Ah, yes, pseudo- or semi-productive procrastination is one of my favorites too. Because it makes you feel like you’re not only not being that bad, and maybe you’re even setting yourself up to be all the more productive in the future!

Let me tell you this. You can spend your entire life pseudo-productively procrastinating. I’m not saying it’s an impossible way to live. In fact, at certain times it’s a perfectly viable strategy to accomplish things that don’t have a defined due date but that you do want to do.

But is it an acceptable thing to do right now? That question wasn’t rhetorical. I don’t know your current circumstances, and there are so many factors that go into that kind of decision that I sometimes think it’s better to let your brain heuristically figure it out than to try to logic it through.

Still, I included some questions for thought below if you need help deciding.

First, though, let’s consider the case that you don’t want to be procrastinating at all right now. I could launch into a whole “why are you procrastinating and how can we tackle each cause” right now but let’s be real, you don’t have time to go through all of that. Not now.

So what are we going to do now?

First, we’re going to schedule a time to finish whatever it is you’re doing right now (ie browsing the world wide web for tips for managing ADHD).

• Get out some kind of reminder or calendar app (it really doesn’t matter which one right now, consider using the default on your phone)
• Identify two separate chunks of time when you can peacefully continue what you’re doing right now. This doesn’t even have to be a time when there’s nothing else on your plate, just a time when procrastinating won’t really fuck your over.
• Add two calendar events or reminder items to schedule this time for yourself.
• Set alarms and notifications so you don’t forget. Don’t be shy, set as many as you need.
• Stick to the commitment that you will continue your current tasks at at least one of these two times unless something important comes up (and use your good judgement here)

Done? Good.

Now let’s pick a tried-and-true CBT-for-ADHD strategy to use. Start with just one or two from this list and see how it goes.

1. Beat the clock:
2. Break down tasks into sub-tasks:
   • You can do this recursively until you’re working with chunks that are small enough to seem manageable.
3. Switch locations:
4. Eliminate as many temptations as possible. Examples:
   • Turn off your phone, put it in another room, give it to a (responsible) other person.
   • Turn off your Wi-Fi if you don’t need it, on the computer or for your household (obviously ask anyone else who might be using it first)
5. Try the pomodoro method:

Got 1-2 strategies? Perfect. If it’s something that doesn’t involve immediate action I like to write them down on a post it note and put it somewhere I will see.

Questions for thought:

• What are the immediate consequences of semi/pseudo-productively procrastinating right now?
• What are the long term consequences?
• What are the long term consequences of reinforcing this habit?