--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I get the most work done when I'm…" description: "\"“I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While avoiding an unpleasant task, I find several other tasks twice as unpleasant, and get those ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg" --- # I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While… ![“I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While avoiding an unpleasant task, I find several other tasks twice as unpleasant, and get those out of the way first.” quote by Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg) > ““I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While avoiding an unpleasant task, I find several other tasks twice as unpleasant, and get those out of the way first.”” [Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Procrastination can be a strategic tool to prioritize unpleasant tasks by tackling them first. **In simple terms:** Do hardest tasks first. Key Takeaway Prioritize tough tasks. Themes productivity self‑management psychology Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - work deadlines - study sessions - home chores Key Concepts task prioritization motivation Questions to Reflect On - Which tasks are truly unpleasant versus perceived? - How does this strategy affect long‑term stress? A Different Perspective If procrastination leads to avoidance, it can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Procrastinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastinating/) [Procrastinating Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastinating-avoiding-4009865/) [Tasks Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks-twice-4009866/) [Unpleasant Task](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpleasant-task-3669093/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-done/) [Work Procrastinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-procrastinating-4009864/) ## Related quotes > [“Whenever you have an unpleasant task to do, my favorite quote is from my mom. "Just back your ears and do it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-sikes/whenever-you-have-an-unpleasant-task-to-do-my-favorite-quote-is-from/) [Jan Sikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-sikes/) > [The best way to finish an unpleasant task is to get started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-way-to-finish-an-unpleasant-task-is-to-get-started/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll sometimes hear from people that they actually do a better job of getting their work done when they have a lot of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/you-ll-sometimes-hear-from-people-that-they-actually-do-a-better-job/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [Potential is an excuse to procrastinate; Ambition is a means to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-king/potential-is-an-excuse-to-procrastinate-ambition-is-a-means-to-thrive/) [Donovan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-king/) > [“I hate procrastinating, so much so that I often do my homework on Friday so it won’t be hanging over my head all weekend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrington/i-hate-procrastinating-so-much-so-that-i-often-do-my-homework-on/) [Kim Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrington/) > [“Procrastination threatens to rob us of those things that are most important in our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/procrastination-threatens-to-rob-us-of-those-things-that-are-most/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [I am a person who works well under pressure. In fact, I work so well under pressure that at times, I will procrastinate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-am-a-person-who-works-well-under-pressure-in-fact-i-work-so-well/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [I'm a big believer in putting things off, In fact, I even put off procrastinating. -Ella Varner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-m-a-big-believer-in-putting-things-off-in-fact-i-even-put-off/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [It is my greatest misfortune to be too lazy, and by the few mortifications I have already set with on that account I predict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/it-is-my-greatest-misfortune-to-be-too-lazy-and-by-the-few/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [The whole thing of working in all these different mediums, it's just so that I can always be playing hooky from one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/the-whole-thing-of-working-in-all-these-different-mediums-it-s-just/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some people procrastinate so much that all they can do is run around like firefighters all day - putting out fires that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/some-people-procrastinate-so-much-that-all-they-can-do-is-run-around/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [“The sooner you finish procrastinating, the sooner you can get back to your art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lennox/the-sooner-you-finish-procrastinating-the-sooner-you-can-get-back-to/) [Stephanie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lennox/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [i have no point in procrastinating any longer..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-rheta-schreiber/i-have-no-point-in-procrastinating-any-longer/) [Flora Rheta Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-rheta-schreiber/) ## More by Marcia K. Matthews > [“Whenever you meet someone who's different, think of three other things about that person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/whenever-you-meet-someone-who-s-different-think-of-three-other-things/) [Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) > [“BE KIND to your future self. Leave things as you would wish to find them tomorrow. You never wake up and say, "I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/be-kind-to-your-future-self-leave-things-as-you-would-wish-to-find/) [Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) > [“Nothing always anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/nothing-always-anything/) [Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) > [“DON'T BOTHER with a lot of make-up. People only see the general impression. You look fine as long as you don't scare the horses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/don-t-bother-with-a-lot-of-make-up-people-only-see-the-general/) [Marcia K. Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) [Explore all 5 Marcia K. Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/) ## More Maxims quotes > [I see a lot of true artists... then you see them on the cover of Maxim. That's the lowest of low to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-see-a-lot-of-true-artists-then-you-see-them-on-the-cover-of-maxim/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/) [Francis Landey Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-landey-patton/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I could fight with the living but I could not fight the dead. If there was some woman in London that Maxim loved, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/i-could-fight-with-the-living-but-i-could-not-fight-the-dead-if-there/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [These maxims and the art of interpreting them may be said to constitute the premisses of science but I prefer to call them our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/these-maxims-and-the-art-of-interpreting-them-may-be-said-to/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Men cannot labor on always. They must have intervals of relaxation. They cannot sleep through these intervals. What are they to do? Why, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orville-dewey/men-cannot-labor-on-always-they-must-have-intervals-of-relaxation/) [Orville Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orville-dewey/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The maxims tell you to aim at perfection, which is well; but it's unattainable, all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/the-maxims-tell-you-to-aim-at-perfection-which-is-well-but-it-s/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [“I have two maxims that I believe, dear girl. One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-have-two-maxims-that-i-believe-dear-girl-one-if-you-can-control/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Children have almost an intuitive discernment between the maxims you bring forward for their use, and those by which you direct your own conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/children-have-almost-an-intuitive-discernment-between-the-maxims-you/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) [Browse all 487 Maxims quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While avoiding an unpleasant task, I find several other tasks twice as unpleasant, and get those out of the way first.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcia K. Matthews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procrastinating-while-avoiding-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Maxims" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procrastinating-while-avoiding-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/marcia-k-matthews-59223_maxims_i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procra_2883516.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I get the most work done when I'm procrastinating. While avoiding an unpleasant task, I find several other…” — Marcia K. Matthews", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcia K. Matthews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-k-matthews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I get the most work done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procrastinating-while-avoiding-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-k-matthews/i-get-the-most-work-done-when-i-m-procrastinating-while-avoiding-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```