Productive Procrastination

Hello, my name is Danielle and I am a procrastinator. 

Phew, I am glad that's out the way!

A problem shared is a problem halved, the first step is admitting you have a problem...phrases of that nature and all that crap....yep.

Procrastination is both a problem and a hobby of mine. I find myself mindlessly procrastinating over the smallest of tasks, sometimes I procrastinate over making dinner. Awful, I know. 

I thought once I hit my final year of uni (yay!), that I would almost grow out of procrastinating, and that the sheer pressure of having to write a dissertation, whilst running a society, maintaining my obviously very fleeting social life, stopping myself becoming obese (whoops...), and managing to actually get enough sleep, would be enough to force me out of this professional procrastinator title I have given myself.

Did it hell.

Having said that, I find myself now productively procrastinating. 

Uh huh, that is actually a thing. I am actually going to insert Urban Dictionary below, just to feel a lot better about myself.

It would appear that I have been given as an example. I need help.

Instead of binge watching anime on Netflix (I am still a teeny bit guilty of this on the odd occasion when I give in to the temptation), I now find myself tidying, hoovering, actually making a proper meal, and the worst of all....making lists of the things I am procrastinating over. 

To-do lists are my life.

I treated (using this term loosely) myself to a whiteboard the other day, simply because I thought (echem, knew) it would help me keep in check with what I should be doing, where I should be going, and when I should be doing things.  

So far, so good. 

Ish.

I am still procrastinating...possibly less so productively considering I should probably be doing work right now instead of procrastinating by writing about procrastinating about procrastinating over the things I was originally procrastinating over.

Ow. Does your brain hurt, too? Sorry. 

The silver lining to my ever greying cloud? I am actually several thousands of words ahead of where I need to be. I have actually been told, nay ordered, to take a break and go home. 

Who'd have thought? Danielle the serial procrastinator being told off for doing too much work?

Miracles do happen!

So, please make me feel better about my life and tell me your procrastination stories in the comments below. I don't want to be alone!

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Things uni has taught me

So it occurred to me the other day whilst I was sat on the sofa when I probably should have been doing something, that I learned a lot at university last year. I mean, not just educationally related to my course, but also life lessons and other random bits and bobs. 

For any of you who haven't been to university, or aren't old enough yet, then take note. I guarantee you that these little life lessons will become very valuable to you in the future!

#1 - Drinking on a Monday night is perfectly acceptable
Not only is it acceptable, but it is actively encouraged!

#2 - All night library sessions will become second nature
Always a great way to finish that essay due in the morning.

#3 - 40% is the new 80%
I shit you not, if I get anything over 40% I am one happy bunny.

#4 - You can drink in celebration or commiseration 
Passed your exams? Drink! Failed your exams? Drink!

#5 - Missing a lecture is acceptable as long as your best friend does too
I mean, if you miss out then they should too, right?

#6 - You can make any meal with baked beans
They go with everything....literally everything.

#7 - Getting hammered on a tenner is acceptable
Who needs expensive drinks anyway?

#8 - Cheese makes everything taste better
Or you can just eat cheese. Either way.

#9 - Fancy dress is not just for kids
I guarantee you will see at least one group of fancy dress per night out.

#10 - Spending multiple days on the sofa is OK
This is something I actively encourage to be fair.

#11 - Going out in a onesie is encouraged
Uni essentials: ridiculous onesie.

#12 - Flirting with someone to get a free drink is OK
This may or may not be the best tactic to get a free drink.

#13 - Kitchen roll is multi-purpose
Clean the kitchen, clean your room, wear it, sell it, anything.

#14 - Kitchen essentials will sprout legs
The sooner you can accept that your cutlery will grow legs and run away, the better.

#15 - 9am lectures are a myth...right?
What's 9am?

#16 - New procrastination methods will be learned
From watching an entire series of new TV, to tidying the house.

#17 - There is always that one housemate...
There will always be one that you won't get on with all the time.

#18 - Freshers Flu is a given
You will get it. It is unavoidable.

#19 - If you even ask if you should go out, you will always go out
As soon as you question it, you know it will happen. It takes like 5 seconds to decide.

#20 - Drinking to cure a hangover works
I shit you not, this is the best cure.

#21 - First year counts as nout
Get 40% and drink the year away.

#22 - Although actively discouraged, Wikipedia is good background info
Your lecturers will hate it, everyone else will love it.

#23 - Always have a back-up deck of cards
You will lose some to alcohol poisoning.

#24 - Having money is a thing of the past
Watch your money walk out your bank account.

#25 - Food several days past the sell by date is still edible
If it isn't moudly, it is fine.

#26 - Anything can be made in to a drinking game
Films, TV shows, people...you will learn.

#27 - Mixing strong drinks is a spectacularly bad idea
Yet we all still do it every time.

