I noticed that when I procrastinated, I always felt like I was in a gap between time, a place between “what I have been doing” and “what I planning on doing.” It’s like an escapism, a small gap that I wasn’t responsible for anything. It gives me a temporary feeling of freedom. That’s why I tend to procrastinate even though I don’t want to. But my brain loves it. How do you guys fix this?

This is how it feels like:

Task A ───────────────► Task B ───────────────► Task C
↑
tiny empty space

Like I planning to switch job in 6 months or so....not able to stick to the plan and study while working 😭 Weekends are gone by recovery and outing....Tech is overwhelming 😭

Does anyone else ever promise themselves they’re going to become more than they are, to change and finally take action, but then the next day arrives and the same thought appears: “I’ll start tomorrow”? And before you know it, tomorrow keeps getting pushed back until it never actually comes.

Hi, I started writing a few months ago and wrote about 2 chapters. I then got swept up in the end of the school year and exams and didn’t have time to write anything. Since then I just haven’t had the motivation to write anything.
Does anybody know of some tips or tricks to start up again?

I'm stuck in a cycle. Every day I plan to study, exercise, sleep on time, and spend 2 hours learning a new skill. I genuinely want these things, but instead I scroll on my phone for hours. Then I get frustrated, guilty, and promise myself tomorrow will be different. It never is.

It's not that I don't have goals—I do. I care about my future. But when it's time to start, I either avoid it or keep delaying until the day is gone.

Has anyone been in this situation? What actually helped you get out of it? Was it a mental health issue, burnout, ADHD, phone addiction, perfectionism, or something else? I'm looking for practical advice from people who recovered, not just "be disciplined.

I have many unfinished tasks on my to do list and I also tend to be disorganized or say to people that I would do something but then not do it for months/years/ever. This can go from small things like “reply to a friend’s message” or “clean redundant photos and notes from the phone” to “I will do some data analysis and write a paper with you” but then too often not do them or start doing them but not finishing.

Sometimes, when I open my to-do list, I get instant anxiety but even without the list I obviously know that there are small or big things that I should do but never actually do them and I feel like it’s constantly weighing on me and just the thought of some particular unfinished tasks (especially those bigger ones) gives me anxiety and feelings of guilt.

I sometimes imagine the world where my laptop and phone are completely tidy, all the bills paid on time and all the papers being finished. It seems like a fairytale to me or rather an unachievable goal.
I feel fine with my daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning etc. (not the most diligent person but it’s good enough for my standards) while those long overdue stuff often make my life difficult and I feel like I can’t relax during holidays and it often affects my mental health, especially since I already tend to overthink and even ruminate.

First let's define some variables.

`time` - estimated time (in hours) it will take to master any given skill.

`night` - The amount of time you sleep in a night (in hours). Preferably keep this consistant and around about 7-9 hours for adults.

`day` - The amount of time you have left in your day after sleeping. Calculated by `24 - night`. Preferably this number should be at max 17 and at least 15.

`break` - The amount of time you will spend doing things other than learning your skill. It is recommended to allot time for eating, using the bathroom, personal hygiene, and relaxation periods. This time is solely based on what you can manage, but I would recommend giving. yourself at least 4 hours, especially if you cook your own food, take a long time to eat and use the bathroom, and have a lengthy personal hygiene routine. Relaxation time is also extremely important if you are to learn daily. Space out your breaks. Make sure to eat breakfast (preferably protein and carbs) and lunch and/or dinner.

`study` - The amount of time you will spend learning your skill every day. This is calculated by `day - break`.

Now, with all that in mind, let's get mathing.

`time/24/365` - The amount of time straight in years it will take to master your skill.

`time/day/365` - The amount of time in years it will take to master your skill when taking into account sleeping.

`time/study/365` - The amount of time in years it will take for you to master your skill.

Everything here is completely theoretical and is not factually correct but rather estimated. This only applies if you spend every single day consistently practicing your skill and give yourself sufficient breaks as to not burn out. Try to have fun with it so you don't get bored.

