---
title: "On Being \"Sloppy\""
description: What is sloppiness and how do we address it?
---

![burger-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/burger-icon.svg) 

[![Kourosh Dini - Homepage](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com)

![close-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/close-icon.svg)

- [Blog page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Courses & Books page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)
- [About page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Waves of Focus page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/waves-of-focus)

![Search](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg)

[![at-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/at-icon.svg)](mailto:kmdini@gmail.com)

[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)

# On Being "Sloppy"

Nov 06, 2017 

![](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/blog%20image.webp)

# What Does Being Sloppy Mean?

How often have you accused yourself of being “sloppy”? You forgot something, you missed something, little bits and pieces of things got lost, or things could have just looked better.

Similar to self-accusations of “laziness”, being sloppy is actually something we become when we call ourselves that. We spend a bit of self-esteem and get to get out of work. It can also be a protective measure. It protects us from the fear that we may be failures were we to try. The problem is that the impact on our selves and our environments makes things that much harder for ourselves.

Being sloppy is not a state of being. Thoroughness, perhaps its opposite, is a matter of practice.

Instead, sloppiness is about not addressing work, acknowledging its completeness or lack thereof. This blindspot often occurs *at the closing of a session*.

We may leave work incomplete because we were distracted by something more interesting. We may feel that our best work is done by shooting from the hip.

# Addressing Sloppiness

To counter a tendency towards sloppiness, it is useful to *focus on the closing phase of a session*. We do not need to finish everything we start. But it is very useful to address all of its parts and our direct environments as we our work. It is about saving or bookmarking things.

With some routine or regular act in your life, whether that's about playing video games or chores, consider paying conscious attention to how you end your next session. We can care for and save our work by asking:

- Are things set aside so they are ready for next time?
- Will the parts, the files, the ideas, the tools, or otherwise be out of my way until then?

The better we can save a session of work:

- The better it is ready for us for next time,
- The better it is are out of the way of our other interests,
- The more thorough we are in our work, and
- The better we often feel about our work and our selves.

Related: *[Zen & The Art of Work](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/ZenandtheArtofWork.com)* - Module 7 - Addressing Thoughts

![Divider](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/separator.svg)

Share this article

<https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/what-is-being-sloppy> <https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/what-is-being-sloppy>

## Recent Articles

[![Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/S01E77%20-%20Is%20the%20Medication%20Working-blog.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working)

#### [Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working)

 Oct 16, 2026

Hmm, I wonder if this medication's working. Maybe it is. I've been at this game for about four hours, and the ...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[![No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Ep%2076%20No%20Pain%20No%20Gain%20and%20the%20Wandering%20Mind.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd)

#### [No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd)

 Oct 09, 2026

It's 9:00 at night. The report is maybe two-thirds done. My back is killing me. Well, maybe I'll just keep pus...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[![Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Blog%20Building%20Trust%20With%20a%20Wandering%20Mind%20-%20ep75.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd)

#### [Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd)

 Oct 02, 2026

Maybe others can do it, that trick, that hack, that system. I'm just not sure that I trust I could. We said th...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)

## Publications

 Over the years, I’ve written five main works on productivity. Sign up for the Weekly Wind Down newsletter to get free previews.

![Kourosh Dini courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20left.webp) ![Kourosh Dini books](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20right.webp) 

[See all the publications](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)

- [Kourosh Dini Instagram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/kouroshdinimd/)
- [Kourosh Dini LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini X/Twitter (opens in new window)](https://x.com/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini YouTube (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/c/KouroshDini)

### Contact Us

 If you have a clinical matter, please call.  
 For books and productivity matters, please email.

- [1020 South Wabash Ave, Unit 4G, Chicago, IL 60605 (Opens Address in google Maps)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7agnPcDjwB6PRNuX6)
- [312-391-3171 (opens phone dialer)](tel:+13123913171)
- [dinigroup@kouroshdini.com (Opens mail application)](mailto:dinigroup@kouroshdini.com)

- [Home](https://www.kouroshdini.com/)
- [Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Books & Courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)

- [About](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.kouroshdini.com/privacy-policy)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.kouroshdini.com/terms-and-conditions)

© 2026 The Dini Group, Ltd.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Kourosh",
    "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/author/kourosh"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-03-31T17:57:22.256Z",
  "datePublished" : "2017-11-06T16:00:29.000Z",
  "headline" : "On Being \"Sloppy\"",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/what-is-being-sloppy",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg"
    }
  }
}
```