Procrastination

TheEccentric

I always leave things too the last minute, with meditation especially and reading about and studying BUddhism in general and leave them so long often I can only do part of the practice or not do it and it really is limiting myself.

Is there any way that I can stop this or should I just try my best to control myself?

FoibleFull

There is no technique .. you either do or you don't.
Not to sound superior ... my husband thinks I majored in Procrastination at university!
But it's like quitting smoking or anything else that requires self-discipline. You do or you don't.

RebeccaS

Procrastination is basically a passive-aggressive action and something most of us have encountered when it comes to meditation.

Usually there is some subconscious reason you're sabotaging yourself. Figure that out and the problem will resolve itself in due time.

Until then, just do your best. Give yourself an hours warning (maybe set an alarm or something) before you go to sit, then you can finish up whatever you're doing to give yourself the space to practice. Make it as easy as you can for yourself.

TheEccentric

Thankyou, no problem I'll just have to use my willpower

BhikkhuJayasara

i'm a master at procrastination, always have been.. but as my practice progresses, I do this much less.

I will say this.. procrastination is based on one of the three roots... that being Aversion. out of that root can be many causes for procrastination such as fear.. "I'm scared about doing that paper so I'll play video games instead" or " I don't want to edit those pictures thats too boring and takes too long, i'll play video games instead"...

when you start to observe and see clearly the aversion.. it starts to lessen naturally.. it is not something you can make a vow and try to fix by sheer will power.


EDIT : btw you like how I used that " I don't want to edit those pictures" those examples I used are all from my own procrastination HAHAHA.. I have a photography business and I did my first Senior Shoot today.. I should be editing those pics.. but I have an aversion to doing that right now... partly based on fear, partly laziness.. so I'm using these forums and facebook as an escape.. such is the nature of the mind.

how

Buddhist practise is always dependent on the priority you give it over the other stimuli in your life. It is really just that simple. Manifesting it though, is the practise.

taiyaki

Contemplate death and how precious your life is.

How little time you have.

How everything you've tried in this life has come to a failure or dissatisfaction. Nothing delivers its goods.

How access to practice, study and a teacher is valuable and how many individuals lack this vision to freedom.

Don't take your life for granted.

These are the things I think about as soon as I wake up. And honestly if really explored will motivate you to no end.

But someday your motivation will shift. At first death and freedom become great motivators. But once we've tasted some freedom, once we've arrived at a bit of sanity. Then we realize our practice is for others. And that is when we really kick our practice into gear.

So first death, then others. Good luck.

Vastmind

@taiyaki.....That was nice. Fruitful for me, if you will.

lobster

Is there any way that I can stop this or should I just try my best to control myself?

Control yourself? You will put that off.
Just procrastinate a few good things you want to do till after you do something you feel should be done.

Cole_

Procrastination's cure is to simply act now. I'm just about as bad as it gets. But lately, instead of thinking "oh I need to clean later", or "i'll do it tomorrow for sure" I just get up, and start doing it. First time in my life I've started to get things done. All thanks to Buddha's "don't think of the past, don't dream of the future, act in the present" quote along with taking on the mentality of impermanence. In Sogyal Rinpoche's Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, he talks about how monks would leave their cups clean and turned upside down next to their bed prior to going to sleep, in case they wouldn't need them by morning. Helped me start to break some of my old habits.

Edit: Taiyaki put it way better, refer to their post

caz

Death is the answer a good meditation on this will make you remember why you need to practice Dharma now.

TheEccentric

Thankyou too the people who reminded me too do Death MEditation I had read about that and was doing it in the past but since then I have been more focused on other meditations, I will have to remember to meditate on death and the danger of taking lower rebirth with them.

caz

TheEccentric said:

Thankyou too the people who reminded me too do Death MEditation I had read about that and was doing it in the past but since then I have been more focused on other meditations, I will have to remember to meditate on death and the danger of taking lower rebirth with them.

Lamrim is a cycle ! Repeat !

thug4lyfe

I post on newbuddhist whenever I get the urge to procrastinate, problem solved!!!!

emergency plan B is posting on misc section of the bodybuilding forum.