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True Dough

(17,302 posts)
Mon Sep 19, 2016, 07:37 PM Sep 2016

Procrastinating. I do it well.

A thread about procreating would be more interesting, but I went with procrastinating.

I have some contract work to do outside of my regular job. It pays well. I'm happy to have it. I had the month of September to complete it. I'm pretty well down to the last 10 days of the month and it's about 1/3 done. The remainder is doable, but it won't be without some sweating and unnecessary stress from leaving the bulk of it to the tail end.

I'm not a high school or college kid anymore. I know better, but I have now put myself behind the 8 ball. I should be working on it right now, but I'm posting here.

I expect this sort of response:






Do you regularly put stuff off? Office projects? Household maintenance or chores? Taxes?

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Procrastinating. I do it well. (Original Post) True Dough Sep 2016 OP
I'll give you my opinion about this thread... TexasTowelie Sep 2016 #1
Someday soon I'll tell you how to fix this defect. ret5hd Sep 2016 #2
OK, this one's for you! elleng Sep 2016 #3
thought-provoking article NJCher Sep 2016 #7
Never do today what you can put off til tomorrow. Wounded Bear Sep 2016 #4
Never put off till tomorrow... discntnt_irny_srcsm Sep 2016 #6
Hard work has a future payoff... Major Nikon Sep 2016 #32
been meaning to read this post for a couple days rurallib Sep 2016 #5
was gonna reply... I'll do it later cleveramerican Sep 2016 #8
I'm a card carrying member.... progressoid Sep 2016 #9
This is great! True Dough Sep 2016 #11
! Kali Sep 2016 #18
well, you didn't ask NJCher Sep 2016 #10
That's some solid advice right there True Dough Sep 2016 #12
Who doesn't? LisaL Sep 2016 #13
That's why we have deadlines TexasBushwhacker Sep 2016 #14
How long did it take for you to get around to posting this? Generic Brad Sep 2016 #15
Some of us purposefully procrastinate because we do better work under pressure. Avalux Sep 2016 #16
I am the worst Kali Sep 2016 #17
If this were a competition True Dough Sep 2016 #19
still need to do my '13s Kali Sep 2016 #20
consider this NJCher Sep 2016 #22
my taxes are kind of complicated and Kali Sep 2016 #24
true enough NJCher Sep 2016 #25
good point Kali Sep 2016 #27
Well, here's what I've needed to do for months, if not years: trof Sep 2016 #21
so here's what you do NJCher Sep 2016 #26
Very reasonable advice True Dough Sep 2016 #36
I always weigh that out NJCher Sep 2016 #37
I thought about procrastinating today, but... Nah, I'll do it tomorrow. Thor_MN Sep 2016 #23
All. The. Time. Part of it is because I have come to hate administrative work AgadorSparticus Sep 2016 #28
Every now and then I decide to procrastinate. Wolf Frankula Sep 2016 #29
Yeah, I keep meaning to pick up another jug of round tuits, Sunriser13 Sep 2016 #30
you want I should kick your procrastinating ass, True Dough? Skittles Sep 2016 #31
Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2016 #33
I was going to say Welcome to DU shaggs3 ... maybe later In_The_Wind Sep 2016 #34
Every Spring I say the same thing; BarbaRosa Sep 2016 #35
I plan to procrastinate tomorrow. I just don't have much time for it today. n/t NNadir Sep 2016 #38

cleveramerican

(2,895 posts)
8. was gonna reply... I'll do it later
Wed Sep 21, 2016, 09:11 AM
Sep 2016

I will stop whatever I'm doing in a hot minute for a hot dog or any damn thing
as I get older its getting worse

NJCher

(35,658 posts)
10. well, you didn't ask
Wed Sep 21, 2016, 01:32 PM
Sep 2016

but being a busybody know-it-all type of person, I'll tell you what you should be doing.

Estimate the time the job takes. Break it down over the available time period. Do a little each day and you won't be stuck at the end, working like a demon to get it all done.

Give yourself a calendar to hang on the wall or keep a digital one. Fill it in every day that you stick to your schedule. Makes you feel great that you were able to get it done!


Cher

True Dough

(17,302 posts)
12. That's some solid advice right there
Wed Sep 21, 2016, 01:50 PM
Sep 2016

Easier said than done, of course. But it does make a lot of sense.

I've been in a higher gear over the past couple of days. Not feeling panic because I am confident I'll meet deadline but it's not being done at the even pace you recommend.

Avalux

(35,015 posts)
16. Some of us purposefully procrastinate because we do better work under pressure.
Wed Sep 21, 2016, 09:47 PM
Sep 2016

I do this - even if I have a month to finish a project, I'll usually piddle with it off and on but wait until the last few days to dig in and knock it out. Call me crazy but I enjoy working that way.

