If I'm in a really bad phase of procrastinating, I make a list of things I have to do, and break them down into bits. Then I write when I'm going to do each bit in my diary,a nd try and change what I'm doing about every two hours. Then the time can't run away with you so much, and if you finish something early, you're allowed to procrastinate for a bit!

Hope that helps!

I agree with the list idea. when I'm experiencing an especially bad bout of procrastination I will create a list "to do's" which include both my research goals as well as other, more mundane things I need to accomplish. I will allot a limited time for each activity (i.e. one hour) and then move to the next item. The goal is not to necessarily complete the activity but rather to fully engage for a "limited" amount of time. I find I usually only need to do this for a day or so and then I get back on track.

The list idea is great, and I take it one step further. I actually make a schedule for myself. So, for instance, from 8-10 I will review X articles. From 10-12 I will sketch out the intro, then lunch, then work out, or whatever, etc.

Keeping the work in 2-hour blocks and mixing up the tasks makes it easier for me to stay on track and not get too bogged down in the "Oh my god I'll never get this done" mindset.

Im the same, total list person! It is a good thing though because when you cross that item off you feel you have achieved something. Keep going i say!

It is also a good idea to take a look at your work environment. Working at home is not really a very good idea - there are too many ways to get distracted and do something else instead. I love to lock myself in my office with nothing but me and my work available to me. (no possibility of killing time by watching TV, chatting with roommates/family, cooking elaborate dishes, cleaning the apartment one more time, etc). It's better to take seriously the task of creating a non-distracting work environment.

Writing down a task list or even work schedule is also a good idea. I do that a lot.

There is no human being who can sit and efficiently work from 9-5 everyday (if there is please get in touch as i want to study your brain!). Procrastination is an indication of many things. Either you don't know where to start, you are scared to start in case you can't do the task, you may have other things on your mind, or you may be just little drained...amongst a myriad of other things. I never rate my productivity in terms of hours...this is a big mistake. I know people who spend an entire day in the office doing very little in the way of productive work. However, they don't feel guilty because they were in the office all day so they surely must have done lots of work!

Instead, work out what is causing your procrastination and tackle it. If it is starting that is the problem don't start at the beginning but write up something you can do (methodology or results or even just all the titles of the sections).

If it is self doubt (you may not even be aware of this!) then talk it through with a friend. Remember that doing a successful phd is not contingent on super intelligence, it just hard work and being pig headed about it!

If you are tired or have other things on your mind then don't persist with procrastination, take breaks, have a tea/coffee/(pint?...hmm perhaps not) even if you only had one half an hour ago. A 15 minute break followed by an 45 mins of work is better than half an hour of procrastination and half an hour of productive work.

Just sitting in your office, in front of your computer, wondering about what to cook for dinner is not work. But, cooking dinner while thinking about your phd is work (horray for academia!)

The last thing is to not feel bad if you feel like you didn't get anything done. Your mind still works away in the background thinking about things even when you are not aware of it. You will have productive days and nonproductive days, that is what makes us human.

Procrastination is such an integral part of doing a doctorate that there is a section on it on the Vitae website:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1233/Procrastination-and-perfectionism.html

hope you find it useful- let me know!

The most recent cartoon on Postgraduate Toolbox sums up the situation for many people quite nicely I think. http://www.postgraduatetoolbox.net/cartoons

I came across this while I was procrastinating on the internet....

I thought it was hilarious and very true.

http://phdblog.net/how-true/

I also often find myself doing more internet research to put off starting to write! There is so much out there that it is often a good excuse to read just one more article because it is the easy option compared to knuckling down and writing.

I also just found this blog post, which has some good advice on improving productivity: http://matt.might.net/articles/productivity-tips-hints-hacks-tricks-for-grad-students-academics/

As an update to my previous post - I came across this procrastinator's Twitter feed which is something you might want to check out.

http://twitter.com/#!/procrastwriter

Brilliant - was mesmerised by these fish!! Only after a little while did I realise they gravitate towards your cursor!

You might also like this little 1min 20 sec cartoon movie a friend sent to me which shows how infectiousness 'procrastination can be!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P785j15Tzk

Brilliant. In my group we had a similar series of events going. We also had a Pie Day. Fortunately one of our group members was a really good cook.

I agree with what you say about procrastinating as a group - although we did have one guy who persisted in what he called 'Hawaiian Shirt Friday' every week for three years without anyone else ever joining in. It made him happy at least.

Bit of Christmas procrastination that I just discovered! Not too much of a guilty procrastination session because its only 3 minutes long and it is 22nd Dec after all!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/digital-nativity-story-video_n_799405.html