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I have been rereading Wait but Why's post on How to Beat Procrastination in procrasipreparation for writing what is now the next post and something jumped out at me which didn't before.
Another way I have seen this described (paraphrasing from memory) is as a form of cognitive dissonance - "we leave a task until later somehow believing that future-us is magically going to be less distraction-prone and more diligent than present-us. Of course when the time comes around we are still the same person - and the cycle repeats". (In some cases this may not be true if we are having a day where we are "off our game" - but we can easily tell this by reference to past-us.)
I personally tend to visualise myself mid-process. This leaves not only the outcome unclear (which can lead to a lot of time wasted doing what I know is sort of the right thing, but not quite, then having to refactor) but also the beginning, what do I start with, where/how do I start.
Sometimes however this goes to the other extreme - I spend so much time visualising how to get to a point which is really only the start that I make even starting contingent on some set of conditions which never actually quite occur ...
~~~
So having recognised that I have fallen into the trap of procrastination, what to do about it. Well lets look at how I got here from not that long ago almost *having* to be working on something all the time. After consideration I believe it has to do with
- not taking on more tasks to match my increased energy levels
- so as to actually recharge my batteries somewhat with that energy
- but not actually developing any low-impact leisure-time activities to fill that space in my life
- thus defaulting to the same inactivity and mindset that characterised being "out of spoons" - staring hopelessly at the computer and spending far to much time in bed.
So the solution will need to be two pronged.
First: extending the range and duration of pleasant low-impact activities I do - this probably means more reading and actually watching media. I'm also considering looking into podcasts as something mildly stimulating which doesn't require my often-tired eyes.
Second: Beating the procrastination. I have the advantage that past-me is definitely not a procrastinator (in most areas of life) even if he is acclimatised to accomplishing things quickly and with minimal effort, so that I am capable is already proven. I just need to rediscover the knack of starting and also what makes the things I am (not) doing worth overcoming that hurdle.
Whiteboards to the rescue. After all I have these walls ... some of which now hold (click for larger)
1. Principles I either live my life by or want to incorporate more into my life. This is positioned above where I sit at the computer, where I will see it every time I walk into the office. This list will grow slowly over time but will rarely have items erased.
2. The bricks to my goals - an non-exhaustive list of bite-sized tasks where the Happy Playground is visible from the Critical Entrance and the Dark Woods is more of a copse. This deliberately includes low-impact leisure activities since doing more of them is one of my goals. None of the items on this list are time-critical.
This is to remove mental overhead in thinking "what could/should I do now" and is positioned so I have to turn completely away from the computer to look at it. Items may come or go from this list over time as existing goals are achieved/progressed or new ones developed. If I am truly incubating something these tasks will be attractive to me and if I am procrastinating they will at least ensure I am making progress toward some goal or other.
I have also repurposed another small whiteboard I own to sit in the bedroom where I will see it on waking, containing a list of the specific most important things for the coming day and a motivational statement. If possible I want the first item on this list each day to be something so interesting/valuable that it will overcome the hump and get me out of bed. Writing these down each evening will also hopefully help my commitment to them and preparation for the next day.
And I have put a reminder in one of my to-do-list apps to check back in a month and see if I have actually committed to these lists and if they have helped at all.
It’s not that procrastinators don’t like the concept of doing. They look at the bricks on their calendar and they think, “Great, this will be fun.” And that’s because when they picture the moment in the future when they sit down and knock out a work session, they picture things without the presence of the Instant Gratification Monkey. Procrastinators’ visions of future scenarios never seem to include the monkey.
Another way I have seen this described (paraphrasing from memory) is as a form of cognitive dissonance - "we leave a task until later somehow believing that future-us is magically going to be less distraction-prone and more diligent than present-us. Of course when the time comes around we are still the same person - and the cycle repeats". (In some cases this may not be true if we are having a day where we are "off our game" - but we can easily tell this by reference to past-us.)
I personally tend to visualise myself mid-process. This leaves not only the outcome unclear (which can lead to a lot of time wasted doing what I know is sort of the right thing, but not quite, then having to refactor) but also the beginning, what do I start with, where/how do I start.
Sometimes however this goes to the other extreme - I spend so much time visualising how to get to a point which is really only the start that I make even starting contingent on some set of conditions which never actually quite occur ...
~~~
So having recognised that I have fallen into the trap of procrastination, what to do about it. Well lets look at how I got here from not that long ago almost *having* to be working on something all the time. After consideration I believe it has to do with
- not taking on more tasks to match my increased energy levels
- so as to actually recharge my batteries somewhat with that energy
- but not actually developing any low-impact leisure-time activities to fill that space in my life
- thus defaulting to the same inactivity and mindset that characterised being "out of spoons" - staring hopelessly at the computer and spending far to much time in bed.
So the solution will need to be two pronged.
First: extending the range and duration of pleasant low-impact activities I do - this probably means more reading and actually watching media. I'm also considering looking into podcasts as something mildly stimulating which doesn't require my often-tired eyes.
Aside: I'd like to note a sign of mood/mindset-change here. I have not really been interested in watching media (movies, tv series) without company for a very long time now. That it now seems appealing for itself is significant. Maybe I'll even manage to get around to Firefly this year.
Second: Beating the procrastination. I have the advantage that past-me is definitely not a procrastinator (in most areas of life) even if he is acclimatised to accomplishing things quickly and with minimal effort, so that I am capable is already proven. I just need to rediscover the knack of starting and also what makes the things I am (not) doing worth overcoming that hurdle.
Whiteboards to the rescue. After all I have these walls ... some of which now hold (click for larger)
1. Principles I either live my life by or want to incorporate more into my life. This is positioned above where I sit at the computer, where I will see it every time I walk into the office. This list will grow slowly over time but will rarely have items erased.
2. The bricks to my goals - an non-exhaustive list of bite-sized tasks where the Happy Playground is visible from the Critical Entrance and the Dark Woods is more of a copse. This deliberately includes low-impact leisure activities since doing more of them is one of my goals. None of the items on this list are time-critical.
This is to remove mental overhead in thinking "what could/should I do now" and is positioned so I have to turn completely away from the computer to look at it. Items may come or go from this list over time as existing goals are achieved/progressed or new ones developed. If I am truly incubating something these tasks will be attractive to me and if I am procrastinating they will at least ensure I am making progress toward some goal or other.
I have also repurposed another small whiteboard I own to sit in the bedroom where I will see it on waking, containing a list of the specific most important things for the coming day and a motivational statement. If possible I want the first item on this list each day to be something so interesting/valuable that it will overcome the hump and get me out of bed. Writing these down each evening will also hopefully help my commitment to them and preparation for the next day.
And I have put a reminder in one of my to-do-list apps to check back in a month and see if I have actually committed to these lists and if they have helped at all.
