The power of creative procrastination.
May 15, 2013 9:07 AM Subscribe
Years ago, quite possibly while I was still in high school, I read a humorous essay in which the writer was able to complete a day's worth of household chores by creatively procrastinating. I have NO recollection of the author or the title.
IF memory serves, the writer's logic was basically "I attempt to do (X) in my home, which reminds me that I also need to (Y). While I am doing (Y) I am reminded that I should REALLY be doing (Z), but (Z) is just way too much work right now, so I go back to (X)."
In doing so, the writer was able to bounce from one semi-complete task to another, ultimately cleaning his/her (don't remember the writer's gender, sorry!) home completely AND meeting a publisher's deadline for the essay.
Any ideas?
IF memory serves, the writer's logic was basically "I attempt to do (X) in my home, which reminds me that I also need to (Y). While I am doing (Y) I am reminded that I should REALLY be doing (Z), but (Z) is just way too much work right now, so I go back to (X)."
In doing so, the writer was able to bounce from one semi-complete task to another, ultimately cleaning his/her (don't remember the writer's gender, sorry!) home completely AND meeting a publisher's deadline for the essay.
Any ideas?
Ellen DeGeneres had a monologue about this exactly in her stand up special Here & Now... maybe it was written as part of one of her books originally?
posted by carlypennylane at 9:39 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by carlypennylane at 9:39 AM on May 15, 2013
This reminds me of the brilliant tales of mere existence: procrastination (on YouTube)
posted by meijusa at 10:27 AM on May 15, 2013
posted by meijusa at 10:27 AM on May 15, 2013
In that same vein, there is this strip from "For Better or For Worse".
posted by Michele in California at 12:24 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by Michele in California at 12:24 PM on May 15, 2013
Response by poster: None of these are it, sadly, but they're interesting nonetheless, so if you can't help me locate the essay in question, feel free to contribute similarly-themed stuff!!!
posted by tantrumthecat at 1:41 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by tantrumthecat at 1:41 PM on May 15, 2013
Here's a similar essay from the NYTimes:
This Was Supposed to Be My Column for New Year’s Day
posted by funkiwan at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
This Was Supposed to Be My Column for New Year’s Day
posted by funkiwan at 1:54 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Was it "How to Get Things Done" by Robert Benchley? He builds a shelf, organizes magazines, and finally writes his newspaper article.
posted by incountrysleep at 10:24 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by incountrysleep at 10:24 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Dropped in to say Benchley.
The psychological principle is this: anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment....
As I lie in bed on Monday morning storing up strength, I make out a schedule.... And here is where my secret process comes in. Instead of putting [these other things needing done] first on the list of things which need to be done, I put them last. I practice a little deception on myself and ... try to fool myself into really believing that I must do the article that day and that the other things can wait. I sometimes go so far in this self-deception as to make out a list in pencil, with "No. 1 newspaper article" underlined in red....
Then, when everything is lined up, I bound out of bed and have lunch.
I could read in GB here.
posted by dhartung at 2:55 AM on May 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
The psychological principle is this: anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment....
As I lie in bed on Monday morning storing up strength, I make out a schedule.... And here is where my secret process comes in. Instead of putting [these other things needing done] first on the list of things which need to be done, I put them last. I practice a little deception on myself and ... try to fool myself into really believing that I must do the article that day and that the other things can wait. I sometimes go so far in this self-deception as to make out a list in pencil, with "No. 1 newspaper article" underlined in red....
Then, when everything is lined up, I bound out of bed and have lunch.
I could read in GB here.
posted by dhartung at 2:55 AM on May 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: incountrysleep and darting win!!!
http://www.stonesoup.org/Meetings/0601/pim.pres/procrastination.pdf
posted by tantrumthecat at 8:48 PM on May 17, 2013
http://www.stonesoup.org/Meetings/0601/pim.pres/procrastination.pdf
posted by tantrumthecat at 8:48 PM on May 17, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Jahaza at 9:17 AM on May 15, 2013 [6 favorites]