Writers First Aid

Procrastination Tip: Jump In!

November 11, 2011

People often tell me that I’m very productive, so it was a shock recently to take a procrastination test and come out in the top 10% of procrastinators!

It said I scored 80 out of 100 possible points and “when it comes to putting things off, you often do so even though you know you shouldn’t… Though you are likely incredibly productive just before a deadline, you might not get all your work done and there is a lot of unwanted stress.”

Procrastination: Who, Me?

I wanted to mutter “stupid test,” but I was aware that certain bad writing habits (dare I call it procrastination?) were affecting the quality of my work. Oh, I got the writing done, but too often lately the quality was less than it could be because I delayed starting. I was submitting writing that was less than my best because it was hurried.

I think I had deluded myself into thinking there was no problem because I was busy all the time. I am never late with the educational writing, and usually early. I am never late for my M-W-F blogs or paid critiques. I don’t even procrastinate on writing nonfiction books. Just fiction. Just the “pulling words out of thin air and making up people and whole worlds” kind of writing.

Check Yourself Out

Why is getting started so hard? In a magazine article on procrastination in Children’s Writer, the following quote struck me as true–of me, anyway:

“In many cases, we procrastinate because we are anxious about the work at hand. It seems too difficult or onerous. ‘The hardest part of any task is the first five minutes. It’s like cold water. It’s just getting in that’s the hard part. Once you’re in, the water feels great,’ says Steel [a university professor who studies procrastination]. ‘Usually after procrastinating, once people finally get around to the task, they say, ‘I don’t know why I thought this would be so much worse than it was.’”

That struck me as true, so this week I’ve been starting my NaNoWriMo writing by setting a timer for just five minutes. Then I write furiously for five minutes, with permission to quit if I hate it at the end of five minutes. Have I stopped yet when the timer went off? No. I’m on a roll by then, and it wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d made it in my mind.

Why do we do this to ourselves over and over? It feels silly to have to “trick” my muse with a kitchen timer. But hey, it works, so I’ll probably keep doing it until I find something that works better!

What about you? What tricks do YOU use to get started?

Post tags: procrastination

13 Comments »

Gee, you and I are a lot alike. Seems to me, it’s the paid work we don’t procrastinate with. But the work of our hearts — the one we must pull out of thin air like you say — is not only harder, but with more at stake.

I agree it’s hardest to get started. I also use a timer for 15 minutes and that’s enough for me. I’m discovering that this writing from the heart happens best at night for me, when I can let go of anything that pops into my head by saying, “tomorrow — that’s for tomorrow.”

Comment by Vijaya — November 11, 2011 @ 6:54 am
This is a most welcome post, Kristi. I LOVE the idea of setting the timer for 5 mins and giving oneself permission to abandon ship (or at least the made-up world) for the time being if nothing takes hold by then. The key may be in what you said about writing “furiously” during that period. No slacking for five whole minutes (-:

Comment by Judy Dearborn Nill — November 11, 2011 @ 4:19 pm
Yes, Vijaya, I don’t procrastinate on paid work. I feel more confidence there, for some reason. The writing insecurities kick in with the “work of our hearts,” as you put it.

Judy, it always surprises me how much can be written in five minutes too. And since getting started is the hard part, I tend to keep going. All these mental tricks!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 11, 2011 @ 5:38 pm
OOH! Love to take that test! I also do this to the max, while also being busy – (usually MUST dos in the mundane universe)
But looking back at it, and in the now, I find I will procrastinate on certain other art “create” – because there is a secret (and proven) , “I can whip this out, no problem!” – a most a self-satisfying race! I seem to have a ‘loving the edge’ thing going. BUT!…

I also find I really procrastinate on things I just hate doing, that are part of my job. Which has been nudging me lately, do I really want a future of THIS? (same old same old and repeats every week) 6 years past, and a FUTURE of this? YIKES! This week especially, finally became a loud yellow flag warning signal for me. Sure, it pays the bills barely, and I have a roof – (and during the start of winter/snow cold – in an area with still a fairly non-existent job scene). BUT – it is starting to really suck create space/thoughts – which is a good sign that although I avoided it, it is coming close enough that I am NOTICING and resenting it, AND I can see the PAST damage done. Like – “Hello! Wake up!” (2 things here – I am growing up AGAIN (lol – nearly 60), or I am finally getting over whatever, and demanding me again!