#28 - Wine is a great pre-drink
Gets you hammered in half the time!

#29 - Cheap alcohol will become your best friend
Just get used to it.

#30 - Having breakfast at 1am is acceptable
Don't question it, just do it.

#31 - Learning how to sleep on demand should be on your CV
This is something I am very proud of.

#32 - At least one trip to A&E a year is average
Drunken injuries....

#33 - "I'm never drinking again" is a common phrase you will use several times a week
Even though you know that you will be drinking again...probably the same day.


So as you can see I have learned a hell of a lot...

Just remember if you are going to drink a lot, at least get 40% to pass your year! Remember: work hard, party harder. 

As always thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post and want to hear more from me then click "Join This Site" to be notified of when I post!

Speak to you next time!

Toodles!

Please drink responsibly.

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Writers block

Hello there, buddies.

First of all, by the time I probably finally get around to publishing this it will probably be Sunday....I am terrible, sorry. But it has been a long day; I have been to my lovely cousin's wedding! I want nothing more than to jump in to my bed and blare a bit of One Direction until I go to bed (don't judge me). So apologies in advance.

Since getting home from the wedding I have been constantly saying to myself that I should probably write my blog post today but then every time I have gone and done something different. Don't hate me. Then I finally nagged myself to sit down and do it....then when it did come to writing my post, I genuinely had NO idea what to write. Writers block is a bitch. Even now I am struggling with writing this. This might have something to do with the levels of alcohol in my system....(my under 18 viewers, this is not encouraging you to drink, tut tut). So naturally I thought I would tell you about all the things I have done since getting in to avoid writing my post.

Well, here we go!

BROWSE TUMBLR
Yes, this is so beyond typical of me. Every time I get on the internet (all the time) I tell myself that I will take a quick look on Tumblr then get off it and do something productive. Then every time I am on Tumblr for about 4 hours....no exaggeration. Although today I have only been on Tumblr for like 2 hours....be proud.

UPLOAD PICTURES TO FACEBOOK
To be honest I do have an excuse for this considering I was at a wedding today! But I did look through my pictures of the wedding, then upload them...then tag them...then look through it again. Then I messages my mum to let her know the pictures are there. Yeah I really went out of my way with those pictures didn't I?

WATCH A YOUTUBE VIDEO...OR TWO...OR 15
I can guarantee you aren't shocked at this either, right? You guys already know what I am like with YouTube. I started off by watching Caspar Lee's new video (click on his name!) then it escalated by watching a video of Dan's then Vikki told me to go drool over Phil instead....so I did. Yeah....I spent a lot of time on YouTube tonight....

MADE A CUPPA
I made a rather nice cup of tea in an attempt to cure my writers block. As you can guess, it didn't work.

HAD A CURRY
I reheated some of the curry I had a couple of days ago, and made some extra rice. I thought my brain might need some food after a long day. Bear in mind it was already about half past midnight by this point.

MADE ANOTHER CUPPA
In a bid to give my brain some more juice, I had another cup of tea. Turns out this just makes me really need to pee instead. Too much information, Danielle. Sorry.

THREW AWAY MY CURRY
For some reason, my brain did not comprehend the fact that as a rule I really don't like reheated food. So as you can see, my brain is really scrambled at this point! I just thew the curry in the bin 'cause it didn't taste as good as when I made it in the first place. 

ARRANGED MY BLOG NOTES
I am quite an organised person so I have two notepads full of stuff related to my blog. One of them I use for planning each blog post, and the other has loads of stray pieces of paper on it with ideas on. So I organised the two so they they sort of correspond properly to each post. Yep, I was really avoiding writing at this point.

HOOVERED
I ran the hoover round my living room. I didn't even need to considering I did it during the day and both the dog and I had been out all day. Procrastination like a pro. For more ways to procrastinate like a pro, you can read my 10 ways how to here!

DID MARIO AND LUIGI IMPRESSIONS TO MYSELF
Yes, this happened. 

CONTEMPLATED MY LIFE
After a day at a wedding filled with couples, I sat and contemplated where I am in my life, and where I want to be in a few years time. Shit got real deep here, folks.

COMPLAINED TO MY DOG
Following that contemplation I complained to my dog about where I am in life. My dog looked at me as if I am mad. Then again, I was talking to a dog...

WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS A FEW TIMES
Maybe walking would inspire me to write something? I did have the idea about writing something about stairs. Be glad that didn't happen.

MORE YOUTUBE
You would think that I had watched every video on YouTube by now, wouldn't you?

PLAITED MY HAIR
I can't even explain why I did this.

REALISED MY HAIR IS TOO SHORT TO PLAIT
Yeah, since having loads of my hair cut off, I can't plait my hair properly. Not that I ever plaited my hair in the first place.

