Last Minute

I have a mixed record when it comes to doing things to a schedule.  I normally get things done on time, that bit isn't the problem.  My problem like most people is putting things off.  With most of my coursework when I was in College and University I did it more or less when I got it so that it was out of the way, same with most things professionally I tend to get things done as early as I can so I can get feedback or amend it if I need to, it's my personal life where procrastination comes into play.

This blog for example I have to write posts for it in advance and schedule them, because when I do it as I go along I always leave it to the last minute to write posts and end up with writer's block with no idea what to write.  Even when I write posts in advance though, I establish a "buffer" of posts that are scheduled, I should really keep going to increase that buffer but I usually end up leaving it, until I've only got one or two posts left on the schedule then write another batch of them.  I've spoken about batch processing mentality in a previous post, and in many ways this is an extension of that.  Procrastination is in essence a deference to batch processing, essentially "not now, later" and when later comes, you're left with everything to do at once.

I've tried many different approaches in an attempt to alter this behaviour.  I've tried the reward based system where you promise yourself something positive or enjoyable if you do something now rather than putting it off, but ultimately I find myself weighing up the two outcomes and the idea that I don't achieve the reward usually ends up winning, the motivation isn't strong enough, that and there's a lack of discipline there as you can still have the reward later without doing the work.

I've tried the ultimatum approach, where you set a condition for failure if you don't achieve your objective - but this usually ends up ineffective too as it is basically a negative reward based approach, and has the same lack of enforcement mentioned above.

I've tried the rigorous schedule approach with endless lists of smaller tasks breaking down the overall task so you can feel a sense of progress.  This one proves the most effective for me.  I have lists for everything.  Things to do and when for those that need certain times they're also on my calendar which is getting a bit crowded now, it's a busy time of year and that old saying "you can't see the forest for the trees" is ringing true.  While the list and schedule approach has proven the most effective for me, and ultimately the most organised, it still falls short since there's an underlying lack of imperative to enforcement.  When it came to academia and professional life, I achieve what I need to achieve because you either get kicked off the course or you don't get paid so there's an obvious incentive and crucially you aren't the one in control of the enforcement.

I need a better way to motivate myself to do things earlier rather than leaving it to the last minute.