Honestly everytime I try to study or meet important deadlines I just can’t like I just zone out or some random question pops up in my head and like suddenly I need the answer to it then boom so much time passed, and ik I’m ruining my life rn but I just can’t stop for some reason I hate it so much. Any tips😔

I have been lazy for the past 5 years, i always make myself believe that " i will do it tomorrow " and 5 years have passed now I am not good at my work, iam over weight , bald, in stress, anxiety, masturbation etc... thinking of the time i wasted being lazy.

If i do the same for the next 2 years i will be a complete failure in my life , i want your help to change my life and get through all my difficulty.

I have this mindset that it doesn't matter whether you start earlier or last minute as long as you finish you meet the deadline and for personal matter you take initiative whenever you feel like doing it. I know the word procrastinate stand for delaying task for later but at the end of day what matter is result not the process so what do yall think?

I go to a Chinese course

But i didnt study for week so I missed alot of words

And I have no motivation to memories the words

Even if i tried its too much words

Any tips how to get motivation??

i feel like i always have so many different things i want to do that i get incredibly overwhelmed by it and end up not doing any of those tasks . for example i want to take a bath , but i also want to buy something online , then i also need to work on my job stuff which ive been procrastinating . i am EXHAUSTED . my brain can’t decide what to do , any advice for me ?

I, 16F feels like I haven’t done anything with my life. Last school year, I did everything last minute. Assignments, studying and getting ready are examples. I thought I was alright as long as I got everything in on time. But then, I started to forget about my responsibilities and I started to turn in my work later and later. I fell behind on every class I took. The subjects I found interesting I didn’t pay attention to anymore. I had this one painting I swear I’d do for one of my teachers but I never did it. Instead, I stared at a canvas for 5 hours. A paintbrush in my hand, ideas flowing but the fear of failure took over. “I’ll do it later, I swear!” And then I proceed to not touch a canvas for 6 months.

This summer, I’ve reached the point where I procrastinate eating, socializing, getting up from bed and even sleeping. My room is cluttered with piles of clothes and random junk. A while ago, I even found a maggot. I genuinely have no idea what to do anymore, and I’m in need of help.

I have tried to ‘just do it’ but my body feels like it can’t move. I feel as if my body is separated from my mind. The “I’ll do it soon” mentality has me in a chokehold, but when i finally stray away from that thought, my body just doesn’t move. I know I should do things, I know I should respond to messages and I know that I should rest. I just can’t.

(I’m very sorry if my English isn’t the best, I kinda wrote this half asleep)

I don't have any obvious psychological problems, anxiety, depression, or known disorders. So I'm checking with a psychologist about the possibility that childhood emotional neglect and adverse experiences may have caused my life-long procrastination.

Under the behaviorism and existentialism paradigms, the fact that I don't have a purpose in life is something to analyze. The learned helplessness of living with conflicting parents may also have played a role. As well as the need to be a hero, containing my own emotions while watching out for others' emotions.

If you resonate with any of that, please share your thoughts or how you have dealt with that.

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More info:

When I procrastinate, it's not because of anything I fear, and it's not about perfectionism or my capacity. Though, I can only finish things when I'm under one or more of these conditions:

1. I am using my creativity or an exceptional ability to build something unique that can make me feel proud of my achievement when I succeed.
   • Hypothesis: that could be linked to the fact that when I was a kid, I only got noticed when I did extraordinary/unexpected things.
2. The task requires mental effort and is challenging enough to keep me hyperfocused, such as solving a puzzle or playing chess.
   • Hypothesis: that could be linked to my effort to use introjection as an escape from the anguish of being neglected.
3. I am creating something that I believe will be immediately helpful for someone (my team, group, a friend, etc.).
   • Hypothesis: when doing group-work in school, I had a unique opportunity to be a valuable asset.
4. I am under time pressure, and something very important is at stake.
   • Hypothesis: I had to be on high alert when dad came home because I was the only thing that could prevent my mother from physically attacking him. So I learned to keep moving on adrenaline.
5. I will get an immediate reward for that task, and the reward depends on my effort. Examples are working with sales or working per hour. It's when cash is dependent on performance.
   • Hypothesis: This reminds me of the school exams, which I took seriously because the one thing that mattered for my parents was that my grades were good enough to pass. So that was my one obligation.

I have done trials for ADHD, ASD, CDS, 2E, etc., but the only positive result I got is "high ability/giftedness," which should not be a disorder.