Comments on: Structured Procrastination: There’s a name for it!

By: vonjobi

vonjobi — Sun, 20 May 2007 14:46:31 +0000

i know it as productive procrastination.

i really should get moving. the paper is due on thursday. but here i am, commenting on your post.

there. i’m feeling productive already. i think…

By: walt

walt — Sat, 19 May 2007 01:41:57 +0000

I did sort of gather that. Oddly enough, my current “procrastination target” is the kind of thing you do for procrastination–entering mini-essays/notes for C&I from a dozen magazines, probably taking 15 minutes each. But this weekend I have a firm deadline, and I never miss firm deadlines: Ask any editor. (Well, once–but with loads of warning.)

By: Jennifer Macaulay

Jennifer Macaulay — Sat, 19 May 2007 00:20:03 +0000

I think the real problem is that if you don’t care if it ever happens it may not ever really happen (and thus, can’t be used for structured procrastination). I find it works best with projects that I get assigned by others – things that I don’t care as much about, but must get done (kind of like doing one’s taxes).

If you couldn’t tell, I got a kick out of this one!!

By: walt

walt — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:17:03 +0000

Ah yes. Time to vacuum, since I really should be…

I need some huge overarching Really Important project (that I don’t care if it ever happens) so I can get everything else done while procrastinating on it. Heck, I thought Balanced Libraries might be that project, but it started to be fun…and got done pretty rapidly.

By: Jennifer Macaulay

Jennifer Macaulay — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:09:25 +0000

Who knew it had a real name? It works for me also. I often get lots of important things done while trying to avoid writing papers, doing year end statistics at work and paying bills. If I didn’t have these things which make me procrastinate, I probably would never clean my house!!!!!