Procrastination

[Outdated]

I don’t like change.

That’s a lie, it’s an excuse, an obfuscation of the real problem. Because there’s some vaguely negative connotations to a task I need to do I don’t want to do it. That’s the real issue.

The type of bank account I’ve had for more than 25 years is being ended, they gave me 6 months notice. I had to go to the bank and open a new account. I put that off for a couple of months but I did it. I now have 2 accounts and can transfer funds back and forth between them.

The task I need to do is to change my card number with all the different organisations I deal with and that’s the one I’ve been putting off and putting off. My old account ends at 12:00 pm on the 31st of December and any remaining funds will be transferred into the new account. I’ve set myself a deadline of 1st of December to do it, that leaves a month to spare for anyone I might have forgotten. Should be all good.

The part I don’t like – I’ve been typing the same set of numbers in to my computer for more than 25 years, and now I have to memorise a new set of numbers and forget the old ones. That presents no real problem to me, I have an eidetic memory, but so far I haven’t even looked at my new card number. I have no idea what it is.

I’ve formed a sort of mental block or hurdle that I have to get over, it’s the lesson of limited choice and I have to do it, but I don’t want to.

Now that I’ve set myself a deadline it will be done. Not until the last possible moment, but it will be done. Not asking for any help here, just curious about how many other people have a similar issue.

 

[Progster]

Yes, I have a similar issue. I don't like change and I procrastinate. My big one right now is that my circumstances changed here and I have decided with my family that I shouldd move back to the UK, but that means selling up and moving. A huge change. I know I should just get on with it and do it, but I've done virtually nothing for the past year. It's hard for anyone to do, but for me it's especially hard.

The thing that will keep me going is to think of all the advantages of the move when its done, that it's the right decision. But it's still hard.

 

[kriss72]

I don’t like change.

That’s a lie, it’s an excuse, an obfuscation of the real problem. Because there’s some vaguely negative connotations to a task I need to do I don’t want to do it. That’s the real issue.

Are you sure it's not because you don't like changes? - There is a task with contacting everywhere that has your old number and giving them your new one - good idea that you set yourself a deadline for that one, if you are anything like me, then it won't be done unless it is the last moment.

But then there is also changing the number, and don't be too hard on your self there - Changes are not easy for all of us - it is not about being actually able to do the change, like being able to remember the new number, it's beyond simple logic - like I try to go shopping every week at the same day and time, and I try to park in the same spot every time - it's not that I couldn't go on a different day or time (maybe even with less people there) or get a parking spot closer to the entry - but the world is unpredictable and chaotic, and I think that could be why we need to keep as many things stable as we can - it saves us from spending mental energy, which is a limited resource for every one.

My advice would be to embrace it - don't feel bad about using the old number until your deadline, when the deadline has passed, you switch - try changing the number where you remember it being used, but if you miss any of the organizations I'm sure they will reach out to you when the payment is declined, and you can give them the new info at that time.

 

[Angular Chap]

Yes, I have similar issues.

If I keep putting something off, it is usually around one third procrastination similar to what you describe, one third lack of motivation due to burnout and one third because I have no intention of doing the thing in the first place because I don't have a clue what to do anyway.

 

[Forest Cat]

The type of bank account I’ve had for more than 25 years is being ended, they gave me 6 months notice. I had to go to the bank and open a new account. I put that off for a couple of months but I did it.

I had something similar happen here, the banks have done some major changes to fight money laundring. And they pushed most of the work over on the customers, people had to go to the bank with ID papers to prove who they are and all sorts of things. After having an account in a bank for 20 years they wanted me to prove who I was. So stupid. And it disrupted all my money laundring.

I also had to change some cards and numbers and what I did was making a list of all places where I used my cards. I also updated a new email adress at the same time and some passwords. Then I went through that list, logging into sites and contacting customer service and changing the card numbers and email. One place at a time. I did it a little by little in the evenings, not all at once. That's my tip, spreading it out a little instead of spending all day trying to fix everything.

 

[Outdated]

I decided I'll make use of the old card a bit seem as it's going to get cancelled soon, and I just bought myself a set of noise cancelling headphones. And google searches get spammed by Amazon these days so I thought I'd have a look, they had reasonable prices but couldn't deliver until January and they were going to charge a fortune for postage.

I sort of expect that with US postage, anything from the US costs a fortune, so I switched over to the Australian Amazon site. They offered free postage but still can't deliver before 18th of December.

So I had a look on Ebay, saved myself $20 and it'll be here next Tuesday.

For those that are curious, I went for the Sonoflow 1More. They're not the best for sound quality but apparently the active noise cancellation is superb. AU$120. That's about US$75

 

[MildredHubble]

I have similar issues too. I find setting a deadline helps like you've described, and as you describe, I won't get done until the last possible moment either!

Sometimes I think procrastination helps me examine a problem to the point of rumination. Then I can have a burst of activity and get what I need to done. It's the getting started that is an issue. Maybe I'm scared of screwing it up.

