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Gonzo Girl's avatar

Oof. Saved this to come back to again and again + share with others. Great piece!

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M. Cameron Harris's avatar

All good tips. I find accountability partners help me keep my writing going, but I also find that most of them disconnect when some of the other issues in your list result in them not producing. As with all other people-choosing situations, the value depends on the suitability of the match.

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Sarah Jo Austin's avatar

Two strategies that help me: 1) Doing only one thing at a time - I'll write down what I'm doing and only do that thing until it's done. And I keep that thing small. 2) Pomodoros for 25 minutes on and 5 minutes off. Works great for when I need small bites of a project. And also works for when I need to time box a task, triaging my email inbox, for example.

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Allen Kwon's avatar

This was such a satisfying breakdown. Anyone else find that their procrastination style changes depending on the task? I’m a perfectionist with writing, but a full-on time delusionist when it comes to taxes.

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George Ziogas's avatar

Adam, this was such a relatable and eye-opening read. It’s comforting to know procrastination isn’t just “laziness,” but a complex mix of science and wiring. I especially felt seen in the perfectionism bit. Guilty as charged! Thanks for blending humor, research, and empathy so well. Now if only I could stop procrastinating and apply all of this…

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Adam Troudart's avatar

I'm so glad it helped you, George. Keep your eyes peeled; more articles on this and related topics soon! And as for your wish- don't apply everything. Start with 1-2 things you resonated with :)

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Adam Troudart's avatar

Hey Mr. Holistic.

Spam is not allowed here.

If you drop a link without providing any relevant information to my article, I'll treat it as Spam, report it, and delete it.

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Mr. Holistic's avatar

wow. I'm just a writer trying to get my writing out there didnt mean to ruin your day. no need for this just block me and you will never see my writing again.

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Harinath Babu's avatar

I loved it....I write very similar to what you wrote long time back...

https://mythicscribe.substack.com/p/mind-hacks-time-bundling

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Adam Troudart's avatar

Thanks a lot Harinath. Please share it if you liked it. What did you love in particular? I'll check yours as well :)

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Harinath Babu's avatar

Basically, I agree wid the points on perfectionism, the false sense of time, and failure of self-regulation.

My take is on procrastination...we never procrastinate on fun activities like holidays becoz they don’t come with targets or the fear of failure.

I believe tat if we can remove the pressure from every task, it becomes much easier to accomplish.

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Adam Troudart's avatar

Agreed. Planning a holiday or going on one gives you the instant dopamine hit, just like watching Netflix. We need to remove pressure whenever possible, and if possible, make it fun and stimulating. Why not?

Are there other procrastination/productivity-related topics you'd like to learn/read about?

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Harinath Babu's avatar

This is my story of how, after decades of self-doubt, societal expectations, and procrastination, I finally let go of fear, embraced freedom, and discovered the pure joy of writing at 40.

https://mythicscribe.substack.com/p/from-silence-to-stories-why-i-began

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