non-interesting = non-important?

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Does anyone else ever have trouble registering things that aren't interesting as things that must be done anyway?

I have missed my first 2 days of math and history simply because it is not registering at the time that it must be done. However, English and Ethics I'm making it to with little problem besides a lot of fatigue. I'm having a lot of difficulty figuring out why this is happening despite the fact that I never have done really well in either of those classes, the only other answer is that I'm able to push it off to the side so incredibly easy because I'm simply not interested in it. I've done this with meetings (at my last job), plans with my boyfriend, etc. It isn't that I don't realize I HAVE to do these things, it is just that at the exact moment, I see it as optional for some reason.

I cannot deny that I must make it to the classes later, and I'm praying the instructors don't kick me out after missing the first 2 classes and that they are at least semi-understanding. But it's just really annoying that I can do this so easily. My boyfriend says I need to apply myself, I need to force myself, etc. Which, I guess is true, but it is difficult to force myself at the actual time that I need to leave, because I don't see the importance of it.... it's quite a vicious cycle.

I was just wondering if anyone else does something similar and how your experiences are. Are there ways you get around it? Is there a way to force it to be interesting? Do you bail out on things easily too and beat yourself up later for it? lol, what are your thoughts?

Yes, I forget to do things that aren't important to me.

I have a terrible memory to begin with, and it only gets worse when my subconscious forgets stuff my conscious mind has been dutifully trying to remember.

Like paying bills, calling family, assignments that are due.

People tell me to get organized, but the act of organizing and planning this stuff has to be remembered too...

Bingo! Organizing is on my list of things to do....eventually......

And none of my bills would ever get paid if it weren't for automatic bank withdrawals via online bill paying! And I believe in paying one's bills, it's just, well.........

Oh Boy.
For the past 3 weeks I have been telling myself I have to go and mail some forms that are really important.
I keep saying "Oh, I didnt get it done today, MUST be done tomorrow".
Half of the days I didnt even remember that I was supposed to think about sending the forms.
I get caught up in my own little world and totally forget about important non-interesting things.
I accidently forgot about my moms bday the other day too.
Try not to get into the habbit of missing classes. Once you do it a few times, then your brain will say,
"well, ive already missed a lot, whats missing one more class"? and before you know it you're surprised
at how much youve missed.

Yeah I keep meaning to get an organizer/planner, but I keep forgetting and putting it off.....

Thats so me.

I know; it's me too. I stop focusing on WHY I have to do them and start focusing on the fact THAT I have to do them... and then I get bored and anxious and antsy and depressed! If I didn't slip down into that so much I'd be able to keep doing those things! Is it depression? Is it borderline personality disorder?

I need to just bite the bullet and set that stuff up. I don't have many bills, I usually just wait until they send me a letter saying it's very past due service will be interrupted if you don't pay... then I instantly go and pay it. I am just glad there is online bill pay, so I don't have to worry about getting stamps and sending out mail.

It's called the miracle of writing things down in a planner/schedule/to-do list.

The reality is that a lot of "have to's" really are just "shoulds"imposed by some illogical external beings.Meaning that if you dont do them,you may have no or little negative effect.(except fot the anxiety of not knowing if there will be consequences,which truly sucks.)I know this because I have been a major procrastinator for most of my life.Some things did result in bad things happening but a lot of them did not.So it reinforces the behavior of avoiding things I dont like to do.It's like part of me is always testing how far I can take it.Turns out,it's pretty far in many cases.

I had classes that I barely went to except for test days and I managed to pass them with b's and c's.Brought down my GPA but in the over all scheme of my life it didnt really have any effect.I didnt have the money to get into grad school or the inclination to get a job in my field anyway.What benifit did I get from skipping the classes?Well,more sleep which may have helped me survive school in general,instead of getting burned out like many I saw.I spent some of the time reading books instead of listening to a teacher "read" the days lessons to us like we were in 3rd grade(why do they get paid for this,it isnt teaching?)


So,not to incurage procrastination but you may look at your life as if you are a "thing" with only so many resources/energy,and need to figure out what is possible to avoid with the least amount of loss?Actually disregaurd all the above,lol.It's what my therapist call "rationalizing negative behavior".It's really fun but counter-productive in the long run.

But then you have to remember to look at it, or write in it at all :/

I actually have one of those, but it does me no good as I frequently lose the thing. I have made lists on the computer, etc., but I can't take them with me and I never remember to print them up when needed.

I have this book that has the days in increments of time, like, hour to half hour marks so I can put things specifically where I need them. I used it for a bit, but then I miss a day of writing down what to do, and for some reason I can't figure out what to do to keep things in order. I see missing days in it, then I get frustrated because it's not nice and orderly, or I try to fill in what I did do the day before and I forget to put the day I need to, etc.

I can't really plan ahead, even with an organizer because if something different happens than what is planned, the whole day is thrown off, making my planning useless. Organization and planning would be nice, but how the heck do you plan in unexpected situations, and how do you get back on track once that has been thrown off?

I have terrible issues doing anything that is not in my immediate line of interest...similarly, I have terrible issues listening to anything that is uninteresting to me Bills, letters to post, things to pay, dentists, doctors...I am bad at all of that and my mother keeps asking me each time she sees me and I smile, 'When are you going to get your teeth done, Kate, I've offered to pay'

I'm glad i'm not the only one. I'm horrible for putting stuff off, and I think it's entirely because it's uninteresting. Bills, classes I didn't fancy, sending off my lease agreement, even work lately... and the thing is, it bugs me, I know I shouldn't do it and I'm just hurting myself by doing it. But I keep doing it. Weird...

Have you considered a PDA? I have a PalmOS Z22, very useful. You can synchronise it with your PC, set alarms & reminders.

Hello, nobodyzdream. I'm 45, and totally understand all of the above problems. Even not leaving to mail something. These problems and trying to learn to overcome them are part of my desire for a dx.

But, my daughter has one. And one thing you could try, that helps her, is an dry erase board. They come with all kinds of time lines, so choose one that fits you and your needs(daily by the month might work best).

Write your difficult things in a color you hate.....you cant erase it until you do it!

Dont make times for things that arent important, but write times for the classes. Write other things in a favorite color. You will likely do them, as you like them, right?

Get your boyfriend to help you! I have my husband tell me when i must leave the house. I will not if he doesnt. They didnt even have daytimers when i was coming up, so i'm helpless with them. But, my husband works in an office, and uses a calendar everyday, so i get him to write things down. You might have your boyfriend write things on your board for you, that way, it is like him telling you to do it.

Remember, you are trying to play a trick on yourself, so dont be too astute!lol Just follow the words!

Do you all agree that a life manager would be something autism centers could maybe offer and fund for these kinds of things??

tygereyes