However, I refuse to believe that this can be “painfully close to home” for you. You have this … Aura of almost frightening competence about you. You post about projects and then post about them being completed by deadlines, and impossible last-minute-requests that you nevertheless manage to fulfill! You are an efficient, capable, amazing whiz of a person, and I’m convinced that procrastination backs away from you with its tail between its legs.
What is missing from this flow chart that makes Mary so efficient and competent is a question between “Is there work to do?” and “Have you started?” that asks “Is it interesting?” with the yes branch going straight to “Meh, do it.” but without the “Meh” and with and explanation mark.
-d-: Yes, this is where structured procrastination comes in handy. I can get work done by avoiding other work.
John: I do something similar with timers for when I need to be someplace. I have the “stop working” timer and the “leave the house” timer. If I’m really paranoid I’ll add the “really, if you don’t leave right now you will be late” timer.
Mary,
I use my Treo for that. It constantly beeps at me. I have to remember to put it on silent if I’m someplace where it will disturb people. I think your the first person I’ve met who is as bad as I am with alarms. I guess I already have electronic versions of my old sign. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
John
HAH. Oh, how accurate…
However, I refuse to believe that this can be “painfully close to home” for you. You have this … Aura of almost frightening competence about you. You post about projects and then post about them being completed by deadlines, and impossible last-minute-requests that you nevertheless manage to fulfill! You are an efficient, capable, amazing whiz of a person, and I’m convinced that procrastination backs away from you with its tail between its legs.
Mm… that would be an illusion caused by living in the zone between “Due now” and “No. Really due now.”
They should add in a bubble for “Read Procrastination Flow Chart. Spend five minutes trying to plot where you are on the chart.”
What is missing from this flow chart that makes Mary so efficient and competent is a question between “Is there work to do?” and “Have you started?” that asks “Is it interesting?” with the yes branch going straight to “Meh, do it.” but without the “Meh” and with and explanation mark.
When I used to write for a small paper (deadline each week) I put a sign on my typewriter
“Get to Work”
Hmm, perhaps I should put up a few signs like that now.
John
JP: Sadly true, isn’t it.
-d-: Yes, this is where structured procrastination comes in handy. I can get work done by avoiding other work.
John: I do something similar with timers for when I need to be someplace. I have the “stop working” timer and the “leave the house” timer. If I’m really paranoid I’ll add the “really, if you don’t leave right now you will be late” timer.
Mary,
I use my Treo for that. It constantly beeps at me. I have to remember to put it on silent if I’m someplace where it will disturb people. I think your the first person I’ve met who is as bad as I am with alarms. I guess I already have electronic versions of my old sign. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
John