/ot/ - off-topic

>>893934
I've been struggling with an awful procrastination habit since 4th grade and my grades fell in highschool so you can imagine what my study habits were like. That's why it's a big deal that I have actually kept up with a study schedule for over a month. I'm aiming for all Bs and As this semester instead of barely getting by with Cs. I think studying at coffee shops are the best place for me so I can't make an excuse to snack on crisps

Procrastination is my worst fucking habit and I have struggled with it since I was a kid. Days go by where I did literally nothing but browse the Internet all day long. Then when I'm fed up with myself I start making plans and leave my comfort zone, limit Internet use, go out, do the things that scare me, etc and that lasts for a while but I relapse. every. single. fucking. time and then have to do everything from scratch. It's a constant struggle

someone recommended this blog entry to an anon struggling with procrastination on another thread and it changed my life, there's a follow up on how to change procrastination habits and there's also a ted talk: https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
hope it helps someone else too, thanks to the anon who shared it first!

>>893968
OT but I never felt more understood than when I read an article about feeling 'cluey', and I want to share it cause other farmers may relate
https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/05/clueyness-a-weird-kind-of-sad.html
>Clueyness is a strange phenomenon. My grandfather probably forgot about the Clue incident an hour after it happened. The FedEx man probably forgot about what I did to him five minutes later. I literally got cluey about a dog the other day, when he was super excited to play and I was busy and nudged him away with my foot and he looked at me confused and taken aback and then went to the side of the room and laid down—and dogs aren’t even real. The weight of my heartache in these cases outweighs the actual tragedy like 10,000:1.

>>893978
He's a great writer! I'm reading his "how to pick a career" article (it's shockingly long) and I'm loving it, even if I already have one lol but the self-analysis process he explains is very interesting https://waitbutwhy.com/2018/04/picking-career.html

I have mild to strong OCD and every time I try to work towards my dream job I get super uneasy. An unnerving feeling washes over me and I feel a pit in my stomach or chest, I become completely paralysed. Nonnies pls I need help.

>>894131
I don't have OCD but same. I constantly think and fantasize about taking steps towards my dream career, but when it comes to actually sitting down and doing the work, I start procrastinating like crazy

>>894141
What helped me was letting go of black and white thinking and the all or nothing mentality. Some days I write one page instead of three but at least I'm showing up to make an effort. You're paralyzed because you're stuck at the first step so break things down. Hope it helps!

>>893961
Anon I'm the same way. One week I feel like I can conquer the world and finish all of my tasks and the next day I just sit at my desk spacing out and then I'm ready to die. What are your goals if you don't mind me asking? Maybe we could make a chat where we hold each other accountable? It doesn't have to be an everyday thing but just checking in every now and then to keep each other on track.

>>894556
Also to add onto this, does anybody else get excitement anxiety? I'm guessing that's the word for it. I will start a task, get super deep into it and get so excited about it that I start shaking and then I will put it off for months after. I have so many video projects and paintings that I've started and haven't touched in months. I pick them back up when they're about 90% done and wonder why I dropped it.

cool thread, bumping it

bump

Necroing the thread because it's a good idea and good timing.

For the nonnas reading self help books, always check out any info on the life of the author before you bother reading the book.

>>1856066
Gonna reply because this thread is so needed. I read the first few replies and I have the same procrastination problem. What's worse is knowing that I have so much to do but instead of doing it I just sit here…not doing anything. What I wanna know is if anyone has had longterm success with holding themselves accountable and improving these habits instead of random bursts of motivation now and then

> post the goal you're working towards

I really need to be consistent with working out 4-5 days a week.

My other goal is to just think positively as I’ve really let my mind get swamped with intrusive and negative thoughts.

> detail whether or not you took an actions towards that goal today

I did attempt to do some running (lasted ten minutes …) and some yoga (lasted 20) I’m really out of shape and lost myself after some events happened but it’s no excuse, just gotta get back up again.

Thinking positively has been difficult but I will keep trying to distract myself and consume little to no social media. Probably just music and how-to videos.

can we update here or no?

>>1856089
Hi! I'm also a procrastinator. In addition to reading the excellent "Wait But Why" article, I actually made a lot of progress on my procrastination last year, though I'm certainly not out of the woods. In addition to telling myself to get over the discomfort of being in the dark woods, I also try to confront the source of my anxiety as soon as possible. I know that sounds obvious and stupid, but hear me out: by now, I know myself enough that the only time I'm gonna stop feeling panicked and nervous is if I tackle the bull head-on. Again, it's a duh-moment but I keep telling myself that nothing will alleviate my bad feelings until I do what my brain is telling me to avoid. No lolcow, cleaning, eating something yummy will cure my nerves other than facing that bull in the corner of my mind. So I am practicing saying "hey, this is scary and uncomfortable, but I am compassionate towards you, Future-Me. The sooner I start on this, the sooner it will be over. It's okay if I'm not perfect; half-assing something is a heck of a lot better than no-assing it." I give my courage some fuel sometimes if it's still hard– I might talk to my mom or dad and just vent or take valerian drops. If it's bad, I'll allow myself a glass of wine or a puff of weed, not enough to get inebriated but enough to shake off some of the panic. It's not the best thing, but again I don't have to do something perfectly– I just have to DO it. I'm not "cured" of procrastination, but I am actually proud of my improvement over 2023.

For example, today I procrastinated a little bit though I didn't let myself spiral. I need to do this one thing for my language class done, but it's making me nervous because even though I love my study language, I'm coming to this class after a long time without speaking it. I knew that only sitting down and preparing would actually help instead of The Dark Woods like in the article. I need to help Future-Me feel better about speaking, so let's draft the speaking part! I'm doing it now and guess what? It's not as scary as I made it in my head (it never is!!). And even though I'm still nervous for this speaking portion, the fact that I'm preparing without letting the dread and procrastination rule me today is making me feel eons better than youtube or a videogame ever could.

It's such an uphill battle! It sucks, so so much. But I would recommend envisioning Future-You and how thankful you will be later that, instead of letting the bull sit ominously in the corner, you tackle him and show him who's boss. He's just a dumb brute; a situation is never as bad as you make it out to be! I wish you the best, nonnie, and I send my love. Update us later as to how you're progressing, okay? I'll be cheering you on!