Procrastination

What's the point of procrastination? It's not like putting it off means it won't have to be done at some point. Hell, getting something done early usually makes you feel accomplished. Perhaps I'd rather have my instant gratification than do work. Maybe I can't think of work in terms of its long time benefits rather than the immediate displeasure of not doing something "fun." By rationalizing it as such, have I accepted laziness as an inevitability? I do my immediate duty by going to school, but is it not just as much of a duty to do well in school? I mean, I might as well not have gone if I was going to skip the part where I get a decent grade.

What's actually happening: I rather dislike public speaking (which I believe is the most common fear in the country), and I've been a procrastinator for as long as I remember. On things I don't like/want to do, I tend to procrastinate even further, to the point where I'm doing the work for the class within 12 hours of it being due. In spite of that, I've somehow gotten into a good college. I have a speech due tomorrow (Monday). It's a demonstration speech (5-7 minutes), where we demonstrate something for the class, and 3/4ths of the class has already given theirs. My group is scheduled to give their speech tomorrow, it's 3:56pm, and the only thing I've done is choose my topic: password security. I still have to make an outline, find and document 3 references, make a powerpoint, figure out a second visual aid, make notecards, and practice a bit. If my history is any evidence, what will likely happen is that I'll get half of that done tonight and sleep for 3-4 hours, then do the other half tomorrow before class.

Again, I might be trapping myself with my own logical thought process. It's very possible that I only even do that because I expect it of myself. I would like to just do it now (or better yet, a week ago) so I can enjoy what little of my day would remain. Is it that I don't have the willpower, or that I don't think I have the willpower?

First of all, I'd like to point out the irony of this thread which is you are posting it in procrastination of doing your project.

Secondly, I think procrastination is just laziness attached with ambition. Laziness is common among people but we're brought up on dreams and goals and we don't want to another commoner of society; not many people are truly hard workers and a handful of those people get far in life (the rest of the successful people are those are know how to BS their way through). That only leaves the lazy people at in the third class of society and no one likes being there so even lazy people push forward. I see procrastination as that trait of laziness. Myself personally, I sometime find finishing something at the deadline more accomplishing than before hand because I can then take pride in finishing a big project in a matter of hours rather than weeks.

First of all, I'd like to point out the irony of this thread which is you are posting it in procrastination of doing your project.

If I weren't a procrastinator, not only would I not have anything to post about, but I wouldn't be posting anyway, because I'd be studying or something. I figured this would be better use of my procrastination time since I may get some decent comments out of it. Otherwise I'd be refreshing some other page 80 times an hour or cleaning something.

Post reserved for thought. Will get back to it later.


Of course that would just amplify the point of the thread. Some people are good procrastinators: they push things till the last minute and do them in a rush to finish as complete as possible. Others are ok procrastinators: they push it off for a little while, but go back eventually and generally do better than the best procrastinators. others are just terrible procrastinators: they finish everything really really early.

Now those fail procrastinators are either: Hella smarter than everyone and just do it cause they're bored and go off and do something else when they're done. OR they're the type that's so smart that they finish their assignment and study some more. A lot of people would like to be the prior, but lots of people are the latter.

But from what i see, most people are a little mix of both: some people finish sort of quickly so they can play. Others play now, think later. I suppose then, it is just a matter of motivation and whether they feel like that they should complete whatever they set out to do. I feel like with the right motivation, anyone can do anything at a given time and in a given time frame. All you need is a fuel for your fire, and if small frames of time is your motivation to finish something, that's how you work and how others work.

Priorities and motivation are the key to procrastination. You lack it all, you procrastinate the best. you have it all, you procrastinate the worst.

Going to agree with Ken here, if you know how to talk, you can actually BS through life. I'm going to admit that I'm not exactly the type of student that studies hard, but when it comes to talking, as long as I have a sharp tongue and know how to handle situations accordingly, I'll be alright. Though my mouth won't get me everywhere in life.

Going to agree with Ken here, if you know how to talk, you can actually BS through life. I'm going to admit that I'm not exactly the type of student that studies hard, but when it comes to talking, as long as I have a sharp tongue and know how to handle situations accordingly, I'll be alright. Though my mouth won't get me everywhere in life.

Unfortunately, this isn't effective in situations where lots of documentation and written work is required. Also it definitely doesn't work in Calculus.

Unfortunately, this isn't effective in situations where lots of documentation and written work is required. Also it definitely doesn't work in Calculus.

Yeah, stuff like that, I'm going to do terribly in. For some reason, classes that involves speaking, I've always done well in. I believe I had received a B+ or so in my Speech class. I'm doing a Business Communications class at the moment, and though we do need to read the book to do the review section, most of it is just basic fundamentals for me. Stuff that I can cover in less than a couple minutes because I've had situations in which I had to speak out to a large audience.

