Autism and procrastination

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I prefer tests to essays.

With tests, you walk in, sit down, write for 2 or 3 hours, and you're done.

With essays, you can procrastinate for weeks (years if it is a thesis), and NOT get it done. If you're lucky, you end up pulling an all-nighter to get it done at the very last moment. Might as well do a test - at least they are scheduled during the daytime.

That is how I got through my undergraduate course (exams and last minute essays), and that is why I don't have a doctorate or masters by thesis: I finished the coursework (eventually), but could never get my act together for the thesis.

Procrastination is killing me, i am never on time. My research advisor must be tired of seeing that i always have half the job done, or that i look like i'm lost when he's explaining something to me.

I am seriusly considering Prescription Drugs (from a psychyatrist).

I'm a horrible procrastinator. The fact that I'm typing this right now means that I'm procrastinating. Someone mentioned theses - well, I've been in grad school on and off for the last 10 years. (Master's completed, doctoral coursework completed 5 years ago; dissertation unfinished.) When I lived by myself, I was constantly getting my utilities shut off because I would put off paying bills. I just did laundry yesterday for the first time in well over a month. (Good thing I have a lot of clothes - my wife and relatives seem to always buy me clothes for some reason.) The fact that I'm really forgetful doesn't help. (Well, "forgetful" in the usual sense. I can recite whole passages from Finnegans Wake from memory without thinking about it, but ask me what I did yesterday or what I need to do tomorrow and you'll get a blank stare.)
Apropos tasklists, I've just never been able to make that work for me. I just end up staring at this piece of paper with everything I need to do on it, and it intimidates me and makes me nervous. It's funny - I love lists of facts - I could compile lists of stuff all day long, and have done so many times, but lists of things to do scare me.
When I was in high school, my parents bought me a planner to write down my homework assignments. I ended up using it write poetry and wierd facts and plans for crazy schemes during class. Later, I bought one of the first pocket PCs to keep track of stuff, and I ended up using it mostly to play SimCity while waiting for the bus.

I guess this is where I am worst.
I am in no way inhibited from my poor organizational skills and need for sameness and powerful special interests by need for routine.
Actually, I somewhat protest against routine.
I find myself not wanting to be bound by routines.

I am not bound by routine, I am a free man!

I have a substantial amount of work to do for school, but I'm always distracted by my routine and favorite activities. I get home from school, go to sleep, and wake up to do work. I concentrate on work, but I look at my piano or canvases and decide to work later.

I suggest to really restrict everything until you finish what is main priority.

Never do today what can be put off till tomorrow.
Nuff said.
~Kate

I'm terrible. I'd assumed this has something to do with executive function problems.