I Didn't Finish My Post On Procrastination

One late afternoon during a lull in homebound work and tasks, I called Chris to touche base...

Me:  Anything new?

Chris:  No. You?

Me:  Not really. I've had an unproductive day. Questioned everything I wrote. I attempted three blog posts because I was procrastinating working on other things. The first one on Why I Blog turned into Why I Write and it felt too personal. I wanted to tap into the "attention whore" theory Neil blogged about—which I still need to forward to you—but I got sidetracked. I don't have enough time to do all this.

THEN, I started a post titled Procrastination and I got all freaked out that I have a psychological disorder after Googling the word. Wikipedia nailed me, but I found some great articles on how to resolve my reasons for procrastinating. So that was good. I still have issues though.

THEN, I thought I need to address my running blog because I haven't posted since the last race, but I want to let that blog go, so I need to post something about how you're running with me now and I'm trying to talk you into doing the Triple Trail Challenge next summer because Supermodel says she's out.

I hardly even looked at my other projects.

Chris:  I think you should finish the procrastination post and title it "I Didn't Finish My Post On Procrastination".

Me:  And have a blank page?

Chris:  No. Post what you have written so far.

Me:  I only titled it, then I went to Google so I could paste a definition at the top of the post. That's when I got freaked out and diagnosed myself.

Chris:  So you have nothing?

Me:  I have nothing.

Chris:  So the content is...light.

Me:  Very.

**********

Per Wikipedia: [Which, according to my sons, is not a good source because, "...ANYONE can post information on there!"]

Procrastination is the deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite this human behavior as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision. ^[1] Psychology researchers use three criteria to categorize procrastination: for a behavior to be classified as procrastination, it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying.^[2]

For an individual, procrastination may result in stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of personal productivity, the creation of crisis and disapproval from others for not fulfilling one's responsibilities or commitments. These combined feelings can promote further procrastination. While it is normal for people to procrastinate to some degree, it becomes a problem when it impedes normal functioning.*Chronic procrastination may be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.

**********

*  Uh-oh.

Comments

[Mulva]

I promised myself that I would clean my closet and my office today, but here I am on facebook - reading your procrastination blog. You forgot to say that it can have something to do with perfectionism - which I personally embrace as my primary reason for it. I used to say that I would shine my shoes instead of doing what REALLY needs to be done. But that was waaaay before blogs, so you can see how deep-seated my psychological issues are. Whatever...think I'll have a beer and send a few more emails. Love you! P.S., I NEVER got around to having my nose fixed - and both my office and my closet look like a tornado went through - does tornado have an "e" on the end? Oh well, I'll look it up later. Love you again. M

[Tristan]

I am procrastinating reading the rest of the post because I was so impressed that your sons have already learned to consider their sources and I had to compliment you on it before I became obsessed with diagnosing my own psychological disorders. So I'm glad you distracted me because otherwise I'd have been up all night googling and losing sleep.

[V-Grrrl at Compost Studios]

Sometimes what we're expected to do and accept blindly is mind-numbing, counterproductive, pointless, and stupid. This is why I don't do it! Ha ha ha.

[christy]

I like that you stopped at the liquor store with the boys. I bring Fiona in there all the time and feel a little weird - but since you do it, it must be okay!

So Supermodel is out for the race next year? She just doesn't want to, or she's injured? You STILL want to do it? And your husband is considering it? I thought he was a biker, not a runner. Wowzers if you both do it -- or even if you just do it!

And I loved that stream of consciousness you had going the whole post. That's how I sometimes feel like posting, but I never do it. Glad you used his idea for your title! hehe!

[Pam]

If chronic procrastination is a psych disorder, than I have one, and I'm not worried... I'll worry later... or not..... I think I told your boys about Wikipedia!! hahaha! sorry..... xoxo

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

If procrastination was a medical problem with physical symptoms and stuff? I'd have it for sure.

Also? I'd totally run the race with you, but I'm still having problems with my toe (really), and my bladder would probably fall out by mile seven (truly). Of course, that's if I even made it to race day because I'm currently down with the flu (not joking).

Now I should probably go and check out that hyperlink about attention whores and see if there is treatment for it that might involve a hot doctor.

[Chris]

I deliberately left out that it can have something to do with perfectionism - and low self-worth. Love you too!

PS: What's wrong with your nose? And, NO, Mr. Quayle, "tornado" does not have an "e" on the end. Love you again too!

[Chris]

You're welcome. But I bet you're still googling and losing sleep about potential psychological disorders. My world is ROCKED due to my own.

