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[CHAT] Stopping the Procrastination Cycle

If you’ve ever had to do anything ever in your life which you don’t particularly enjoy, then you probably know the feeling. That test is coming up, or that assignment is due soon – you know you’ve got to get to work! You’re so motivated, so ready, and you’re going to smash this out! You get your work out, your stationary, laptop, water, snacks – everything is ready to go!! You’ve started, and you’re working away at those notes, or starting on that assignment!

 

workworkwork

 

Then your phone buzzes – a distraction! – and suddenly your initial eagerness to work goes out the window. You check your phone, and then suddenly it’s three hours later and you’ve spent those three hours on YouTube looking at dogs.  At this point it’s almost lunchtime, so you give up and fix yourself a meal. And decide not to acknowledge the work you need to do because you’d rather have a nap, clean the whole house, or re-organise your closet than get back to work (fyi, all things that I’ve done trying to avoid an assignment)

 

procrastination

 

Procrastination isn’t just an excuse for laziness – it’s something that we literally need to work on in order to stop ourselves from falling into that trap. Because our brains can be so loud and demanding about not doing That One Thing, not knowing how to not procrastinate makes it so much harder to get things done on time.

 

And that’s where this GR Session comes in! Join us at 8pm AEST on Monday the 20th of July, to find out how you can learn to stop being anxiety-riddled messes when an assignment, test or other deadline comes around.

safari93
safari93Posted 19-06-2016 04:03 PM

Comments (7 pages)

 
Bookworm_K236
Bookworm_K236Posted 20-06-2016 10:02 PM
I really enjoyed talking to everyone and I'll make sure to let you all know how the book is going @Stealth_ninja 🙂
 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:57 PM

What have we learned tonight??

 

We all know what procrastination is, but do we procrastinate everything? It seems more like we procrastinate anxiety-inducing things, like paying bills/fines, upcoming homework and assignments, or anything serious which we are responsible for. Procrastination can also happen in response to boring things like chores, when there are a hundred better things you could be doing.

 

We can think all sorts of things to justify why we’re procrastinating. Too tired, too hungry, bored, not confident enough in our ability to do something, or maybe there’s something else more interesting to do. Sometimes, we can procrastinate without even realising, when you’re working and then two minutes later you realise your mind has been wandering!

 

Procrastination methods can range from the mundane to the ridiculous. Some obvious ones include scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos or lying down and refusing to get up. But then you get procrastination via cleaning, organising emails or even starting a new hobby. Of course, our tendency to procrastinate can be worse in certain places. Like at home, where there’s easy access to food and where we tend to relax anyways. It’s possible to procrastinate anywhere though, when boredom sets in

 

So how do you stop procrastinating? For most of us, external rules or internal anxiety seems to be the best way of preventing procrastination. Removing distractions can reduce the likelihood that we would procrastinate, and anxiety can be a kick in the butt to complete something before a deadline! Some more positive ways might be to keep up a steady momentum, or to not be too unforgiving about procrastinating a little bit. You also aren’t so likely to procrastinate if you’re passionate about or interested in the topic of interest.

 

What about our friends? Well, that could depend on what they’re doing, and how you think you could help. Maybe work with them to figure out a plan of attack? Or remove distractions from where they’re working. You could set up an accountability system, so that if they start to procrastinate you’ll be right there to nudge them back on track.

 

Some may consider procrastination the same as laziness, but is it even the same? It certainly doesn’t feel the same, especially considering how anxiety-inducing procrastination can be. Besides, laziness is just considered a personality flaw or weakness, while procrastination can happen for more complicated reason

 

Procrastination can even be helpful! It can give you more time to think and plan, or just work up the courage or motivation to do something. You could even find yourself achieving something else! So perhaps procrastination isn’t all bad.

 

Thanks so much everyone for coming out! Hope you enjoyed this evening and learned something new!!

 
 
lokifish
lokifishPosted 20-06-2016 09:59 PM

Thanks for that wrap-up @safari93! And to @Stealth_ninja and @Ben-RO as well for facilitating 🙂

 

Have a good night everyone 🙂

 
 
Stealth_ninja
Stealth_ninjaPosted 20-06-2016 09:59 PM

YAY @safari93 @Ben-RO Thanks so much for facilitating the discussion. Really awsome chat tonight, I really enjoyed it.

 

Thanks everyone @lokifish@Bookworm_K236@PeanutJelly148 and everyone else. Really insightful!

 

Hey @Bookworm_K236 let us know how that book is going 🙂

 

Goodnight everyone, hope the rest of your week is wonderful. ❤️

 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:50 PM

Do you think procrastination can be helpful?

 

I've experienced procrastination as helpful actually! Sometimes it gives me time to think about how to approach an issue, or work up the courage to make a phone call. Also if I procrastinate particular tasks a lot, then it usually gives me insight into what I don't enjoy doing, and why.

