Saturday, July 19, 2008

P is for Procrastination


I am the queen of procrastinators. I can procrastinate with the best of them. I could be a professional procrastinator.

From outward appearance, I don't look like a procrastinator. Most people think I am very organized, detail and goal-oriented – accomplishing what I plan - and a glutton for hard work. The thing is, I fool people.

Whereas it's true that I am organized, detail-oriented, et cetera, like the true procrastinator that I am, I leave everything to the last minute. My endless list-making - which makes me appear as though I'm doing something - is, in fact, one of the keys to my procrastination.

Here is my sad and sorry saga:

  • Open an Excel spreadsheet
  • Make a list of things to do (master list)
  • Make sub-lists that detail how I will accomplish the master list
  • Go online and research the things I need to do
  • Bookmark sites I think are useful
  • Take a few detours online via Wikipedia and embedded links from said sites
  • Make a list of the sites I have found online
  • Cut and paste relevant information onto new document, save and print for future reference
  • Re-check original lists and amend according to information found online
  • Print out above lists

You'll notice that I haven't actually accomplished anything at this point, but it looks like I've been very busy.

  • While on the computer anyway, play a game (or two or twenty) of Spider Solitaire; be ready to hit screensaver mode in case somebody happens to walk by and think I'm just goofing off.
  • Take a look at my favourite web forums
  • Check email
  • Take the above printed lists and, with highlighter pen in hand (I like the yellow, but sometimes use fluorescent pink for variety), underline things I want to do first. – i.e. prioritize the to-do lists.
At this point, I will finish one (maybe two) of the tasks.
  • Using pen and ruler, cross out task(s)
This helps me stay somewhat focused and gives me the illusion of accomplishment.
  • Go back onto computer and do same with computer copy (i.e. highlight and cross out)
  • Print another copy
  • Re-read the lists and amend as necessary
  • Repeat from "While on the computer anyway"

I repeat the above until two days before things MUST be done and I realize I've only accomplished about one-half of my to-do list (the master one). I then rush around like a mad-woman in order to finish the to-do items without once looking at the lists again because, by then, I have them embedded into the hard drive of my brain.


This is another Encylopedia of Me post.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is too funny and reminds me of myself way too much!

Anonymous said...

I had a good chuckle reading this.
Am guilty of the same.

Anonymous said...

Are we twins separated at birth? My regimen and results are very similar!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is hilarious because I do all this then spend endless time finding it all again ( remembering my organizational method I thought was foolproof at the time). By then I am so saturated with the subject, i don't care to follow through with a draft, let alone a final draft.
Does all this wind up wondering what we will say to sum it all up on our last breath in this life? and that winds up to be..."you're stepping on my air hose."