Do you procrastinate if you are not working?

V

Victor

Senior Member
Location
midwest USA
If you are not working or retired, with no responsibility, then one day or week is like another.
You can always go here or tomorrow, next week. Every day is open. I find that I do my
work and errands early on but put off recreational things...why? Its like I still have a work ethic.
I hate chores
King Louis 14th said that it its hard to know what to do (right) when
you can do anything you want!
Especially if you live alone.
 

I have things I'm "supposed" to do, because at some point I chose to do them. For example, I talk to my language partner (via Telegram) for 20 minutes most evenings. That makes me feel like my day is not my own. Similarly, this evening I'm going to the book club, and I avoided doing anything else all day, just so I wouldn't be late!

I also have to brush my teeth, do housework, exercise, etc., and it all makes me feel quite oppressed.

I wish I had a more satisfying, unscheduled lifestyle. For example, being able to talk to people without a meeting or appointment. I think I'd accomplish much more. But in the meantime, yes, I procrastinate a lot.
 

With some things, I don't feel the pressure to get them done like I used to. For one thing, it's just me. I only answer to myself. So, at times, if it's not something that absolutely has to be done to keep my world spinning and I'm just not up to it, I feel okay about letting myself off the hook.

I'm already dreading all the outside work I'll have to do in the spring and summer. Life was much better when my husband was alive, and we helped each other. Now, I can only count on myself.
 
Yes, I do. Every evening I make a list of what I am going to do the next day. I do not accomplish everything on it. I find I put off things that entailing leaving my apartment. I will work all day on household chores or computer things but put off doing laundry or taking the garbage to the dumpster.
 
YES!!!
Im a HUGE fan of procrastination!
Like katlupe, I make a list of things I want or need to get done and usually only get 1/2 the things done. My husbands much better with the discipline aspect and always has been. He’s very work oriented where I seem to be more play oriented. Lol.
 
Bella said:
With some things, I don't feel the pressure to get them done like I used to. For one thing, it's just me. I only answer to myself. So, at times, if it's not something that absolutely has to be done to keep my world spinning and I'm just not up to it, I feel okay about letting myself off the hook.

I'm already dreading all the outside work I'll have to do in the spring and summer. Life was much better when my husband was alive, and we helped each other. Now, I can only count on myself.
Click to expand...
I’m very sorry for your loss. 🙁
 
When I was young, earlier 20's, I was a terrible procrastinator. When I started going to college in my late 20's, I was very focused. It wasn't some education, it was survival at that point or a minimum wage job for the rest of my life.

But I still put things off. I need to vacuum. I've actually thought about it, if and when I retire, I may have a cleaning day or certain tasks on certain days. Not sure. But for me, that might be a good idea.
 
I assume, given my personality type, I will approach retirement when I retire much as I do life right now while still working.

I’ll make unrealistic daily lists, do my best to finish everything on the list and get frustrated when I don’t, add today’s unfinished tasks to tomorrow’s list, and then use the weekend to catch up with everything undone so I can start the new week fresh!!
 
I do pretty much the same thing every day, but I still have a fairly strict schedule just like when I was working. I watch previously recorded news and late-night talk shows with my coffee in my office in the morning. I know that after lunch I will head to the gym, then either to various markets to buy food or to walk outside. I'm home by 4pm so I can feed and snuggle with the cats, prepare dinner and watch more TV. I occasionally book a movie at a local theater just to break up the monotony. If I didn't have my schedule and couldn't be away from home in the afternoon I would go crazy.

There are repair chores that I put off. One of our coach lights has been burnt out for weeks, but I don't feel like getting up on a ladder to replace the bulbs. If I can't see it, it doesn't need to be fixed!
 
Yes I am a procrastinator and sometimes I admonish myself for it. Sometimes I pay for it too because I have too much to do at one time trying to catch up with chores. In my defense, not that this is an excuse though since I'm aware of it now, I have ADD and procrastination is one of the traits. I was very busy when I first retired and maybe I'm making up for that now because sometimes this is my philsophy:
Screen Shot 2023-03-08 at 12.27.40 AM.jpeg
 
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I procrastinate and don't feel a bit guilty about it. Why should I? I am a nonagenarian widower with a bad heart and a bad back. Only scheduled item I have at home is laundry, which I do on Tuesday. Even then, I may wait until the next day to fold the clothes and put them away. I keep appointments, but otherwise only worry about letting too many tasks pile up. I get bored but refuse to be depressed. I'd like to have a pet for company but don't feel up to caring for it. My church is a lifesaver, giving me companionship and help when I need it. Life is good.
 
Victor said:
If you are not working or retired, with no responsibility, then one day or week is like another.
You can always go here or tomorrow, next week. Every day is open. I find that I do my
work and errands early on but put off recreational things...why? Its like I still have a work ethic.
I hate chores
King Louis 14th said that it its hard to know what to do (right) when
you can do anything you want!
Especially if you live alone.
Click to expand...
Yes, I start several projects and get bored and stop. Like writing a novel, learning fencing and developing an app. Maybe I just start these things out of boredom.
 
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We have responsibilities right up til we're *this far* from our last breath, don't we? If nothing else, we're responsible for keeping ourselves fed and reasonably clean.

Lately, I don't do any more than I feel like doing and I'm very discerning about taking on any new responsibilities.
 
On certain things, I procrastinate. I am a master at it. I never know what I will drag my feet doing, however. Even though I work very efficiently at a deadline, I much prefer to be prepared and not wait till the last minute.
 
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