Tired of my procrastination, need help.

[st33med]

I want to do homework. But, I am so tired of my body repelling me from doing it. I don't know WHAT is happening! I get home, full intention of doing my homework, then I procrastinate ENDLESSLY. I get it done (eventually), but it seems like I get mindlessly distracted and find myself getting sidetracked when I still have the intention to do homework. I realize that I want to get it done, but I am stuck doing something else with the mindset of browsing the web or some other inefficient task, and this drives me literally mad (humming or sudden groans of discomfort) with the conflicting interests. I am TIRED of this!

I need help on how to get myself on task with doing work and not procrastinating.

[Eisho]

Originally Posted by st33med

I want to do homework. But, I am so tired of my body repelling me from doing it. I don't know WHAT is happening! I get home, full intention of doing my homework, then I procrastinate ENDLESSLY. I get it done (eventually), but it seems like I get mindlessly distracted and find myself getting sidetracked when I still have the intention to do homework. I realize that I want to get it done, but I am stuck doing something else with the mindset of browsing the web or some other inefficient task, and this drives me literally mad (humming or sudden groans of discomfort) with the conflicting interests. I am TIRED of this!

I need help on how to get myself on task with doing work and not procrastinating.

The procrastination is simple: you find the homework boring and lacking any pleasure (certainly compared to other activities) and mentally resist putting yourself in that situation. If it really is that much of a struggle then spend 5 minutes mentally reviewing WHY doing your homework will produce pleasure for you over the long term. Create a statement and a vision board that details why doing homework now will bring pleasure to you over your lifetime (enhanced education prospects = enhanced job opportunities = freedom of career choice and greater capacity to earn). And then discipline yourself. Have a set time if you need to do that and as soon as you get to that point just throw yourself into your homework with pause or deliberation. Like getting up a the same time in the morning every day.

Cheers,

Eisho

[turtlewalzer]

Dude, I'm with you on your procrastination. It sucks.
It seems that normal people that sometimes procrastinate don't understand how debilitating it is. It's intensely stressful.
I though about getting a group together of procrastinators locally to support each other, but never got around to it, y'know?
Turtle

[justfiverules]

This approach is as old as the hills but continues to work for some people:
http://www.hackvan.com/pub/stig/etex...astination.txt

[daredevil83]

Maybe you're afraid of something... Are you perfectionist?
For me the best method to break the pattern, the endless circle of procrastination is to do a little - really little - and even imperfect - step towards my goal. Suppose you want to write an essay. Then sit at the desk (one step). Open your word processor (another step). Then write one sentence. (I know, the first sentence is the worst so write ANYTHING. You'll correct it later). Then write another sentence (even as imperfect as the first). And continue...

[bbdream8]

Hi st33med,

I recommend changing the environment such as moving to the nearest cafe or anywhere that you can't go online and the 2nd tip would be using time boxing.

Time boxing.
In time boxing, you set a dead line (exp: an hour or 1/2 and hour. You decided what is the appropriate timing.) and just keep doing at that task until you finish the time you allocated for yourself. In that allocated time, just start and do whatever and you can only stop when time is up.

I had written an article on it, you can read it if you want more information on increasing your productivity

11 keys to double your productivity..

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

Originally Posted by st33med

I want to do homework. But, I am so tired of my body repelling me from doing it. I don't know WHAT is happening! I get home, full intention of doing my homework, then I procrastinate ENDLESSLY. I get it done (eventually), but it seems like I get mindlessly distracted and find myself getting sidetracked when I still have the intention to do homework. I realize that I want to get it done, but I am stuck doing something else with the mindset of browsing the web or some other inefficient task, and this drives me literally mad (humming or sudden groans of discomfort) with the conflicting interests. I am TIRED of this!

I need help on how to get myself on task with doing work and not procrastinating.

[st33med]

Thanks Vincent.

I can see most of those things working, and I have put some into effect.

I found while trying to type 'exceptions' to those techniques for me that those arguments were lame. For example, I would have typed, "The homework never seems like a valuable activity because I put too much time into it when I already know or will know the subject matter." If I knew or will know the subject matter on my homework, why do I not get better grades on tests then?

That was when I figured out my thoughts are what hold me down like this. I think of something and my mind accepts it until I write it down or challenge it.

[Bud921]

Might I suggest 43folders.com

[spressnell]

One technique that I learned is to do one tiny little thing--the smallest little task that you can concerning your procrastination--say open your book. Then you prize yourself for doing that. I have a Staples "easy button" that I press and a voice says "that was easy." You can actually just tap on the desk and say it too. But keep doing that with each little task and before you know it you will have a good portion of your task complete.

