I love your column and am so looking forward to meeting you tomorrow! I also have Adhd and just yesterday someone asked me what is the biggest thing I wish I could control or change about myself. Instant answer? Procrastination.
I can tell you after the fact that you did an amazing job with Open Secrets Live, which means you got the right stuff done and prioritized! It went seamlessly, from my POV, and you created a welcoming space for everyone. Congrats!🎉
thanks for this Rachel, I relate so much that I upgraded to paid subscriber. The time I spend procrastinating on a story could be a short novel by the time I get to it. And I always have to ask editors for a deadline - if not I will procrastinate forever. If I could just find someone to give me deadlines on Substack!
Rachel, I love this, especially the part about how you worry you're being too open and that acknowledging your procrastination may impact how others see you. My daughter and I have ADHD, too, which mostly means we give each other grace as we collaborate on our many creative projects. As someone who taught for decades, my ADHD students were often the ones who soared, even when they waited until the last minute to do their work. I bet Open Secrets Live is going to be great, and the teacher in me can't help but end with some advice: When you find yourself in procrastination hell, give yourself some grace.
All of this. I recognized all of it, even the self talk that masquerades as hype (but actually behaves like sabotage). And what’s more, I recognized my teenage daughter in this essay… and the ways I watch her slip between deadlines, push her perfectionism to the surface so that nothing gets done, wait until things are just right. Gosh. I wonder where she learned these tricks. 🫣 Thanks for sharing!
I love your column and am so looking forward to meeting you tomorrow! I also have Adhd and just yesterday someone asked me what is the biggest thing I wish I could control or change about myself. Instant answer? Procrastination.
I can tell you after the fact that you did an amazing job with Open Secrets Live, which means you got the right stuff done and prioritized! It went seamlessly, from my POV, and you created a welcoming space for everyone. Congrats!🎉
thanks for this Rachel, I relate so much that I upgraded to paid subscriber. The time I spend procrastinating on a story could be a short novel by the time I get to it. And I always have to ask editors for a deadline - if not I will procrastinate forever. If I could just find someone to give me deadlines on Substack!
Rachel, I love this, especially the part about how you worry you're being too open and that acknowledging your procrastination may impact how others see you. My daughter and I have ADHD, too, which mostly means we give each other grace as we collaborate on our many creative projects. As someone who taught for decades, my ADHD students were often the ones who soared, even when they waited until the last minute to do their work. I bet Open Secrets Live is going to be great, and the teacher in me can't help but end with some advice: When you find yourself in procrastination hell, give yourself some grace.
All of this. I recognized all of it, even the self talk that masquerades as hype (but actually behaves like sabotage). And what’s more, I recognized my teenage daughter in this essay… and the ways I watch her slip between deadlines, push her perfectionism to the surface so that nothing gets done, wait until things are just right. Gosh. I wonder where she learned these tricks. 🫣 Thanks for sharing!
Procrastinators unite! ✊ Hope your event was a blast!