I am also a procrastinator turned over-doer. I just hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks for articulating some of the reasons for this shift!
I, too, was a procrastinator, especially in school. I think that's a sign of high intelligence, don't you? I think that, once we see that we are the creators of our world, rather than participants following the rules and schedules set by others, we take charge more. If something hits my desk or email, it's sorted in a matter of minutes. I want it done. Housework? Talk to me once you cross 50. Like running out of fux, I've run out of enthusiasm for dusting and the like (I do it, but begrudgingly). Still, I want it done (getting more serious about getting a housecleaner). And I want to get things done so I can do stuff that's more enjoyable. It's a motivator. Also, I don't enjoy anything looming over me. Let's just get to it. Get it done, and on to fun. xo
It’s funny you say that about it being a sign of high intelligence. My very good friend would write her papers or do her homework the night before or day of and always get A’s. Never went that for me though. Even on the off chance I did work on something ahead, I was usually in B territory instead so I never felt very smart. I think I was though because I realized how ridiculous and unimportant writing papers and analyzing books was so I didn’t feel like investing much time into it. And I still did more than ok academically.
You put it perfectly too. I don’t like having too many to-dos looming over me. I would rather just get it done.
Dusting is the devil of all the chores. It never ends. I used to do it every week but now that I got the dog it’s been way less because vacuuming is much more important. I feel so good after I’ve cleaned things, but trying to remind myself that it’s also ok if I don’t get it all (or even a lot of it) done, especially if I need rest.
I remember it was fourth, fifth or sixth grade (all a blur) and we had to write a report that was at least six or ten pages long (something that felt epic for the time). Of course I left it until the last minute, had to do it all the night before (and I mean after dinner and good TV). I had a set of encyclopedias from 1968 in my room and decided to write about the Emancipation Proclamation, and when I ran out of ways to describe it, I literally wrote out the entire EP in my report to make the page count...and got an A. Like, plagiarism to the Nth degree! But I got my work done and kept my GPA. LOL. If it not intelligence, it's certainly creativity. Either way, let's take it. xo
My husband is always doing tasks and chores and then complaining that life is drudgery. I tell him he’s making his choices and he can make different ones. He can choose to have more fun and enjoyment. And then I tease him by saying that his tombstone will say, “I got everything done.” ☠️👻
I am fascinated that you managed to go from being an expert procrastinator to an expert over-doer. I’ve never known a procrastinator who could change their stripes like this! I have never been a procrastinator. I’m too anxious to leave things to the last minute. But long COVID and my recovery efforts have taught me to loosen my grip. Now I actively try to practice procrastinating! I’m not great at it, but I’ll let a piece of mail sit or a phone call wait a few days, which is progress.
I think my tombstone may say the same thing 😂 I like cleaning and checking things off my to do list for the most part though. It boosts my mood. Just not when I do it to the point I wear myself out. But like you, I’m getting better at letting certain things go or reminding myself that I don’t need to put all my laundry away immediately if I’m pain and need to rest. I feel special knowing I’m even more of a unicorn for switching from a procrastinator to an overachiever too! Thanks for that.
I am also a procrastinator turned over-doer. I just hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks for articulating some of the reasons for this shift!
Thank you for reading! It’s nice to meet another procrastinator turned over-doer 😊
I, too, was a procrastinator, especially in school. I think that's a sign of high intelligence, don't you? I think that, once we see that we are the creators of our world, rather than participants following the rules and schedules set by others, we take charge more. If something hits my desk or email, it's sorted in a matter of minutes. I want it done. Housework? Talk to me once you cross 50. Like running out of fux, I've run out of enthusiasm for dusting and the like (I do it, but begrudgingly). Still, I want it done (getting more serious about getting a housecleaner). And I want to get things done so I can do stuff that's more enjoyable. It's a motivator. Also, I don't enjoy anything looming over me. Let's just get to it. Get it done, and on to fun. xo
It’s funny you say that about it being a sign of high intelligence. My very good friend would write her papers or do her homework the night before or day of and always get A’s. Never went that for me though. Even on the off chance I did work on something ahead, I was usually in B territory instead so I never felt very smart. I think I was though because I realized how ridiculous and unimportant writing papers and analyzing books was so I didn’t feel like investing much time into it. And I still did more than ok academically.
You put it perfectly too. I don’t like having too many to-dos looming over me. I would rather just get it done.
Dusting is the devil of all the chores. It never ends. I used to do it every week but now that I got the dog it’s been way less because vacuuming is much more important. I feel so good after I’ve cleaned things, but trying to remind myself that it’s also ok if I don’t get it all (or even a lot of it) done, especially if I need rest.
I remember it was fourth, fifth or sixth grade (all a blur) and we had to write a report that was at least six or ten pages long (something that felt epic for the time). Of course I left it until the last minute, had to do it all the night before (and I mean after dinner and good TV). I had a set of encyclopedias from 1968 in my room and decided to write about the Emancipation Proclamation, and when I ran out of ways to describe it, I literally wrote out the entire EP in my report to make the page count...and got an A. Like, plagiarism to the Nth degree! But I got my work done and kept my GPA. LOL. If it not intelligence, it's certainly creativity. Either way, let's take it. xo
My husband is always doing tasks and chores and then complaining that life is drudgery. I tell him he’s making his choices and he can make different ones. He can choose to have more fun and enjoyment. And then I tease him by saying that his tombstone will say, “I got everything done.” ☠️👻
I am fascinated that you managed to go from being an expert procrastinator to an expert over-doer. I’ve never known a procrastinator who could change their stripes like this! I have never been a procrastinator. I’m too anxious to leave things to the last minute. But long COVID and my recovery efforts have taught me to loosen my grip. Now I actively try to practice procrastinating! I’m not great at it, but I’ll let a piece of mail sit or a phone call wait a few days, which is progress.
I think my tombstone may say the same thing 😂 I like cleaning and checking things off my to do list for the most part though. It boosts my mood. Just not when I do it to the point I wear myself out. But like you, I’m getting better at letting certain things go or reminding myself that I don’t need to put all my laundry away immediately if I’m pain and need to rest. I feel special knowing I’m even more of a unicorn for switching from a procrastinator to an overachiever too! Thanks for that.
We already knew you were special, but this definitely makes you a unicorn 🦄!
Well thanks ☺️