# Ask the Chronic Procrastinator **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260 "2001-10-09T03:47:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/1 "2001-10-09T03:47:08Z")
I’ve seen a lot of these “Ask the \” threads, and I wanted to start my own. And, for good or ill, I’m a chronic procrastinator. Always putting things off, waiting until the last moment. Anyway, I thought there might be some “type A” personalities out there who had some questions about what being a procrastinator is like, and I’ll do my best to answer them. As soon as I have some spare time to read the replies. ---
**Author:** ![Ell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/2 "2001-10-09T04:11:34Z")
Yeah, I will later [sub]What? Someone had to do it![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/3 "2001-10-09T04:29:23Z")
I’m a “Type A” personality _and_ a chronic procrastinator. Comes from being a perfectionist–i.e. if the work _has_ to be perfect, it’s much easier to simply avoid it. When put under sufficient pressure, though, I turn out very good work. [sub]Ask me how my thesis is going…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/4 "2001-10-09T05:02:07Z")
Honestly, I can’t imagine you getting around to replying to any of our questions. _sigh_ Oh, and hey, robby, how is your thesis going? [sub]You TOLD me to ask.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/5 "2001-10-09T07:35:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*robby \*\*\* > I’m a “Type A” personality _and_ a chronic procrastinator. Comes from being a perfectionist–i.e. if the work _has_ to be perfect, it’s much easier to simply avoid it. When put under sufficient pressure, though, I turn out very good work. So true. I used this as my excuse for years of college. I don’t know why you guys expect **Miller** not to respond to this thread though, as he obviously posted this OP because he was avoiding doing something else that he was supposed to be doing. In fact, I would have expected him to have posted on this thread more than once already. Maybe he’s posting on a different thread instead. As for the OP, though, I think it’s really interesting. I would really like to know if there are any non-procrastinators out there that wonder what it’s like. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/6 "2001-10-09T07:42:35Z")
Hey! I was intending to start a thread just like this, but I never got around to it. [sub]Sorry. Had to.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/7 "2001-10-09T07:49:49Z")
Let’s see. I have a question about ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/8 "2001-10-09T08:57:01Z")
wow! another procrastinator! 😃 no questions. just trying to boost my post count. _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![Freakunique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Freakunique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freakunique)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/9 "2001-10-09T12:50:46Z")
I thought no one could put off the inevitable like I could… but you! I mean, to procrastinate on a procrastinator’s past-time that is the SDMB??? Here’s your crown 🙂 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . another four minutes 'til the next lecture… ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/10 "2001-10-09T13:05:58Z")
What exactly is a procrastinator? I need the answer by tomorrow ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/11 "2001-10-09T15:44:55Z")
Can’t it wait? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/12 "2001-10-09T22:17:59Z")
I was going to post a while ago, but I just got around to it. Maybe I’ll update my sig… ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/13 "2001-10-10T19:42:48Z")
1. How do you handle “stitch in time” sorts of things? Are you able to resist putting things off if you know it will result in more work for you later? 2. Are you adept at knowing your limits? Are you able to correctly judge what _is_ exactly the last minute you can begin something in order to get it done on time? * * * Your brain-in-a-jar, Myron Never put off until tomorrow what you can get out of doing completely. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/14 "2001-11-05T16:25:05Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/15 "2001-11-05T17:00:46Z")
_Never_ put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2001, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/16 "2001-11-05T17:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robby \* > \*\*I’m a “Type A” personality _and_ a chronic procrastinator. Comes from being a perfectionist–i.e. if the work _has_ to be perfect, it’s much easier to simply avoid it. When put under sufficient pressure, though, I turn out very good work. > > [sub]Ask me how my thesis is going…[/sub] \*\* Change “Robby” ro “Cranky” and I may as well have written this. It applies 100% to my life. I’ve put off so much dissertation crap that I’m in for 48 hours of sheer hell trying to get something to my advisor that I’ve known about for months. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/17 "2004-05-25T07:07:59Z")
Sorry for the delay, I had some things I needed to take care of. > [@Myron Van Horowitzski](#): > > 1. How do you handle “stitch in time” sorts of things? Are you able to resist putting things off if you know it will result in more work for you later? Yeah, usually, unless the extra work is trivial. My procrastination stems from laziness, so the bottom line is “least amount of work necessary.” > [@](#): > > 1. Are you adept at knowing your limits? Are you able to correctly judge what _is_ exactly the last minute you can begin something in order to get it done on time? If I’m putting off doing something for the first time, it can be hard to get it right. With practice, I can practically get it down to the minute. I used to be great at this in college, pulling all-nighters the day before a paper was due. Any more questions? ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/18 "2004-05-25T07:20:38Z")
Oh. My. Goodness. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/19 "2004-05-25T07:24:44Z")
Why am I not doing my math homework right now? ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260/20 "2004-05-25T07:45:29Z")
A procrastinator,a Rabbi,and a duck walk into a bar. Three days later,the procrastinator yells,“OUCH!” Okay,I’m just upping my post count,too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-chronic-procrastinator/86260.md?page=2)