I actually prefer classes in which I have the speak to persuade or inform, in comparison to classes that I'd have to show that I work hard or study hard.

I have this poster hanging on my dorm wall:

 Spoiler

1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.
4. I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect from missing them.
5. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
6. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
7. I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though infinitesimally small, is not exactly zero.
8. If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.
9. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
10. I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.
11. I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.
12. I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan.
13. I will never put off tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
14. I will become a member of the ancient Order of Two-Headed Turtles (The Procrastinator's Society) if they ever get it organized.

I'm the same way - I like to put off what I can do until the last minute so I can have fun with something else. When it gets to the deadline, I can't push it off anymore because it's due and I can bring myself to finally complete it. Oh well. :/ Until I lose some kind of privilege because of it, I'm not concerned.

I'm pretty good at common sense stuff and debates too. I suck at math-ish stuff though. Not because I don't have the capacity to understand, but because I'm plain lazy or would rather spend time doing other stuff.

But yes, procrastination is a sign of weak self restraint and/or being used to instant gratification (wonder if it's gaming's fault (scapegoat.jpg)). Sadly, being conscious about your own flaws doesn't seem to be enough to get rid of them. ~sigh~

A schedule works wonders though, if you are able to stick to it...

I'm pretty good at common sense stuff and debates too. I suck at math-ish stuff though. Not because I don't have the capacity to understand, but because I'm plain lazy or would rather spend time doing other stuff.

But yes, procrastination is a sign of weak self restraint and/or being used to instant gratification (wonder if it's gaming's fault (scapegoat.jpg)). Sadly, being conscious about your own flaws doesn't seem to be enough to get rid of them. ~sigh~

A schedule works wonders though, if you are able to stick to it...

Yeah, I'll likely get it done. This is essentially how I feel too. I get by for things that actually have due dates, however badly. But this approach doesn't work for studying, since that doesn't have a due date. It's just something you gotta do at some point for certain things. I like to think I've done pretty damn well considering how amazingly little studying I've done through high school/college, but that's hardly something to be proud of.

You know what I need? I big 'ole "you can do it" placebo. Or adderall.

I found that my productivity went up when I played my Touhou music loudly. I think it did a good job keeping half of my ADD mind focused on that (rather than random pomegranate on the floor), so that the other half could work. I dunno, but I'm getting things done. Planning on sleeping soonish and finishing it early tomorrow.

Not sure why, but I always end up fidgeting or something when I'm only paying attention to one medium, unless it's particularly engaging. I usually need two to keep my mind fully occupied.

Hella

Are you from norcal?

I have a problem with procrastination as well. Pretty badly..... It seems I can learn just about anything by listening to a lecture on it, but the problem is actually getting the work done after learning it.

ugggggg
Why is the internet so entertaining? That's my biggest one

I have a problem with procrastination as well. Pretty badly..... It seems I can learn just about anything by listening to a lecture on it, but the problem is actually getting the work done after learning it.

ugggggg
Why is the internet so entertaining? That's my biggest one

Same deal, that's why I generally like written exams (because I can get around with just what I see in class normally) than essays and stuff you have to do at home with research and stuff. Pretty much why I'm on an engineering course and not history/medicine/law/etc.

I don't want to procrastinate, but damn Southperry makes me procrastinate all the time.

It's going to get worse in college, I bet .

So I essentially wrote out my speech last night. I'm transcribing it (with some improvements) to my outline currently, and I'm about half done with that. I already finished my audience analysis (easy BS stuff), but I still need to make my powerpoint and notecards. Class effectively starts in an hour and 50 minutes, but I'd like to get there earlier so I can practice my speech at least once.

Not sure posting here is really helping me at this... but hi~

Hahaha, you're terrible Kaida. <3

Procrastination is kind of like masterbation. It sounds like a good idea at first but in the end you are only fucking yourself.

Same deal, that's why I generally like written exams (because I can get around with just what I see in class normally) than essays and stuff you have to do at home with research and stuff. Pretty much why I'm on an engineering course and not history/medicine/law/etc.

I'm the opposite.

I like essays and reasearch papers because I can procastrinate till the last day or so. The "rush" of only having a few hours to get that done allows me to concentrate on the essay/research and forget about any fun stuff I might want to do during that time.

On the other hand, there's a point in college where written exams cannot be passed by only attending to classes. At that point, trying to cram half a semester's woth of material in a single night does not work, period. So if you want a good grade, you will have to -not procrastinate. Which is pretty hard for me as a procrastinator... -_-;

I don't know what happened to me. I used to do homework early and when there wasn't enough time I would do them the night before.
I've done most of my works but I missed two important ones because of procrastination.
Not to mention the test I failed today, I said "I'll study later" but I never did .____.