I do not have music in my head for the first time in *many many years*. I can stop and breathe.

I have absolutely no idea what would or could work for you, but your comment resonated with me and I wanted to help share something that feels like a big change for me personally and hopefully others. I waited decades to ask a professional and I absolutely should not have done that.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#103

Post by srean »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #92
srean wrote: post #33

Over the years I have become more or less convinced that I have adult ADHD. The overlap in symptoms are too difficult to leave unacknowledged. But, at the same time I have been procrastinating on getting myself diagnosed. Oh, well.

Thing with adult diagnoses for these is that most adults have adapted and are managing fine. But, the adults I've seen that did end up getting a diagnosis were no longer managing fine. I theorize there's two factors, one is family life - where you can't do your own decompression or coping as much anymore because you are Needed. The other is mental and physical resilience, once you're past 30 this starts to decline so…

Burnout wise, I lasted a couple of decades longer but at times it sure was quite a hell.

I now suspect I would have had a better time had I opted for treatment. Perhaps not burned out in the first place.

My best time professionally was when I had a boss who was tolerant of my working style - disorganized, spread across multiple projects, no two consecutive days on the same project, happy to help other groups for the smell of novelty, sometimes rather too happy to do that, but able to solve technical problems deemed hard and engaging.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#104

Post by breakingcups »

codesnik wrote: post #80
breakingcups wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've read enough nuanced takes on ADHD medication that I'm very reluctant to even seek a diagnosis because I'm very sure I don't want to depend on them, for a variety of reasons. It's made me feel like it's not even worth getting a diagnosis because the only clear path forward is medication or eternal struggle with various much-less effective coping strategies. Anyone who can weigh in with their perspective on this i…

two of my friends at different times called me and spoke for an hour each, how they suddenly realized that they have ADHD, got diagnosed, got meds, and how their life is completely different now. Sounded almost like they joined a cult or something, but I've been happy for them. In half a year initial joy subsided. I guess they got their new normalcy or something, it doesn't sound like they're having any adverse side-…

I've heard that a lot, to the point where the advice was not to listen to the advice of people who have been on their ADHD medication for less than a year due to the initial boost.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#105

Post by breakingcups »

siva7 wrote: post #74
breakingcups wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've read enough nuanced takes on ADHD medication that I'm very reluctant to even seek a diagnosis because I'm very sure I don't want to depend on them, for a variety of reasons. It's made me feel like it's not even worth getting a diagnosis because the only clear path forward is medication or eternal struggle with various much-less effective coping strategies. Anyone who can weigh in with their perspective on this i…

Let me tell you, i had the same fear like you once in my life. Getting diagnosed and on the right medication (which takes time to identify as it is a spectrum disorder) changed my life. The meds are formulated in a way which usually doesn't cause drug addiction and they are also among best studied in all medicine.

Thank you. How long have you been on your current medication?

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#107

Post by lucideer »

dvdkon wrote: post #72
lucideer wrote: post #34

I feel like this seemed a plausible strategy when I first read it as a serial procrastinator struggling through university 17 years ago. Now, after many years of applying stuff like this successfully for a couple months only to immediately regress at the first sign of life disruption, after an ADHD diagnosis & a bunch of therapy, this all seems like a fairly immature avoidant coping strategy in retrospect. I'm now fa…

What's the "mature" coping strategy you've found, then? Did therapy get you to stop procrastinating?

A coping strategy is something you turn to to "cope" with a problem when the underlying cause of your problem is beyond your direct control.

If you are in a position to address the underlying cause directly, I've found it to be a better option than "coping". Therapy was a big part of identifying the problems. Ultimately, as a sibling commenter mentioned, task avoidance is often a sign of (usually very well disguised from oneself) underlying anxiety. I was always extremely confident & presented as "capable" but ultimately that was a shallow facade that became impossible to maintain over a long period.

I haven't stopped procrastinating but I do it far less & have a pretty good success rate with overcoming it when I apply myself. I'm not using any "tools" to do that beyond (hard fought) self-awareness.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#108

Post by jackallis »

if this article resonates with you, please go talk to a therapist to see if there is/are any underlying "issues" that is leading you to procrastinate; you might have ADHD. i am really tired of reading numerous artciles on how procrastination is matter of lack-of-will, not disciplined, time-waters to gets things done.

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#109

Post by lucideer »

danielbln wrote: post #53
lucideer wrote: post #34

I feel like this seemed a plausible strategy when I first read it as a serial procrastinator struggling through university 17 years ago. Now, after many years of applying stuff like this successfully for a couple months only to immediately regress at the first sign of life disruption, after an ADHD diagnosis & a bunch of therapy, this all seems like a fairly immature avoidant coping strategy in retrospect. I'm now fa…

All the systems in the world break down eventually. Todo lists, GSD, tickets, notes, accountability plans, mental trickery, and so on. It all seems like a panacea at first, until it doesn't. What really helps the ADHD mind is diagnosis and meds, and these days LLMs. Turns out they make for exceptional personal assistants that can be used to automate all the boring and unexciting stuff that is nevertheless needed, and…

> "Just do it" is about as helpful as "don't be sad".

To be clear, I'm not saying "just do it" or suggesting anything quick or easy. Quite the opposite: coping strategies like this are imo the "easy way out". I'm suggesting a much slower, harder path that leads to long term results (& can't be generalised, packaged & sold in a neat article as it's entirely different for everyone).

Re: Structured Procrastination (1995)

#110

Post by margor »

breakingcups wrote: post #44
siva7 wrote: post #6

> Procrastinators often follow exactly the wrong tack. They try to minimize their commitments, assuming that if they have only a few things to do, they will quit procrastinating and get them done. But this goes contrary to the basic nature of the procrastinator and destroys his most important source of motivation. This is also true from my observations but what this writing misses is another much more crucial aspect:…

I've read enough nuanced takes on ADHD medication that I'm very reluctant to even seek a diagnosis because I'm very sure I don't want to depend on them, for a variety of reasons. It's made me feel like it's not even worth getting a diagnosis because the only clear path forward is medication or eternal struggle with various much-less effective coping strategies. Anyone who can weigh in with their perspective on this i…

My perspective is very simple.

I can either struggle for the next 30 years with whatever I wished I was doing, and be always angry at myself, others, significant other and family, or I can take meds, bear the consequences (side effects really), but be happy for the moments where they do help and I can actually do what I wished for.

Took me almost 10 years to come to that conclusion, so take your time, but once I started my therapy and medication I was so angry at myself for not doing it earlier that it took me almost 2 weeks to shake out of it.

Feel free to check my other comment in my profile that describes my troubles.

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