Procrastination can be good, especially if you're an active procrastinator - you do other things while you put off the 'big' thing.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3025930/work-smart/6-reasons-to-embrace-procrastination

Kali

(55,007 posts)
17. I am the worst
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 06:36 PM
Sep 2016

very rarely do I get anything done ahead of time. or even on time. just did my 2014 taxes last month, in fact.

NJCher

(35,658 posts)
22. consider this
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 06:54 PM
Sep 2016

You have to do it one way or the other, so you might as well do it on time as not do it on time.

It boils down to two choices: do it on time and save the risks, or do it late and risk penalties, fees, or standing out to the IRS.



Cher

Kali

(55,007 posts)
24. my taxes are kind of complicated and
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 08:33 PM
Sep 2016

until 2014 I had another person I was accountable to that helped me stay focused on the task, since then I blow it off for too long then can't get the supporting docs together by midnite on the 15th so take the extension...then that rolls around...then because I rarely actually owe anything, the penalties don't even motivate me...it is a vicious circle!

NJCher

(35,658 posts)
25. true enough
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 08:58 PM
Sep 2016

My CPA told me, though, that with the IRS you want to "fly low." (his expression) When I asked him what that meant, he said turn your return in when everyone else does so you don't stand out, not for any reason.


Cher

trof

(54,256 posts)
21. Well, here's what I've needed to do for months, if not years:
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 06:52 PM
Sep 2016

1. Get the asphalt driveway and parking area resurfaced.
2. Get the wood trim (on a mostly brick house) re-stained.
3. Get the boat dock planking re-nailed. Nails on a dock eventually rust.
4. Get the leaking screened porch roof fixed.
5. Get the ceilings stained by a now repaired rood leak painted.
6. Find out why I get black gunk from the faucet and shower in MY bathroom and no other outlet in the house.
7. Finish the remodel of the garage converted to a utility/laundry room that I started years ago.

I could go on.
It's a sickness.

NJCher

(35,658 posts)
26. so here's what you do
Thu Sep 22, 2016, 09:12 PM
Sep 2016

Take that list and paste it into a Word doc. Leave some blank space under each task. Print it out.

Buy a digital timer.

Every day, go out and do 5" or 10" on each task. Doesn't matter what it is, but do something toward getting that task finished. For example, on item 2, it might take you 5" to find the stain in the storage area. OK, fine. Then you know it's ready to go for the next day.

On item 1, it might simply be spending 5" getting referrals to an asphalt company.

Every day, do something to move each task forward. When you've done your 5 or 10", mark it down on your paper. When you've filled up the paper, put it away in a file or tack it to a bulletin board where you can see that you've moved forward on all these items. Print out a new one and eliminate any goals you've achieved.

Some days you may want to spend 20" doing a task, for example, the staining of the trim. That's fine. Just put "20" in the section for item 2.

But always keep your promise to yourself. If you say you're going to do 10", when 10" is up, move on.

Try it! It works!

And you feel great about yourself!


Cher

oh and p.s. if you don't get through all the items, just start on the one you didn't get done first the next day. Don't "make up" time from the previous day.

NJCher

(35,658 posts)
37. I always weigh that out
Sun Sep 25, 2016, 02:57 PM
Sep 2016

I figure an hourly rate based on my income as to whether I should do that or not.

Other things I take into consideration are my level of expertise and things like professional equipment that might be needed.

I'm a real do-it-yourselfer, though. I should also add that I am so exhausted at the end of a day that I never even make it to bed. I just fall asleep in my chair or wherever I'm at.

I have a pretty good level of skills, but I do wish I'd taken courses in woodworking and basic electricity.

Oh, and one other option I just thought of: trade-outs with friends who have that level of expertise. For example, I'll make you a four-course dinner and deliver it to your house some night when you don't feel like cooking. In exchange, you change out these light switches for me. That sort of thing.


Cher

AgadorSparticus

(7,963 posts)
28. All. The. Time. Part of it is because I have come to hate administrative work
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 12:23 AM
Sep 2016

More than anything in the whole world. It is a bane in my existence.

Skittles

(153,150 posts)
31. you want I should kick your procrastinating ass, True Dough?
Fri Sep 23, 2016, 05:50 PM
Sep 2016

OMG don't even get me started on procrastination (HEY, IS THAT A PUN??!!)....I am a champion

Response to True Dough (Original post)

BarbaRosa

(2,684 posts)
35. Every Spring I say the same thing;
Sat Sep 24, 2016, 01:28 PM
Sep 2016

"waiting for the weather to warm so I can get started on last years projects."

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