But I found, writing is not so hard – I have the opposite problem! I am more afraid now, of truly getting Lost/Zoned if I start – and dropping everything else. (and where I am happiest, and where money/survival was never a problem!)
Life intervened – (divorce, stroke, dying brother, caretaker, people mgr. – etc. ) And I shifted over to the “Need to take care of the Needs of…”, Responsibility – etc etc. -and I NEVER shifted back. Almost a tremendous fear of “Loss of Responsibility”. WOW! That statement just hit me like a brick between the eyes. It’s actually more true than I want to admit. How is THAT for procrastinating? There is a “I’m actually pretty exhausted with this, but at least this keeps me going”. Like a sick complacency?

WOW! Thank you for this post, Kristi – because I really need to sit down and look at this – (essay time! “What’s RIGHT about procrastinating, in all the dirty secret ways?” As ever, these posts make me really examine stuff that I have been sloughing off – and this was so timely, it is scary and wonderful. Especially when I look at WHOA! – Where and why did I get off the bandwagon that I loved, and regarding responsibility, just what is the real ratio of who is benefiting from the fruits of my labors, and where do “I “ REALLY fit into it? Because my biggest sources of procrastination are coming from dreams undone, and resenting what I am doing in lieu of! And who am I, to think it is right to put my life on hold? WOOT! (Hey! Sorry for the length – but it’s a clue of what happens when I start writing!)

Comment by jen — November 12, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
Jen, for many of the same reasons, I ended up where you are. In one of my books for writers, I talked about this because I had noticed that “emergency situations” where I jumped into rescue ended up becoming my life instead of being temporary. It took years–actually many decades–to figure it out and back up slowly enough to both get out of it and not blow all my relationships out of the water with shock! I’m glad the post moved you into action!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 13, 2011 @ 7:44 am
I did the test and it said I am an “average” procrastinator, so I’d hate to think what a “big time” procrastinator is!
I have found that being really busy forces me to prioritise, which I am getting better at, but also the 30 minute worktimes are great – I can work at 100% for 30 minutes and get far more done than meandering and time-wasting for 3 hours.

Comment by Sherryl — November 14, 2011 @ 2:56 am
Sherryl, I took it again and found out that I came out “average” or even “good” when working on things where I had a deadline on nonfiction. I apparently don’t have any fears about nonfiction under contract. It was the fiction on spec of my own that I wanted to write that came out so high–which is where I am now. Those short spurts of working DO work wonders!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 14, 2011 @ 6:23 am
I scored 14 on the test, the bottom 10% for procrastination, so I guess that’s pretty good.

Comment by Sue Ann — November 15, 2011 @ 1:20 am
Sue Ann, you should be writing this blog!!!! I can’t even imagine the changes I’d need to make to score in the bottom 10%. So much has to do with the types of writing and work we are doing. Some types of writing I am eager to get started on–and other “pay the bills” kind of writing takes me a lot of bribes to get moving!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 15, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
I just wrote about procrastination on my crafting blog (http://pillowsalamode.wordpress.com)! I have to use the “begin . . . the rest is easy” sign in my office as a mantra when I have an assignment that requires lots of creativity. Thank you for your wonderful writing blog!

Comment by Katherine — November 15, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
Katherine, thanks for sharing your post! I looked at your website and was DELIGHTED to find your downloads. I am supposed to write some readers’ theater scripts, and it’s new to me, and your free downloads are just what I needed! Thank you! And your blog on procrastination reminded me that all creative types face the same challenges! Loved that video!!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 16, 2011 @ 8:21 am
I’m glad you could use them! If anyone else needs Reader’s Theater info, the downloads are at http://www.edwriter.com. I’ve taught 1st through 5th grade, and they all LOVE Reader’s Theater. Good luck with your project!

Comment by Katherine — November 16, 2011 @ 9:06 am
Thanks, Katherine! I used your procrastination post in today’s blog. Loved that video!!!

Comment by Kristi Holl — November 16, 2011 @ 9:30 am