Jaroldeen Oveson

• Jaroldeen Oveson 7 Mar 2021 23:30 UTC

  1 point

  on: Jarold­een Ove­son’s Shortform

  I just read this post by lukeprog. It talks about three types of procrastination and the solutions for each. The article’s advice for each scenario can be summarized as follows:

  1. Problem: low expectancy of success; solution: optimism

  2. Problem: low value assigned to task; solution: make the task more pleasant or meaningful

  3. Problem: impulsiveness; solution: commit ahead of time

  I think my own procrastination is distinct from all of these. I put off my school work because I believe I can do it all at the last minute without getting worse grades. And I can.

  So, does this method cause me problems? If it doesn’t, I don’t think it should be called procrastination. It’s just my way of doing things.

  The main effect is that I have much less free time right before large assignments are due. But I have more time on other days. And because longer, more frequent work sessions on projects allow me to immerse myself in the ideas, I think I get an overall efficiency bonus. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered the issue with procrastinating when I believe I can get something done in less than the time provided.

  At the start of February, I got a concussion. I was virtually forbidden to concentrate or look at screens for weeks. I missed some deadlines. My teachers are being nice about it, but I bet they would be more sympathetic if I had at least been on top of things when it happened. I also missed the month that I had planned to do most of my studying for the ACT, which I’m taking in a couple days. I couldn’t have predicted the concussion, but *sigh* I should have predicted that something unpredictable would happen.

  I’m a procrastinator because of the planning fallacy. Solution: don’t commit the planning fallacy.