ADMIRE MY SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS PAJAMAS
Yes, I have Spongebob PJs. I am just that cool, guys. They are also from the mens section in Primark..... 

REALISED I'M AN IDIOT
By this point I felt really bad about keeping you guys waiting for my post and that I am an idiot because I have so many things written down that I could write about.

STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO WRITE
By the time I finally sat down to actually write something, and having looked through my list of about 100 ideas, I had no idea what to write. Still. Sorry.

I GAVE UP
I literally gave up and thought I would bore you with this shit....not my best work, I know. But maybe you might enjoy reading what I do when I get writers bloc


So then guys, I hope you enjoyed this terrible post. If you did then don't forget to hit "join this site" to subscribe to me, that would mean a lot!

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Do comment if you ever get writers block, and any tips you might have for anyone!

Thanks for reading!

Toodle-oo, peeps.

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10 ways how to procrastinate like a pro

Hello there, buddies!

If you know me you will know that I am extremely good at procrastinating. I also always fall to doing my work the last minute after procrastinating for about 2 months then panicking. I am pretty sure this applies more to uni students, but I did this at A Level also, and it could apply to GCSE's; listen up kiddies! So without further ado here are my awesome 10 ways how I procrastinate.


1. Sit down to do work, write the title, have a break.
I am guilty of doing this. All the time. I always get the motivation to do my work then sit down to do it, write only the title and poof, motivation gone. I have no idea why this happens but it always does. Then I do it consistently for 6 weeks then realise that my essay is due in the next day. Then do it again for a few hours and then finally write it.

2. Tidy your entire room, including your wardrobe (even if it is spotless).
Yes, I do this also. My room is usually relatively tidy, but when I have work to do it looks as if a bomb has hit it. I will find any little tiny thing to tidy - including the pins on my pin board. Then I will go through my entire wardrobe sorting it out in a bid to make everything tidier. Gah this sounds like I have OCD - I don't. Deary me. I need a life.

3. Watch an entire TV series.
Last time I needed to do an essay I ended up watching an entire season of Man V Food. Then True Blood. Then Desperate Housewives. Then realised that I should do some work. But didn't do work - oopsie. I also stopped watching Eastenders in a bid to stop doing work, but now I actually like it and I still watch it. Oh well. This way has probably been the reason that I didn't do as well as I could have done on a couple of my essays. So I would recommend that you do this one carefully, haha!

4. Have a nap.
Yup, you read that right. Grab some shut eye! Even if this is a good method of procrastination it can actually help. I know, I am actually trying to help now! Sleep can help refresh your brain which means that you might actually be able to write your essay when you wake up.

5. Browse the internet.
Another one which I fall victim to all the time. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Daily Mail, 9gag, BBC iplayer - all reasons why I don't ever get anything done. It's all technology's fault. Stupid modern times. Stupid brain getting sidetracked by everything.

6. Start a blog.
I started my original blog (on Walt Disney World in Florida) as a means of procrastination. I spent like hours a day doing research for it - I still do with this blog, but it requires slightly less research. Starting a blog is also a great way to let off steam. I know what the first year can be like; new home, new people, stress of living on your own bla bla bla. So you can write all your feelings down on a blog and feel so much better about it! Just try not to let it get too much in the way of your work, because you won't get anywhere if you don't try!

7. Download a new app and play it for hours.
This happened to me and Temple Run 2, Fruit Ninja and Fall Down 2. Jeez, they are so addictive. Well done, app creators. This can be seriously bad, as you can see. I played Temple Run 2 continuously for like 2 hours 4 days before my essay was due in. Whoops. Don't follow in my footsteps, dudes.

8. Organise your work.
I know that both Vikki and I do this. When our final essays were due in, our work was in a much better condition and was all filed away than what it had been throughout the entire year. That is awful, isn't it?....Wow. This procrastination tip can work both ways: it means that you aren't doing your work, but you are organising it at the same time. Yay!

9. Go shopping, buy a new video game, play it for hours.
Two tips in one here, dudes. Going shopping is a great break, but a great procrastination tip. I did this, then went to buy a new game (in the form of Roller Coaster Tycoon 3) and then continued to play it for about 12 hours before realising I had an essay due in. Genius, Danielle, absolutely wonderful. I still managed to get the work done though. Impressed? You should be,

10. Panic about not having done your work.
I have been victim to doing all of these in one go, then done this one right at the end. This is the worst one I think. It means that your brain goes into "holy shit" mode and you will never get anywhere and will never get anything done. So try and chill, buddies.


Having now said this, I am shocked I passed my first year....

Disclaimer: I am not promoting not doing your work! Please make sure that you actually do your work!

If you do any of these, or have any different ones then leave a comment in the box below!

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That's all for now, so speak laters.

Toodle-oo!

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