FINAL Procrastination

Week 10 – Putting it off till….
Task 1 – Planner or Procrastinator?

Discuss the questions.
 Are you good at managing your time? Are you a planner? Or do you tend to leave things till
the last minute? Give an example.
 Talk about a time that underpreparing/not preparing paid off for you?
 Talk about a time when procrastination got you into trouble.
 Have you ever been at the receiving end of someone else’s disorganisation? Explain.
 How organised are you generally? Think about: at work / at home / in your relationship / in
terms of your future / about money etc.
 Who’s the most organised person you know? And the least? Give examples.
I like keeping on top of things – if I fall behind, I start panicking.
I tend to leave things till the last minute, but I’ve got it down to an art form/ to a tee.
It depends on what it is, but I’ve been known to put things off.
I’m often all over the place and then I’m in a mad rush to get things done in time.
I need to be in the right headspace, but once I’m in the zone, there’s no stopping me!
I faff about for ages first before I get my arse into gear.
I found it hard to get my act together, but it turned out alright on the day.
It might sound a bit anal, but my wardrobe is colour-coded. Too much?
She likes things just so, but I think it’s a bit OCD if you ask me.
It’s okay once he decides to pull his finger out, but he needs a kick up the backside to get
going.
Task 2 - Inside the Mind of a Procrastinator

Watch the following short TedTalk video (4 mins) ‘Why you procrastinate -- and how to still get
things done’ by Tim Urban. Then discuss the questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5C149J9C0
 How organised were you at school / university in terms of homework / coursework and
deadlines? How much can you relate to the speaker? What other things do you tend to put off
doing?
 Do you have any deadlines looming? Are you on track?
 How far do you agree with the idea that there are two types of people: procrastinators and non-
procrastinators? Or do you think that we are all procrastinators deep down?
 How easily and how often do you get side-tracked and distracted during a task? Give
examples?
 What strategies / techniques do you use to keep focused / stay on task?
 Is there anything you’ve been meaning to do for ages / a while but haven’t got round to?
Why haven’t you?
In exam periods, I spent more time revising my timetable than actually revising and ended up
cramming a couple of nights before.
I was meticulous about keeping up with my schoolwork – I made sure I set achievable goals.
I was a bit of a slacker, to be honest – I tried to wing it and hope for the best most of the time
I guess it’s just how people operate, isn’t it? Some people get their act together as soon as
they’re given a task and others twiddle their thumbs.
I hunker down in the corner of the library – at home, it takes ages to get in the groove – too
many distractions.
The slightest thing can distract me – my mind just wanders.
I tend to just get on with it and make sure I’ve got something to look forward to when it’s
done.
I’ve been meaning to take the glass jars to the glass container, but I can’t be arsed.
I want to rekindle my love of art by taking a watercolour workshop, but I can’t get it together.
I know I’ve got to pull my finger out, but I always find an excuse not to do it.
Task 3 – Always running around…
Discuss these questions.
 Do you perform better or worse under pressure? Give an example.
 How far do you agree that our modern lifestyles put pressure on us to do more things in an ever
shorter space of time? What impact has the ability to work remotely had on this?
 What do you think about people working evenings, weekends, holidays to meet a deadline?
Have you ever missed an important social or family event because of a deadline?
 Do you ever delegate tasks when you get too busy? Why / why not?
 Is procrastination just a sign of subconscious protest and desire to get out of the ‘rat race’?
Do you think getting out affects your chances to climb the career ladder?
 How do you make sure you get the work-life balance right? Do you always succeed? What
happens if you don’t? What’s the responsibility of employers in this? Do you think it’s
harder/easier for men or for women?
Some people might crack/go to pieces under pressure, but I excel! I thrive under pressure.
I do some of my best work when I’m up against it!
I had to work round the clock just to get it finished in time.
The line between work hours and family time is becoming increasingly blurred nowadays.
I find myself having to squeeze in family time around work, which pisses off my family.
I had an important family commitment the other week but had to give it a miss because I was
really pushed for time.
I missed the deadline and got a proper dressing down from my boss - he really let me have it!
The pace is relentless, I can hardly keep up, I don’t get around to doing stuff for myself.
I find myself having an internal battle between what I really want to do and what I feel I am
expected to do.
I finally plucked up the courage to ask for an extension to the deadline and to my relief I was
given it - it just gave me a bit more breathing space.

FINAL Procrastination

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Week 10 – Putting it off till….

Task 1 – Planner or Procrastinator?

Task 2 - Inside the Mind of a Procrastinator

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