Does anyone else procrastinate by playing chess?

I work from home and I spend a lot of time playing chess, or using it to stay away from other tasks I need to do.

I think i do this because it's easier to justify to myself as chess feels more like a "productive"/"intellectual" activity compared to watching youtube or netflix or playing some videogame, but if it's used to delay other more important tasks it effectively becomes the same thing.

Hello

I would imagine that almost all of us who have a problem with procrastination, sometimes use chess as a way to procrastinate. Within the context of a chess game, you know exactly what you are supposed to be doing. You may play well or poorly but there's a clear, objective standard. You have a sense of purpose. It's an oasis of order within which you can temporarily escape the surrounding desert of chaos (if you're procrastinating, your self-control is in a state of failure which I would regard as chaos). But if you're playing game after game to avoid doing what you're supposed to be doing, the chaos tends to seep into your game anyway, which will make you play a little worse and enjoy the game less. At least that's my experience.

@JSLigon Yes it seems easy to justify and it can be pretty low-effort and low-pressure (In particular I mostly play blitz or even bullet). I guess you don't really have to put much effort in if you don't want to, you can kinda just go through the motions and move pieces whereas learning a new skill or hobby can be intimidating or challenging and you can fail in an unpleasant way

I have ADHD, and procrastination is what I do on an hourly basis. And chess is one beautiful way of procrastinating, really. Usually I play video games, but most video games can seem like they are dulling my mind in the long run. Chess on the other hand helps with the need to improve my concentration. 😂

I also agree with @JSLigon that chess is an "oasis of order". The life of ADHD-ers is one vast whirlwind of chaos induced by inattention and impulsivity. When playing chess, it does feel good to experience a sense of structure for a change. 😵

Bullet and even (for most of us) blitz are not "oasis of order" , if one seeks concentration and "oasis of order" should start
learning GO or foreign languages grammar ...

Dave,

Get back to work!

Kind Regards,

Your boss