Friday, March 11, 2005
Procrastination
It's a common human trait - and I'm not sure why. Many people leave things, put them off, delay, and then you have to rush like crazy (or stay up to one in the morning) doing things you should have done ages ago. I know, I'm just doing my expenses. I realised the other day, cos it was pointed out to me, that I've not claimed any of my trips since I've been back at the Uni. I can't afford not to, but I simply detest doing my claims. The don't take long, but I delay doing them. Why?
For me, part of it is perfectionism. If I do them I want to do them completely - I want to have every single receipt so I claim everything I ought to. And I may not, or I have to check, and so I don't actually do it. And then it's a week, month, season, year later - and I certainly don't have the receipts then..... I'm sure it's also inherent human laziness - if I don't have to do it immediately, then I'll wait. And partly it's cos we're all so busy, we become demand driven - urgent beats important everytime - and it gets delayed and delayed because there isn't a deadline. Is there some decent psychology out there on it that anyone can point me to?
It's a common human trait - and I'm not sure why. Many people leave things, put them off, delay, and then you have to rush like crazy (or stay up to one in the morning) doing things you should have done ages ago. I know, I'm just doing my expenses. I realised the other day, cos it was pointed out to me, that I've not claimed any of my trips since I've been back at the Uni. I can't afford not to, but I simply detest doing my claims. The don't take long, but I delay doing them. Why?
For me, part of it is perfectionism. If I do them I want to do them completely - I want to have every single receipt so I claim everything I ought to. And I may not, or I have to check, and so I don't actually do it. And then it's a week, month, season, year later - and I certainly don't have the receipts then..... I'm sure it's also inherent human laziness - if I don't have to do it immediately, then I'll wait. And partly it's cos we're all so busy, we become demand driven - urgent beats important everytime - and it gets delayed and delayed because there isn't a deadline. Is there some decent psychology out there on it that anyone can point me to?
Comments:
don't know if it's 'decent' psychology or not, but there's some interesting stuff here. How's your alcohol intake? Do you find that you are lying to yourself?
Know how you feel. I have done 1400 words of a HCI essay. I know I should write the final 100 words, print it off and hand it in.
Instead, I know I will do it on Sunday evening or Monday afternoon. Despite blogging about it 5 days in advance.
Which is why it is a good thing the deadline is before Easter, otherwise it would be put off even further.
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Instead, I know I will do it on Sunday evening or Monday afternoon. Despite blogging about it 5 days in advance.
Which is why it is a good thing the deadline is before Easter, otherwise it would be put off even further.
(c) 2003-2005 Russell Beale
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