Interesting analysis.
Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
31–40 of 101 posts
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#322 ways to deal with procrastination: 1. Don't worry about it. We all procrastinate and most of the time it works out OK. Our instincts know what they're doing. 2. Break tough tasks down into very, very laughably small tasks. Don't even worry about doing them. Once the first task in the list is small enough you'll think "sod it" and do it right away. If you try to improve your self control you will fail. Go with the g…
I didn't even click the article (the pain of reading it seemed too large) so I came directly to the comments. Awesome tips! "Our instincts know what they're doing" is very true. I tend to procrastinate when two conditions are fulfilled 1) the task is boring/painful, and 2) in the back of my mind, I've already calculated out the time and I can afford to push it until later. Trying to force myself just increases my exp…
The third major one, for me, is "I don't know enough to start on this task, but don't realize it". That's another thing that breaking down the task helps solve.
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#33The real reason I procrastinate is because I hate my life, and I'd be better off dead.
It's sad to read this, and I am sorry for you.
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#34This is more or less a copy of http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html . I recommend reading that instead.
He also did a funny TED talk on the topic. At just 14 minutes, it may be more manageable than a lengthy article. http://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/my-ted-talk.html
Thanks for the link, I'll watch it later.
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#35WaPo has sadly turned into click-baiters. I had to filter them out of my google news.
It's interesting that this started around January, one month after the headline "Bezos takes more hands on role at WaPo".
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#36This is more or less a copy of http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html . I recommend reading that instead.
Yes, I felt uncomfortable with how much this just re-used his article. "How to hit your article deadlines: Copy another article and use it as your own." Yes, they provide references, but it's still just a rehash.
Maybe it's paid syndication?
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#37Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#382 ways to deal with procrastination: 1. Don't worry about it. We all procrastinate and most of the time it works out OK. Our instincts know what they're doing. 2. Break tough tasks down into very, very laughably small tasks. Don't even worry about doing them. Once the first task in the list is small enough you'll think "sod it" and do it right away. If you try to improve your self control you will fail. Go with the g…
Step 2 is key, but does not come naturally to me. In fact, I usually don't notice that a task is big and undefined until I've spent some time stuck, not getting anything done.
I also find it hard to ask for help, so I often get stuck when the next logical step is "admit that you don't know what to do next, and find someone to help."
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#392 ways to deal with procrastination: 1. Don't worry about it. We all procrastinate and most of the time it works out OK. Our instincts know what they're doing. 2. Break tough tasks down into very, very laughably small tasks. Don't even worry about doing them. Once the first task in the list is small enough you'll think "sod it" and do it right away. If you try to improve your self control you will fail. Go with the g…
pomodoro is a great technique. its similar to #2
Admittedly I've never tried it, but from the description, the pomodoro technique would drive me mad. It often takes me more than 20 minutes (sometimes an hour or two!) to get "in the zone" but once I've got my head in the game I can smash through work for hours. The idea of just getting some flow going and then being interrupted seems awful. The only thing I can think of which it really sounds good for is boring, easy tasks that I have to do but really don't want to.
What makes it so good? Obviously it works for a lot of people.
Re: Research into the reasons for procrastination and how to stop
#40I feel like I can attribute my procrastination to a few things
1. choice paralysis I'm fairly certain I have a cavity in one of my teeth, I can basically see it when I look in the mirror, in addition to sensitivity to temperature. So I need to find a dentist a) in my area b) that accepts my insurance. There are multiple options. I want to know who the optimal dentist is; I want the one who can pull off a painless root canal if need be, but I definitely don't want the one who will cause agony or perform a procedure incorrectly. I think, maybe I'll Google them and see if I can find any reviews or other indications that one dentist is better than the next. Confronted by 20 options, I spend more time on the whole thing than I need to, optimizing the odds that I get distracted along the way.
2. various forms of anxiety, mostly social anxiety I really don't want to call and talk to a stranger on the phone to schedule that appointment. I'm not even that bad at talking to people, and yet it makes my heart race. I'm afraid to drive to places that I've never been, to awkwardly enter an unfamiliar building trying to figure out where to go. I'm afraid of not being able to find a parking space. I'm afraid of a lot of stupid things that don't matter.
3. extreme lethargy Is something I've been trying to overcome for literally years. Inadequate nutrition is the main factor in this. I am mentally and physically tired almost all of the time, to varying degrees, which slows me down, and makes it harder to focus on something. I don't eat right, sometimes eating but a single meal in a day. Sometimes I will eat nothing substantial for an entire day. I recently tried "Mealsquares" (basically Soylent in solid form) as means to ensure I get all the nutrients I need. I've yet to be able to eat more than 2 in a day (usually just 1), which would equate to 400-800 calories at most. At 6' height, a target weight of a 170lbs requires me to consume an excess of 2000 calories per day, so imagine getting 1/4-1/2 of that on average per day. I don't even know how I get through the days as well as I do, what is my body running on? I actually know how to prepare multiple meals, I just don't. Instead of hunger making me voracious, it makes me feel lazy and depressed. If hiring a full-time cook were affordable, I would do it.
At the end of the day, nothing is getting done if I simply don't have the fuel to power my body to do it.
Procrastination feels like a pattern, a vicious cycle that feeds on itself, a loop from which I'm trying to break free. I'm trying to reverse it and emerge on top, and it sounds like something that can be turned around in a week, but I feel like it's been an upward battle for most of my adulthood.