PLEASE HELP: Lazy Problems/Focus Problems/Procrastination Problems

[SOJA]

Aloha,

I have huge laziness, focus and procrastination problems.

For example, I keep telling myself I'm going to read my scriptures or do my homework or even pray every night before I go to sleep. Then I don't do any of those things.

That's what happened today when I came home from church. During church I felt the spirit and knew I needed to make a change in something's. So I told myself I was going to read my scriptures and do all my homework and do some other things to prepare myself for the week. None of these things happened because I was watching TV, doing unnecessary football stuff on the web, eating, and just cruzing with family

I have senioritis so I lost my drive for school when I know it's almost as important as Church and family.

This has been going on for years so I'm afraid it's going to get to the point where I don't go on my mission or end up slacking in college and disappointing myself and my family.

Please may I have some advice?!

[John11111]

Just buck up and get it done, it will only get worse when you move out and no longer have structure in your life if you dont set some boundaries for yourself.

I still have problems with this its not the work that bothers me once i get started on something ill work on it all day and night till its done its actually starting thats hard lol.

[THIRDpersonviewer]

i gather you are a senior in high school based off your senoritis comment. I was in a similar situation.

The big thing is taking time(a lot) to think about the consequences of what you are doing, and where you are headed in life. It took a lot of time, but I began to make the changes. I had a friend die my senior year, and made me really think about what I was doing, if I die today am I ready? stuff like that.

Some things will jump start us. I began after that to really search the scriptures and find the truth. I wanted to know what I needed to change or if it was necessary. I was objective. I kept my bias out. I didn't care what I thought because after this life it wouldn't matter what I thought if God is real and He has really commanded these things. Nothing I said could change these things, so I had to figure it out. So I could put my life on the good course.

If you begin to crave to know then you will be driven to act properly in order to find out. If you don't then you will continue the same path.

This will help focus as well, but I have 2 things that increase focus. Challenges, and repetition. I improved my focus by putting 4 decently sized posterboards on my wall with a sheet of a 3 hole punched and ripped out lined paper in between. the big ones were in circle.One said Pray, one said Read Scriptures, one said Duty and Calling, and one said Focus, with the sheet of paper saying perfection. I used permanant markers to write these with different colors.

I saw those every day. I put it on the wall across from where I sleep so I would see it when I got up.They helped remind me. I wasn't perfect every day at doing them. But I did improve and over time I would remember to do them, and my focus would increase. I would ask myself what I needed to focus on. It took time but it came.

As far as challenges find something that makes you stretch. It can be something you are doing already. Maybe you need to try something new, cross stitch is something I am trying because my wife does it. It takes time patience and some thought to make sure I don't make a mess for myself.

I also play video games and I found some games that really stretch me. Recently I was playing Age of Empires on hardest difficulty and it required all my attention and focus to beat it. That type of activity increased my focus in general which carried over into more important things like work and study.

So finding challenges help a lot in my experience.

[mnn727]

Make yourself a list of things to do, in the case of daily items like scripture study, etc, put it on a calendar and check it off every day you do it. Put this calendar somewhere you will see it multiple times a day.

You can go online and find a calendar, putting the items you want to accomplish daily and then print it out.

They say it takes between 20-30 times of doing something regularly to make it a habit -- you'll just have to push yourself with the calendar reminders until it IS a habit.

[skippy740]

I would make out that same list... every day or every week. The more you are writing it, the more you will 'nag yourself' to get things done.

Also, the more you do it, the better you will structure the list and your resources to ensure that you have what you need to get it done.

Sometimes procrastination is a symptom of something bigger. For me, it's a lack of organizational structure. Once I have everything in its place and in an actionable format, it's easier. Not that it eliminates procrastination, but it's easier.

I recommend getting the book or Audio CD of "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. You'll learn how to put a great system of organization and structure into your life and you won't be the same... only by choice.

[Star_]

Identify your time wasters and don't spend so much time doing them. Do you get on the computer or watch tv when you could be doing more productive things? Set time limits. Try to work out a schedule that works for you. Keep track of time. Make lists and check things off once you do them, making sure everything is checked off by the end of the day. Go to bed and get up at a reasonable hour. Maybe try getting up earlier or going to bed earlier, that extra time could be spent praying and reading scriptures.

[Dove]

Aloha,

I have huge laziness, focus and procrastination problems.

For example, I keep telling myself I'm going to read my scriptures or do my homework or even pray every night before I go to sleep. Then I don't do any of those things.

That's what happened today when I came home from church. During church I felt the spirit and knew I needed to make a change in something's. So I told myself I was going to read my scriptures and do all my homework and do some other things to prepare myself for the week. None of these things happened because I was watching TV, doing unnecessary football stuff on the web, eating, and just cruzing with family

I have senioritis so I lost my drive for school when I know it's almost as important as Church and family.

This has been going on for years so I'm afraid it's going to get to the point where I don't go on my mission or end up slacking in college and disappointing myself and my family.

Please may I have some advice?!

I remember a class I took in college. It was about how to succeed in college and in getting your degree. I remember the professor stating that the students who succeeded in college were those who had a lot of support from the people around them. Also, that the students who didn't have this support did fail.....

Can you get support from your family/friends to help you keep your goals? Maybe joining a scripture study group/study group for school? You mentioned cruzing with family after church. Would you be comfortable telling your family you would like their support in getting your studies (school and religious) done? There's nothing like family scripture study or studying with other people.

Lastly, be gentle with yourself. Try to understand what is causing you to do these things.....I'm a woman, so I'm approaching this in a feminine way, which may not work for you. But, are you bored with school? Tend more towards wanting to socialise with your family then study? Get in tune with what's causing you to be lazy/procrastinate and try to resolve that or alleviate it or make studying as inviting and fun for yourself as possible...

Best of Luck

Dove