Noodling about executive function

[wildeabandon]

One thing that I've become a bit more aware of recently is a tendency to procrastinate doing quite a lot of things that I actually enjoy, in favour of mindlessly refreshing the internet or playing pointless games on my phone. I'm still not entirely certain of why I do this, but there seems to be something in my subconscious which is reluctant to commit to spending an extended period on something, especially when I'm tired, and wants to spend a few minutes doing something that requires no effort first. But the division into activities which I can do for a few minutes and those which I'm committed to spending longer on seems to be almost entirely arbitrary.

Does anyone else do anything like this and have any ideas? At the moment I'm mostly just trying to notice when I'm doing it, but I'm wondering whether deliberately doing things other than futzing on my phone for only five minutes to prove to my subconscious that it's an option might be a good idea. Or telling myself that I have to knit/read/draw/write/&c for at least five minutes before each time I pick up my phone?

Comments

[the_elyan]

Living on my own, procrastination is a big enemy, especially at the moment (because of Reasons, which I'm happy to discuss, but are quite dull). I tend to view going outside for a walk to clear my head as always a valid use of my time, even if I had something else I was planning to do.

I don't know if it's any help, but something I am trying to do to stop myself doing the "need a break - I know, there's my phone" thing (particularly an issue last week with news from the US) is to have a book of poetry by my desk, and read one or two of those as an alternative. Doesn't always work, but it gets the brain to do something different.

[wildeabandon]

Mmm. I'm not sure that poetry is the right thing for me, but having something that I can do for a few minutes to give myself a break or some breathing space before starting a new thing, but that is actually refreshing would probably be a helpful intervention. I just need to figure out what that thing or things could be.