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My procrastinating will be the death of me, I swear. Being a university student with this problem is very VERY bad, while I am not failing I know I can do better if I just gave myself more time but for some reason I don’t. I always leave things to the last minute and it fucking sucks.

Yes, I am aware that procrastination can be due to mental health (like ADHD) and I am pretty sure mine is because of that but I’ve tried stimulants and they did not work (they actually gave me massive mood swings). I believe that I can tame this problem by changing my behaviour and building good habits but I don’t know how. Do you have experience with procrastination? Any tips you can share to help me deal with it?

I always knew my procrastination was a problem (I beat myself up over it constantly) but Spring/Summer term has opened my eyes to just how bad it actually is. This term is incredibly accelerated (13 weeks condensed down to only 13 days) which means procrastinating hits even harder. I am keeping my head above water but I know if I don’t figure something out soon I’ll just sink into despair. My procrastinating is hitting my self-esteem more than it is hitting my grades, if that makes sense. I am being realistic with myself, 100-200 level courses aren’t a big deal so if I don't get an A I won’t beat myself over it, but I would prefer if my bad habits didn’t carry on to higher level classes (300-400) where masters/PhD programs will be looking at.

I do want to end my undergrad on a high note so might as well start now. Thankfully my professors are pretty accommodating so far but that can only do so much, you know what I mean?

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[-] TrudeauCastroson@hexbear.net 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I had similar issues, I started pre-crastinating.

By that I mean artificial deadlines that I set for myself (I need to get this assignment done 1-3 days before it's due so I have time to take a quick glance at it right before I hand it in). These were hard deadlines that I pulled all-nighters for. I didn't actually change any habits to become a model student, I just changed the order in which I did unhealthy things.

This eventually lead to me being able to get into the habit of breaking up homework into doing x amount of problems per night, like the top students in my class usually did.

For final projects with less discrete milestones than answering some problems, I still found it difficult and never got used to that. I still pulled all-nighters but aimed my fake due date to a week before, and made it a bit softer so it was okay to sleep if I was more than half done.

I raised my grades from barely passing to decent student. Never got to A+ student but I think was getting there.

I used to never stick to to-do lists, and I still don't like them. I don't like the obligation and feeling like a failure when it's left not completed. I have to do stuff as it comes to me, or know I'm setting out a block of time to do it later that day.

[-] electric_nan@lemmy.ml 10 points 5 months ago

Lifelong procrastinator here. Never been diagnosed but I definitely suspect ADHD. I do take something for anxiety, which hasn't fixed my procrastination, but has helped me not feel so shitty about it all the time.

Things that help me the most: include other people! I'm much happier to work with others than by myself. Find ways to include friends in activities you need to do. The other thing is to fill up your schedule a bit more with commitments that you can't/won't blow off. This tends to keep you "in motion" which you can leverage to get other things done too. Good luck :)

[-] bunbun@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 5 months ago

Deadlines and external responsibility as the only driving forces is indeed a very ADHD thing. I can do literally anything at a moment's notice for my friends, but I've been moving the pile of laundry between the computer chair and the bed for the past month.

[-] Addfwyn@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 5 months ago

I procrastinated pretty heavily even into graduate school. I had two years to write my thesis and I ended up doing most of in the last few months of the program (it actually came out pretty well). Honestly it wasn't until I was in an upper management position, and in charge of project management, that I really got over it because of how many people were reliant on me. It was always getting started on something that was the hard part for me, once I get started on something I have zero issue focusing on it until I am done.

For me, it was a matter of just coming to know myself and be realistic. Todo lists or reminders never worked, because they just made me feel like I accomplished something by making the list, when I was really still just putting it off. Most of the time now, if there is something I know that needs to be done, I do it immediately. Not just in work; if I finish cooking I wash all the dishes immediately. Notice my desk is getting messy? Immediately pull out the cleaning supplies.

People now think I am super proactive because we always finish projects first regionally. I suppose I technically am, but that is only because I know it will never get done if it isn't done immediately. I might try to convince myself otherwise, but I just know the type of person I am. It also feels nice to finish things early and then have guilt-free free time afterwards.

I am not saying the same methodology will work for you, but just be aware of yourself and your habits. If you tell yourself you will do X task tomorrow/after lunch/after a break, are you really being honest with yourself? For some people, the answer is yes they will absolutely be able to do that.

[-] LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 5 months ago
[-] TankieReplyBot@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[-] SpaceDogs@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago

Yes, actually. This is painfully accurate!

[-] LarkinDePark@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 months ago

My wife found the focussing on just one thing really helpful. Don't take the world on your shoulders all at once. You get overwhelmed and the animal brain forces you to avoid. It's not you, it's your human instincts.

[-] nephs@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 months ago

Adding to this, meditation.

Learning how to step back and listen to your thoughts, can take you to note it down, prioritise, calm down ang get stuff under control.

Also, being kind to oneself.

[-] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago

I used to procrastinate but now I don’t. I don’t know if my experience would help since I was just playing games all class, and now have no homework because I do all my work in class.

[-] Grayox@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago

Meditation always helps me clear my mind and summon the executive function necessary to do househols chores.

[-] RedColossus@lemmygrad.ml -2 points 5 months ago

Amphetamines aka Adderall really helps. Methamphetamines aka Desoxyn is even better. Just be very very careful with it.

[-] SpaceDogs@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago

Amphetamines are stimulants and I’ve been prescribed them before and unfortunately they don’t work for me due to making my emotional dysregulation worse, if that makes sense.

this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2024
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