 
Bookworm_K236
Bookworm_K236Posted 20-06-2016 09:49 PM
Do you think procrastination can be helpful?

At times, depending on what you do with your time. Like I said earlier, about the book I wrote.
 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 09:52 PM

Do you think procrastination can be helpful?

 

Yep @Bookworm_K236's book is a testament to this.  I also use it as a way to measure how into something i am doing i am. For example, if i am procrastinating something, i don't enjoy it, and it doesn't have some future benefit that makes it worth doing. Well I'll probably stop doing it, or at least make plans to live life in a way where i don't have to do that thing. Hmm i am not sure if that makes sense 😛 

 
 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 09:58 PM

Whoa, that was such a great chat session. Thanks to everyone for joining in, whether you made it the whole way through or just popped in @safari93 @Stealth_ninja @Bookworm_K236@lokifish @j95 @N1ghtW1ng @PeanutJelly148 @Bay52VU@ryvb3 @MJG

 
 
 
lokifish
lokifishPosted 20-06-2016 09:55 PM

@Ben-RO It makes sense!

 

If you enjoy it = keep doing it

If you don't enjoy it but need to do it = keep doing it

If you don't enjoy it and don't need to do it = stop doing it (and don't feel guilty about it)

 
 
 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 09:59 PM

Omg @lokifish that is the best formula ever! 

 
 
 
 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 10:01 PM

Gnite errybody! 

 
Bookworm_K236
Bookworm_K236Posted 20-06-2016 09:43 PM
@safari93 that's exactly what I was trying to get at! 🙂
 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 09:47 PM

I think we've got time to squeeze in one more! 

 

Do you think procrastination can be helpful?

 
 
 
Stealth_ninja
Stealth_ninjaPosted 20-06-2016 09:50 PM

Well i think it can if you recognise that maybe that is what you're doing so you can maybe change your strategy?

 

Also in the case of @Bookworm_K236, you could write a book! haha So in that case it is?

 
 
 
lokifish
lokifishPosted 20-06-2016 09:49 PM

Do you think procrastination can be helpful?

 

In some ways yes, if it's productive procrastination. It can cause you to achieve things you otherwise wouldn't have (like @Bookworm_K236's novel) and can be a way of relieving stress in the short-term. It's only when it becomes a long-term habit that it becomes detrimental

 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:42 PM

@Bookworm_K236 I think so! Sort of like how with procrastination there's sort of a motivation, whereas with laziness it isn't really there? 

 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:40 PM

Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

 

I feel like there is, perhaps in the way that it can feel? Sometimes procrastination can bring anxiety, whereas when I've felt lazy I generally don't feel anxious.

Also procrastination is talked about like it's more difficult to handle, and there isn't as strong a judgement that comes with procrastinating compared to being lazy. People seem to be more sympathetic when you say you're procrastinating than when you're just being 'lazy'

 
Bookworm_K236
Bookworm_K236Posted 20-06-2016 09:38 PM
Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

In a way, I do. Procrastination, you really want to do it, but your will isn't strong enough at times. Laziness, you really don't want to do it, it seems.

Sorry if I don't make any sense
 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:35 PM

What's the difference?? If there is one?

 

Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

 
 
Ben-RO
Ben-ROPosted 20-06-2016 09:40 PM

Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

 

Hmmm, is laziness even a real thing? When is it laziness and when is it a symptom of depression or something else? I am not sure if laziness is real! If it is, it's different from procrastination, mostly because procrastination would be doing somethine else instead of the thing you're doing, laziness might involve not doing the thing very well or very slowly or something. Hmm interested to hear other people's answers! 

 
 
 
lokifish
lokifishPosted 20-06-2016 09:42 PM

@Ben-RO Yeah the term "laziness" makes me feel uncomfortable because I've sometimes had it used to describe me when really it's symptoms of my mental health issues coming through.

 
 
lokifish
lokifishPosted 20-06-2016 09:38 PM

Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

 

I think there's definitely a difference but I can't quite figure out what. I'd say procrastination can result from laziness but also from anxiety etc. like we discussed earlier. Laziness on the other hand doesn't have that relationship with anxiety

 
 
Stealth_ninja
Stealth_ninjaPosted 20-06-2016 09:37 PM

Do you think procrastination is different from laziness?

 

Interesting question... i dont know.. I think they can sometimes have the same root cause like I act lazy because the though of doing something is so overwhelming and thats sort of the same reason I procrastinate so i'm really not sure.. Maybe they are different stages of the process of trying to figure out how to do something or overcome anxiety/uncertainty

 
safari93
safari93Posted 20-06-2016 09:32 PM

@lokifish ooh so clever! I get very possessive of my library spaces though, when I was at uni you couldn't get a desk after a certain time so you'd turn up early and keep that space for the whole day

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