How often do you intend to get on with a task but suddenly realised you didn’t quite get done what you’d wanted to?
I recognise myself as a procrastinator. I work really well to deadlines. If I’m given an unlimited period of time to do a piece of work in, I do lots of other things other than the job I’m supposed to be doing – until of course, the deadline looms like a dark monstrous shadow blocking all light out of the day.
Do you recognise this phenomenon in yourself? If so, then this TED video will make you smile.
Enjoy!
https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator.html
Did you recognise anything in the video?
You’re not alone, Rebecca. I teach so many students who are the same exact way. Give them a deadline and they respond well to it. But without that ‘push,’ well….it doesn’t quite work out the same way…
Isn’t is funny how people work? It makes so much more sense to do it in the time allotted, but no, we leave it to the last minute. Every time! 🙂
I’m definitely a procrastinator when it comes to writing. It takes NaNo or something similar to motivate me.
I think that’s where NaNo comes into its own. A real motivator for procrastinators.
I haven’t watched the video, because I’m listening to some really cool music, but I know I’m a procrastinator. But give me a deadline, and I’m always ahead of it – which I think is the best way to be. Now if only I could take my own self-imposed deadlines as seriously!
I’m hopeless at self-imposed deadlines. You should watch this video at some point, Annalisa. It’s hilarious.
I work far better to deadlines but I do hate the panic if I have to work really fast – my solution is so to make up mini deadlines for myself to keep me moving along! That works well until I decide they are only pretend.
That’s my problem Cleo, I figure out that they’re pretend then I end up working right up to the real deadline just as this guy does. I’m this guy all over. Though I am trying not to be. As a writer I am now trying to make myself sit down and write every day so I can produce the work. It’s been a difficult one to master!
Wonderful! And sadly, so true. Thanks for sharing that, Rebecca
I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s scarily accurate isn’t it? 🙂
Thank you for sharing this – it’s given me a much needed laugh and also a push to get on with all the things I should be doing today! 🙂
It does tend to make you actually laugh out loud doesn’t it? I did, which is why I thought I’d share it, plus it resonated so much so I imagined it might with at least a few of the blogs readers 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I was the same – I properly laughed while watching it and then it began to sink in that I am more of a procrastinator than I’d really realised.