Shirley

[apteryx01]

Originally Posted by Eisho

If it really is that much of a struggle then spend 5 minutes mentally reviewing WHY doing your homework will produce pleasure for you over the long term. Create a statement and a vision board that details why doing homework now will bring pleasure to you over your lifetime (enhanced education prospects = enhanced job opportunities = freedom of career choice and greater capacity to earn).

Hrrm. That kind of thinking worries me. Let's explore the opposite idea for a minute.

Putting up with crap usually (not always) leads to putting up with more crap. The crap you suffer with today in the form of "homework" is preparation to do...similar kinds of activities, the kind that are enjoyable for people who like to do homework.

Doing homework can be dangerous. It can suck you into a cycle of tolerating a yecchy present for the sake of a future that sounds wonderful when you write it on your vision board but is actually just like the present.

Here's an Alan Watts video about tolerating unpleasantness today for the sake of happiness in the future.

That said, another approach is to look for ways to make the homework itself fun. Here are a couple: only take classes that you like (Steve Jobs talks about the long-term results and immediate happiness he got from dropping out of college but continuing to take classes in stuff he found attractive); do the homework with a friend or two, where you each check each other's answers. This leads to talking about the subject, explaining it, sharing tips, engaging your intelligence and creativity.

[Zenessa]

I am a bad procrastinator, (im supossed to be working on a project right not..but that doesnt count) but I am getting better. One thing I do when I have something to do and don't feel like it is, I ask myself 'will I be annoyed at myself later for not doing what I am supposed to.' Id rather avoid the bad feelings of procrastination and just do whatever I have to do and promote more positive feelings in my life. I have no idea if that made any sense!

[Kaspian]

A few questions to ask yourself:

• Do you procrastinate because you are afraid of failure?
• Do you procrastinate because you are afraid of Success?
• Do you procrastinate because you are lacking a clear plan for what to do when?

If so, explore the fears, see what's underneath them, and see where that leads you. Sometimes understanding why you fear success or failure can help you to overcome your resistance. Then break your projects down into smaller steps that feel manageable, create a homework/study schedule, use timeboxing, etc.


Also, take a step back and look at the bigger picture:

• Are you in school because that is where you most want to be?
• Are you in school because that's what you "should" do, and that's what your parents and society expect you to do?
• Are you studying subjects that peak your curiosity and stimulate your mind?
• Are you stuck in classes that are "requirements" that you would not have taken otherwise?

If the answers to these lean heavily toward "should" and "requirements," perhaps your tendency toward procrastination is your heart's way of telling you that you don't want to be there. Apteryx01 makes a good point about the danger of tolerating a yucky present situation. You don't want to make a habit of putting up with long-term situations that suck. If you genuinely and honestly don't want to be in school, than go do something else. It may take some exploring, but it's worth searching for (and finding!) the thing that makes your soul sing.

[dwixi]

Originally Posted by st33med

I want to do homework. But, I am so tired of my body repelling me from doing it. I don't know WHAT is happening! I get home, full intention of doing my homework, then I procrastinate ENDLESSLY. I get it done (eventually), but it seems like I get mindlessly distracted and find myself getting sidetracked when I still have the intention to do homework. I realize that I want to get it done, but I am stuck doing something else with the mindset of browsing the web or some other inefficient task, and this drives me literally mad (humming or sudden groans of discomfort) with the conflicting interests. I am TIRED of this!

I need help on how to get myself on task with doing work and not procrastinating.

My best tip is to change other patterns you have in your day to put you in a different state of mind when it comes to doing it.

[ben328]

wow. There is alot of good information as well as resourceful people on this forum. I look forward to learning and contribute as much as I can. I've pull together alot of good information on procrastination. check out What is Procrastination

ben

[RRR]

YouTube - Procrastination... On procrastination, I liked it

22:58 is the money shot once you get the idea.

[Stressless]

Hi st33med,

If you are procrastinating endlessly, you are not actually being productive in any way, but are just frittering away precious time. What you should do is get the homework out of the way first so that it does not loom over your head - and it needs to be done - and then do whatever you want to with the extra time you have.

Also pay attention when doing the homework, it will help in classwork and exams, don't just do it as an unwanted chore.

Check out this site - it will help you:

21 Stress-Stopper Formulas For a Healthy and Happy Life

[st33med]

Thank you guys. I found out that subjective reality can really help me overcome my fears for procrastination by believing that fear is to be embraced not pushed away. That, and visualizations can help.

I do not have homework to try by new perspective on over Thanksgiving, however, so, we shall see in due time.