[Chris]

This is true! One of the posts still in my draft folder refers to the the mind-numbing work I did as a tech editor and writer for an airline. I did it for the paycheck. Now I have creative projects that I'm excited about, but I manage to avoid like the plague. What's that about?

[Chris]

Supermodel says she's not interested in next year's race series. She's not injured, just tired. It's still early though. I'll wear her down!

Chris is a biker but he can hang as a runner too, especially on trails.

[Chris]

I felt like a crackpot after reading stuff about procrastination... it's funny, because the boys are almost frightened of Wikipedia. Did you tell them there were dirty pictures there? XOXO

[Chris]

Your toe? Your bladder? The flu? Dadgum, Cheri! I'm sorry. Your toe is beginning to worry me... Maybe you should see hot toe doctor #2. HUGS

[Bobbi Olson]

Since anyone can go in and change the definitions on Wikipedia I think someone put that thing about an underlying psychological disorder in just to freak people out.

And what do you know, it worked!

[Debbi]

I am a HORRIBLE perfectionist .... to the point that my husband and oldest son don't like to do the things I've asked them, because then I'll point out the ways that they did it wrong! lol And that's all I'm admitting to at this point. That procrastination definition on Wikipedia hit just a little too close to home. ugh I prefer to just stick with the theory that I obviously just have too much on my plate - of course, because I'm also an overachiever - and putting out the biggest and brightest fires first and prioritizing are excellent time management skills. So see, you aren't a procrastinator either ... under my definition (aka Queen of Rationalization), which I deem to be highly reliable, unlike Wikipedia.

[mary]

I was going to write about my own procrastination issues but then I got distracted by Cheri writing that her bladder would fall out at mile seven and then I began to feel a little bit sick about her toe and then I realised that I would not even make it to mile one on a run so now I am going to just going to go and have a glass of wine instead...

[sarah]

well chrisy....here i sit at work. i got here at 7:40 and it is now 8:30. i have done nothing remotely work related in the 50 minutes i have sat here, unless you count eating a bag of candy corn and ordering up BIG on the Eddie Bauer website productive.i am not sure it that is procrastination or postponement....are they the same thing? can you google that and get back to me?oh and by the way i'm leaving today at 12:30....ahhaha....i love my job!!!!

[Mrs. D]

I'm a procrastinator, too. I have until 3:00 every day to get what I need to done. And I admit, it's not much.... a load or two of laundry or sweep the floors, but nothing that takes tons of time. Do you know when I do it? 2:30. Until then I have countless episodes of Passport with Samantha Brown, Everybody Loves Raymond, and No Reservations to watch. Not to mention catching up on the computer.

What is the underlying condition?

[tysdaddy]

I've started, and never completed, about five different posts on procrastination. I am a chronic put-it-off'er, and can recite the pledge of the club verbatim. So there's that . . .

[Pam]

NO!!!!! I swear I didn't tell them about dirty pictures (there are??? I'll have to look! I'm so naive!). I just may have said you can't be sure of the source because anyone can add. :)

[Kate Coveny Hood]

Who DOESN'T procrastinate?? I can look at the toys littering my floor right this moment and tell you exactly why I decided that now is a good time to check my reader...

[Lady Fi]

Life is too short not to procrastinate!

[Alix]

I think a lot of us are standing in line with you Chrisy. So if we ALL have the same psychological disorder, that mean's we're all normal. Right?

Blowing kisses from Florida.

[Deidre]

Have you ever watched Ellen's HBO special called Here and Now? Her closing line is as follows "If you learn one thing from tonight let it be this. Procrastinate now, not later."

[Belle]

Oh shoot. Now I have to make an appointment with my therapist.

[GrandRGrand]

I've actually been sitting here in front of my computer for two hours reading nothing but blogs and I am supposed to be WORKING. Good thing I work for myself. OR bad thing maybe, depending on how you look at it.

OK. Back to work . . .I think.

[slouchy]

"So the content is...light."

LOVE that.

[michael.offworld]

Disorder and normal are different sides of the same coin, yes? BTW, I can connect to everything you are saying. I've done it (and am currently doing it) too.

[All Adither]

I think it's cool that your husband takes an interest in your blog! And that you turned your procrastination into blog fodder. Very clever, my dear.

[Jannie Funster]

Wow, only ONE psycholocigal disorder? Cool. Google has me written up for at least 3 or 4.

:)

xo

[Kyran]

belated appreciation for the link! I thought I was the master of procrastination, but I see I've met my match :-)