When I was a kid, I loathed homework and put it off till the last minute.
People called me lazy.
Turns out, I was acutely attuned to Parkinson’s law, where activity occupies the time allotted to it. Delaying things until the last minute was just my way of being efficient.
I didn't do homework, at all.
I hate this way of thinking but it’s true.
Now how can I work with that ‘night before the deadline’ efficiency two months before the deadline…
So as adults we can think this through one step further. Instead of waiting for last minute, simply create a block of time dedicated to that one task and get it done.
You may underestimate the amount of time needed, but you’ll waste way less time than having an open timeframe for when to work on that thing.
I think part of waiting til the last minute also has to do with wanting to get to the finish line in one shot.
One thing I started doing is taking small bites and don't mind if it doesn't feel like I'm accomplishing much each time because the accumulation will eventually show up.
Same question I asked myself.
I read a book called "The 12 week year" a while ago, which is about using 12 weeks instead of 12 months to measure productivity, based on this whole "deadline motivates actions" idea. So now you can accomplish more in a year. I apparently need to incorporate that myself.
It’s great you’re self aware of this but I’m not sure it’s an admirable quality. But I guess as long as the job gets done well
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult answered many of these questions for myself.
I do this, but it causes so much unnecessary stress for me. In school, it worked because I could devote all my time to completing an assignment. As an adult, I have worry about other things on top of a major deadline, so it’s no longer sustainable especially with what I want to do career wise. I’m trying to break the habit now, but it’s been a struggle.
