Comments on: Giving in to Lethargy

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:26:26 +0000

Colin, I agree. The deadline sometimes hangs like a noose over my head. :)

It's the starting though, isn't it Damaria? I'm guilty of putting off starting because I want that block of time to get absorbed. :)

Devon, my "I don't wannas" come from a bit of ADD and a whole lot of work at once. :) I don't like things hanging over me, either, but if they give me six weeks, I'm taking five and a half, for sure. Bad habit!

Cathy, I'm so sorry about your SIL. I hope you have fond memories and plenty of laughs at remembering the good times with her. Hugs, dear.

Jenn, I like that approach. I have my own mini-deadlines, which does help keep me on track. I'd love to eyeball your process up close at some point - sounds like something I could love doing.

Paula, great example with the hedges. :) I'm like that with the garden weeding.

I say similar things, Wade. I want it done early, but only recently have I been listening to myself. :)

That sounds like a neat way to approach it, Wendy. If you have it on paper already, you're half done. Nice!

Sprinter - great way to put it, Jake. (And the fish weren't biting like they should have been.)

Ashley, I like that. Rewarding yourself only after finishing is brilliant. It's a sideways form of accountability. :)

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:50:48 +0000

I work well under pressure. Sometimes I create pressure situations for myself, saying that I need to get something done by a set date so I can do something else, usually something fun that I want to do! That way, I don't have work hanging over me when I'm trying to have a good time. I feel most motivated when I have a tight deadline, which leads me to do better work more efficiently.

However, there are times when I have lots of time and no pressure, and I must say, that's actually pretty nice. It's a luxury because most of my work is done on deadline!

By: Jake P

Jake P — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:56:26 +0000

Guilty as charged. But I can flick on the turbo, like I'm doing this week, when I need to. I've always been a sprinter, not a marathoner--but that self-knowledge allows me to manage and/or avoid problems. (Um. Usually.)

I hope the fish are biting in Ontario!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:30:40 +0000

For me, if you want quality, I need a little time. I usually do a quick write up and then spend time going through and tweaking, changing things around, etc. If I do too much thinking during the writing process, I'll never get the thing done. LOL!

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:29:46 +0000

I procrastinate, however I work better under pressure. I'm not sure what it is, but when deadlines approach I kick into high gear. Every time I say to myself get this done early, but I don't. Most likely, not the healthiest habit, but that's how I operate.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:19:46 +0000

Lethargy? No. Procrastination? Yes. But only on certain projects - the ones that I know are going to be difficult. (Like those hedges I've been talking about trimming for two weeks! Today is the day.)

On a sub-conscious level, I think that's because I know I do well under pressure. When asked to so a 24-turn around because another writer dropped the ball, I'll do it with 100% focus. But give me a long deadline and the focus is gone, making it easier for distractions can set in.

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:25:04 +0000

Sometimes my best work comes out of a quickly-approaching deadline. I work very well under pressure (probably why I take on so much). I don't work well with open ends. That's one of the reasons I set the bulk of my client schedule at the start of the month. I set my own deadlines even if those of the client are flexible. That gives me the under pressure feeling even if the client might not expect delivery for another week or two. It was the same in school. Pressure led to better work, more creative thinking, and higher grades. It's just how I work I suppose.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:05:57 +0000

Absolutely, I have bouts of I don't want to go to school. Isn't that why we freelance? As long as we don't let it get out of control, we need the time for us.

I came back last week from a funeral for my sister-in-law who was my age. I had trouble getting back on track. Maybe it hit too close to home. If I have learned anything from freelancing, it's don't beat yourself up too much-life is way too short.

I'm off to San Francisco to cheer on my crazy teammates that are doing both San Francisco AND San Diego's 3-Day, 60 mile Walk for breast cancer. Have a fabulous weekend and God bless to the families of 9/11.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:21:58 +0000

I like to get it done.

I don't send it off early, because I don't want the client to shorten the turn around time. But I want it done so it's not hanging over me.

If I have the "I don't wannas" it means I accepted the wrong project, and it's time to move on once the contract is complete.

By: Damaria Senne

Damaria Senne — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:57:04 +0000

Oh, I'm a procrastinator of note. unfortunately. It works better if I jump into a project immediately after getting it, regardless of deadline. Once I've started, I get aborbd in it and will work on it until it's done. The problem arises if I decide to set a later starting time because I have a longer time frame. It's harder then to start and more often than not, I'll procrastinate until the deadline is looming and my butt is on fire.
Enjoy Lake Ontario.