[SoulCakes]

<p>Hello, I'm a procrastinator. I have a massive paper due in two days... but I'm posting on MDC instead of writing it. <img alt="orngbiggrin.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif"></p>
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<p>I don't procrastinate about *everything* -- I don't have a problem with cleaning, or getting stuff done at work, or with reading for school. For some reason, back when I was an undergrad, I could sit down and do a massive math assignment, no problem. But every time I had to write a paper, I'd feel the creep of anxiety and perfectionistic worry and suddenly I'd be scrubbing the toilet or the oven or vacuuming for a third time -- anything to not write it! It got really bad my senior year, and I started handing papers in late (the horror).</p>
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<p>Now, in grad school, I know my ENTIRE future rides on these papers. But they're easy, little papers (compared to the ones I have to write in a few weeks, at least), but I still can't get started.</p>
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<p>Help me get over this. What are your tricks? I need advice to purge this awful habit once and for all!</p>

 

[pearl2]

<p>Put on Talking Heads and write as much as you can before the album is over. I also trick myself by making the font some crazy, enormous size and putting the background color an obnoxious neon. That way, when I think I've done a ton, I put it back into format and check the word count to see how I've done. This is all before David Byrne stops singing. </p>
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<p>Hey, worked for me. I have to play weird mind games to get through it. </p>

 

[Smokering]

<p>Ehh, I'll tell you next week.</p>
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<p>No, really... I have an article due in an hour and a half and here I am on MDC... after a longish nap and finishing a novel. It's pathetic. I do generally get stuff done by deadline - be it cooking for guests, finishing Christmas presents or handing in articles - but for stuff without a deadline, I'm hopeless. Knitting, for instance.</p>
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<p>You could try putting on the timer and working furiously for 15 minutes... or disabling the internet, if you don't need it for your work (you can even download software that blocks you from the net for a predetermined time)... or rewarding yourself with chocolate every time you write 300 words...? Or enlist a real-life friend, not a chatty one, to ring you up periodically and nag you.</p>

 

[Toolip]

<p>Oh my goodness, I am right there with you guys.  I have SO much to do and I just keep finding excuses and ways to distract myself!  I do good when I don't have too much, it's when I get overwhelmed that I start to procrastinate really badly.  I read a sort of interesting article about it...  here (<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200804/intransitive-preference-structures-the-procrastination-trap" target="_blank">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200804/intransitive-preference-structures-the-procrastination-trap</a>)</p>

 

[SoulCakes]

<p>It sucks that the only solution to procrastination is to just get it done. I'm still not finished... but I'm about 90% of the way done with 12 more hours to go (of course, I plan on sleeping for at least 6 of those 12 hours, but hey). It's getting started that's just terrible. Awful. Like, I'll put it off for days and spend more energy stressing about it than it would take to actually do it.</p>

 

[Toolip]

<p>I'm right there with you, RIGHT NOW!  I just need to DO IT!  Argh!</p>

 

[daisymama12]

<p>LOL I'm taking a break from work (read: procrastinating) and found this thread.</p>
<p>I need to finish my work.</p>
<p><span><img alt="Bolt.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/Bolt.gif"></span></p>