Mostly I worry about starting things I can't finish these days. The depression, aches and pains get in the way. So I don't want to find myself in a situation where what I've started is causing upheaval and I have to wait until I can physically and mentally make progress again.

I just recently finished soldering an electronics project. I should have been champing at the bit to install the thing and enjoy using it. I'm procrastinating partly because the soldering bit went well and I'm worried the software bit might go wrong and in making a rod for my own back. I don't want to lose the enthusiasm I guess. So sometimes my projects exist in a wonderful state of potential or superposition.

On the subject of bank accounts, I have been considering changing mine, but the thing that puts me off is that I've had this account for 29 years now and like you, I'd have to go and change all my payment information everywhere and that would feel daunting as it's all been happily ticking away without really any need for me to think about it or intervene.

I've got everything memorized too, though I don't have an eidetic memory when it comes to strings of numbers and that's part of why I don't change my bank account as I'd need to learn it all again.

 

[Outdated]

though I don't have an eidetic memory when it comes to strings of numbers

That's the part of my memory that works best, I'm hopeless with names.

 

[MildredHubble]

That's the part of my memory that works best, I'm hopeless with names.

Im not too great with those either! If I'm around the same group of people for a while at least I tend to remember their faces but not names. But after a while of not seeing people, I remember the names but not the faces. Weird how memory works!

My memory tends to be very good at remembering where things are. From dvds down to a tiny screw or capacitor. I don't tend to alphabetise things as there really is no benefit, well that's as long as I've put the objects away

It's rare that I misplace things and I do get very irritated when I do lol!

 

[Outdated]

My memory tends to be very good at remembering where things are. From dvds down to a tiny screw or capacitor. I don't tend to alphabetise things as there really is no benefit, well that's as long as I've put the objects away

It's rare that I misplace things and I do get very irritated when I do lol!

That's me as well, and also one of my mates. When his wife reckons he's starting to get out of line she threatens to tidy his shed up for him.

 

[MNAus]

Not wishing to pathologise everything and introduce new acronyms but I suspect there's a streak of PDA in a big subset of ASDers. I think it ties in with the preference for routine, dislike of the unexpected, etc, etc, etc that are often part of the territory. I suspect there is an underlying root cause tying it all together. Perhaps this feels relevant to you, perhaps not.

Just like you I don't dislike change. I've moved countries, had a billion jobs, am easily bored, etc. but I have a mega problem with some tasks. When I spoke to my psychologist I didn't have as much insight, and I explained it as the pressure of all the little tasks and obligations causing stress. But I don't think that's the whole story.

There is something about needing to do something and the demand that places on me that causes massive mental load. It's not laziness, I'm stupidly busy, it's just a very strong sensation when I even think about "oh, I really should be doing that". There's something about the 'ought to'. So yeah, I know what you mean exactly about the new card. It's something you should have had done, ought to do, really, and that puts a massive wall in place. It can make me feel physically crap. I'll think of "oh yeah, I should have sent that email to NDIS" and my stomach will drop, etc.

And that root cause? I can't quite put my finger on it, but it surely has something to do with the ASD habit for planning, avoiding uncertainty.

ETA: Just to be clear. PDA is very severe and thankfully quite rare. Not suggesting we all have PDA, just a degree of demand avoidance tied in with autism somehow.

 

[Outdated]

There is something about needing to do something and the demand that places on me that causes massive mental load. It's not laziness, I'm stupidly busy, it's just a very strong sensation when I even think about "oh, I really should be doing that". There's something about the 'ought to'. So yeah, I know what you mean exactly about the new card. It's something you should have had done, ought to do, really, and that puts a massive wall in place. It can make me feel physically crap. I'll think of "oh yeah, I should have sent that email to NDIS" and my stomach will drop, etc.

You described that really well. That's very much what goes on with me. A stupid little job I've put off for months. It's nothing difficult and it's not really going to take very long. Go to a few websites and practice typing in the new card number which will also cement it in my memory. No more than a 2 beer job but the thought of actually starting is stressful.

 

[Outdated]

Update: I got all of it done except for my phone service provider, and I cooked myself a decent meal while I was at it too.

The phone service provider wants me to use their phone app to update my details, the trouble is that I can find half a dozen different apps that appear to be for my service provider, none of which have the same name the service provider mentions and none of which I'm prepared to trust and give my bank account details to.

The option to update my details on their website doesn't exist, the only other option they give freely is for me to phone them. I don't do phones.

They're about to find out that there's another option not mentioned on their website - I'm going to visit them in person and let them know just how uninclusive their current policies are.

 

[Outdated]

So I went to the shopping centre to go and get my phone account sorted out in person, except I forgot to take the phone with me.

I'm just not used to picking it up when I go out. I bought myself a nice new set of dinnerware though.

I'll sort the phone out next week.