Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Procrastination

We all procrastinate, some to greater extents than others.

There are just some things in life that we don't want to do, yet we know we have to do. In order to stop ourselves from doing these things, we simply put them off, put them out of our heads, and avoid them.

People procrastinate about different things, I tend to mostly procrastinate about school related things, but I know people who procrastinate about doing their taxes, fixing their cars, or going to the gym.

So what is the real purpose of procrastination?

I am actually currently procrastinating writing a paper for my psychology class. I have known about this paper the entire quarter (about 10 weeks so far), it is due tomorrow, and I hardly have anything written. Up until recently it hasn't been a really big priority, just because there have been other things of more importance that I have needed to do/study for, but starting this past weekend it has started looming in front of me until finally, it's the night of, and I don't really have too many letters on these great 5 pages that I need to fill.

Now, I tell myself that 5 pages really isn't that much, and if I actually sit down and write myself a good outline, that the paper will not really be that hard. Strangely, I am still not really too worried about it, however, I still don't want to do it.

I know that eventually I will need to do this, and I realize this fact. If I for some reason did not write this paper, my grade in this class will tank and I will not realize my goal of doing well in the class, so that's not really an option.

I guess my real problem is getting started. I find it hard to get myself to just sit down and start the process of writing, but once I do I know that the words will start flowing from my fingers and before I know it I will be finished.

But I just always find the need to check facebook one more time, to look at youtube one more time for another subscription update, to look at this blog to see if there is one more comment, to check my email to see if I have gotten anything new, to just stumble to one more interesting page about nothing. This cycle will then repeat itself until I find that I have frittered away all my time into nothingness and it has become 4:00 in the morning and I still don't have much done or studied.

It's quite a frustrating thing that happens to me when I try to start something, and it has become more of a habit now than anything else. I have even come to the point where I installed a firefox addon that works to "block" certain sites for a certain amount of time, so that I will save myself from myself, but this is frustrating and even though I feel that it temporarily solves the problem, I question if I am really helping myself by doing it.

Anyway, I will admit that I am quite a big procrastinator, but yet I still seem to get everything done that I need to do, and I still seem to do well on everything that I find important, so I guess I find it hard to change my ways, no matter how much I know it will actually help me.

What do you guys procrastinate about? How have you solved your issues with procrastinating?

Thanks for reading, peace.

26 comments:

  1. Facebook is life! I'll be checking back soon! alphabetalife.blogspot.com

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  2. we have to suffer in order to achieve something.

    the human mind instinctively moves towards pleasure because it is safe.

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  3. I would suggest smoking some herb. It'll make you sit in one spot. Also turn your router or internet off. I procrastinate everything. The reasons are varied however they are mostly just laziness or fun has priority over shit that I have to do.

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  4. It is the worst disease ever.

    Worse then nausea.

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  5. I kinda do it right know. I should study Biology. I usually just turn off the computer before thinking, so I can get started with more important stuff. If you stop and think -> it will continue. Best thing is to do something impulsive like just walk away from the computer and come back later. ^_^

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  6. I haven't really yet understand the meaning of it.

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  7. It really comes down to what the poster says: hard work might pay off in the long run, but procrastination always pays off now.

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  8. The herb is what gets you in trouble in the first place! Well, in large quantities.
    I had my roommate change my facebook password, which helped a lot.
    Also, procrastination is a very typical and powerful psychological defense mechanism. As Mr. Sheep said, we move towards what feels good.

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  9. Please summarize the entirety of this in 1 sentence. Thanks.

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  10. Im such a terrible procrastinator, i need to fix it.

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  11. In a word, anything. In several words, if it can put off, i will put it off.

    Discipline is the key.

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  12. I did this a lot my high-school years..ended up regretting it. : \

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  13. Wow dude, your description...

    ARE YOU ME?

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  14. take adderall or weed, works for me!

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  15. We all speak jokingly about procrastination but I'm starting to believe it's a serious, serious condition. It's the poison of life. It steals meaning. We must have something to push us to do stuff, but I'm afraid I still have not perfected this art.

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  16. I'm procrastinating right now by reading this :(

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  17. That is exactly what I am doing right now :P
    fun read

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  18. Haha oh the cycle of procrastination.

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  19. I have a terrible problem procrastinating. I need to fix it soon. Great post

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  20. Meh, I'll write a comment later.

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  21. i believe procrastination to be a way for the brain to manage anxiety, but i really don't know. I'll do some research on it later... ;)

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