Though I’ve read alot of self help books, it hasn’t helped at all in the area of procrastination. I’m easily distracted. Instead of doing the most difficult thing first, which is writing this post, I’ve wandered through the pages of Psychology Today Magazine, the November issue. What caught my interest in the first place was an article on Do the Most Difficult Thing First.
The important points being:
- Do the difficult things first so that you don’t procrastinate and make it hard when it’s not.
- Do the hard thing first so it no longer feels hard.
- Do the difficult thing as early as possible in life so that when real hardship comes, it is tolerable.
- Make the difficult thing meaningful. Avoidance is a hallmark of perfectionism. “If I don’t make a move, I won’t make a mistake“, is my very thought. Sometimes I hold my breath thinking it.
Avoidance is thought central to anxiety and depression. It can prevent us from developing resilience and coping mechanisms in times of stress. Luckily the same issue offers help in 9 Ways to Overcome Adversity. This issue is a good read with many interesting and helpful articles. I am not sorry I was distracted. I will put them into active use.
onethousandandtwo 
I so resonate with this. I seem to work best when there is a timeline. Now that I am retired, I can easily put things off.
Also grace, we need to give ourselves grace.
I do like to put off difficult things, but I end up doing them anyway.
Lily, I have recently read that procrastination is an ADHD response. So that’s similar to what you’re saying above. I do love your list of reasons to do the hardest thing first. When I complete the hardest thing, I get a snack reward or some time in the Garden, so that’s more motivation. Thanks for a great post.
I do have an official ADHD diagnosis, and distraction action is my middle name. That and… ooh, there’s something shiny. There’s also the issue of my personality type (ESFP), so, apparently, it’s a double whammy and I need to be surrounded by shiny things.
At any rate and in as many words as possible, I completely understand that procrastintion thing and I live it. You are not alone, Lily! Hugs for you.