Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.

Thursday, 6 July 2006

I've been bad - not checking in. Must do it today, though!!!!

Check in but not bookending

I've got stomach ache too, and also suffering from the heat. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

I've had a lovely last day of my hols, though the end has been an anti-climax (we were supposed to go out for a meal and a film, and we both got sidetracked and it didn't happen - blah). I've spent the rest of the evening procrastinating - not got ready for work or for going away on my course tomorrow. I am not in a mood to stop procrastinating either. I've discovered lots of things that help me to stop procrastinating if I want to stop, but I don't always know how to get to the 'want to stop' phase. If anyone's got any bright ideas for me to try let me know!

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you have to have "willingness"!

"I am not in a mood to stop procrastinating either. I've discovered lots of things that help me to stop procrastinating if I want to stop, but I don't always know how to get to the 'want to stop' phase. If anyone's got any bright ideas for me to try let me know!"

In the AA big book, it says "The key is willingness." That really is the keystone. If you're willing to do what it takes, then you can overcome any kind of addictive behavior, but you have to be willing. In AA if someone isn't willing, their sponsor will tell them to pray for willingness. Don't know if you pray - just passing it along.

My stomach continues to be extremely painful, plus with all this laundry lugging, my back has now got into the act. Did you ever watch the original Star Trek series. If so, do you remember the episode where Spock mind melds with the Horta and starts screaming, "Pain! PAIN!!" That's how my back feels. :(

And I can't exactly quit now because my clothes are at the laundry, and I have to bring them home!

I live across the hall from a saint!

I was standing outside my building with the last load of laundry, thinking about the pain involved in carrying it and the cart up those stairs, when my neighbor came along and said he'd carry it up for me!!!!!! Is this guy a mensche or what!! What a mitzvha! (Not sure why I'm dissolving into Yiddish here.) I'm so grateful I can hardly find the words.

Must be that talk of praying....

.... got you a saint!

I don't pray as such, but it's certainly an idea that I can adapt to my personal situation. I didn't know the 'willingness' thing was discussed in AA (let's face it - I don't know much about AA). It's certainly something I've experienced first hand when working on a new habit - my first step has always been to find a way to discover the willingness. Even if it means saying 'Even though I'm not right now, I'm willing, at some point in the future, to be willing'. Sometimes posting here helps to drum up willingness, sometimes music or visuals do it (willingness brought on by motivation). Normally, I can just wait for it to come back round again, but I could do with finding things that will trigger the willingness fairly quickly for instances like this one where I have work in the morning for which I don't feel fully prepared.

I feel like this takes my 'working on procrastination issues' to a deeper level. I'm really hoping you can get that online programme going pro - I think it would be really helpful with this.

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pro's check-in section

I forgot to set up a check-in sectino for myself. Sorry! I didn't mean to hog the whole bookending thread! I'll fix it up now.

pro's CI: all laundry in, and now...

...I need to dust and vacuum in preparation for putting the CLEAN rag rug back down on the floor. It's in the dryer now, and almost done. I also have two cotton blankets in the dryer (washed), and three loads of dirty clothes in washers. Access to multiple washers and dryers at once is the ONLY advantage I can think of to doing laundry at a public laundry versus a washer and dryer in your own home.

pro's CI: first load of laundry in

I lugged a rag rug and two cotton blankets three blocks to the laundry. By the time I got there, there was only one small machine left. I put in the rug and came back to my apartment for dusting, vacuuming, and additional laundry sorting (and lunch).

It's hot out (of course). I'm so tired of heat and humidity. Why does New York City weather have to be so gruesome in summer?

pro's CI: straightening up is not enough

I'm straightening up in here, and I'm realizing that this apartment is way past the "straightening" stage. It needs cleaning - badly. I need to do laundry, wash floors, and dust. I also need to wash the rag rug in the middle of the apartment. It's dirty - I hate looking at it.

In New York, things get dirty fast - there's dirt in the air, and everything gets dusty.

pro's CI: dressed now (at long last)

I finally got clothes on my body. Halleluyah. It's kind of hot out, you know - feels uncomfortable to be dressed. I'm wearing something very light and cool.

Next task - transform futon from bed to couch and pick up apartment. I didn't do the apartment pick-up last night because I wasn't feeling well. Truth be known I'm still not, but I can't put my life on hold waiting for my stomach ache to go away.

pro's CI: starting again now

Okay - now I'll reply to the "pro's section" post for all my check-ins.

Showers sometimes help my headaches, but didn't much today. I haven't had coffee yet - that might have something to do with it.

I think I'm going to start taking vitamins again, and also a medication that I ought to be taking but haven't been. I'm withdrawing from Cymbalta (an antidepressant) and my body is flipping out over it. Oddly I have no psychological symptoms - no reactive depression. All my symptoms are physical - constant headache, constant D (the runs), and various other aches and pains.

pro's CI: showered, but not yet dressed

I'd like to say I'm showered and dressed, but I always get stalled after the shower and sit around sans clothes for a while. So I thought I'd check in to inspire myself to continue on.

pro's CI: first, get dressed :)

I have to go take a shower and get dressed. Will check in when done!!!!