Welcome to newcomers - please read (this will help).
This wise message was posted in response to a new member message. I'm making it sticky here so all new members will see it. Thanks, movingalong. -pro
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Motivation Follows Action -- and "Microbursts"
What we've learned here is that motivation doesn't seem to come by itself. Oddly, motivation FOLLOWS action.
Most of our tasks seem intimidating, so we avoid them. So what I do is ... a tiny movement in the direction of a task I am dreading.
I might just take out the box of "Intimidating Paperwork", place the box on the table, put my hands inside the box, and then STOP. Then I put the box away.
Then I celebrate that I was brave enough to take the ACTION of placing my hands upon the pile. Sounds silly, but it does help.
Later on, I might take one paper out of the box, and look at it, then put it away BEFORE I freak out. I celebrate that I was able to take a piece of paper out of the box.
All of these tiny actions, are ACTIONS.
Even though small, I celebrate them. They help me see that I can take an action, without it having to be a "Horrifying Time-Consuming Crisis Event".
After I do a few of these tiny things, I might actually be brave enough to work on one sheet of paper for a full five minutes.
Motivation FOLLOWS action.
That's the only way I can get "unstuck".
Working on it for 5 minutes is progress -- (progress from my prior pattern of paralysis).
Hugs!
Credit for the idea of "Motivation Follows Action" goes to things I have read in various places (about unrelated topics) -- and also from various things here at the Procrastinators Anonymous website.
Credit for the idea of "Microbursts" goes to Cheryl Miller at this link: http://tinyurl.com/yr2ne4
- By movingalong at 27 Jul 2008 - 4:56pm
- Introductions and Procrastination Discussion
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Just joined
Actually I joined last week but just got around to introducing myself.
I really am ready to make a change. Earlier in the year I went to a psychiatrist/therapist hoping to find an answer in pill form. All I got was an antidepressant that did a great job masking my guilt/anxiety but did nothing at all to help me “do things”. Plus it was hell to get off of.
I have dug a really deep hole with my business & finances both personal and business.
Any suggestions on where to start? This site is really overwhelming.
Welcome Jpiz!
"The world is my classroom, each day is a new lesson, and every person I meet is my teacher" - Craig Harper
hi jpiz
i really hope and pray you find recovery here. i have. many others have. people here are indeed living a life in recovery from compulsive procrastination, just like so many in AA are living a life in recovery from alcohol.
i dont have any specific suggestions. But i do have some perspectives from my point of view that might help you. many, many people come here in your situation. Most never come back. the people who do come back recover. Please come back
Many people here tend to view their own situation as hopeless, when in fact it might not be that bad. I dont know your situation, but if it's like other people here it *feels* hopeless but in fact there are options. People have kept their jobs and businesses and relationships by working here.
What works for people here is day to day management of the procrastination addiction.
Thus, the most popular tools here are the Daily Check-ins at http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/forum/6 (you can see today's on the right sidebar), and chat at http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/chatbox
Use the tools however they work for you. Check-in is the more permanent, concrete to do list - accountability place to start your day and refer back to and keep yourself on goal.
The chat is an ongoing motivational tool to help you stick to your check in. It's also a place to "talk yourself thru things." And, while working, ppl can hear chat beeps going off. we call that "beeps of solidarity" because it's comforting to know that we're all in this together, that people are in chat working thru their issues just like you, even if you're not reading the actual posts.
hth & welcome!
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the touch of the master's hand: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1898#comment-27748
"fall down seven times, get up eight" - japanese proverb
Thank you
I just signed up. Hopefully, I can contribute some. I know I have already been helped today, by what I've read in the last five minutes.
Thank you.
mattov
Los Angeles, Ca.
Saturday, October 10, 2009 Hello from a New Member
Glad to have found this site and am looking forward to improvement, especially given tools like the Check-Ins!
A very impressive message.
A very impressive message.
One thing I find, related
One thing I find, related to this, is that I am best when receiving feedback on a task as I do it. So "open the file" doesn't always work when I'm alone. I might start writing something then lose confidence, and give up on it.
But if I organise a meeting around something, that often helps me move along, because I get feedback immediately on my idea and I understand if what I'm doing is going to please or impress someone (in which case I'll generally be a lot more willing to get on with it once alone).
Being motivated only by pleasing or impressing other people is probably a terrible thing, but I guess it at least helps to know that's how it works.
I don't often find it easy to intuit what will please or impress people, and I think that's one thing that's close to the root of my procrastination problem. If you're frightened that you're going to receive unexpected negative feedback, which you aren't ready to respond to, it makes it a *lot* harder to start on something.
ikwym projoy
from knowing the other ppl in this fellowship, we all are very concerned with how well we do, and some very concerned about how well other ppl think we do.
I have experienced the motivation that comes from other ppl believing in what i'm doing. there may be some ppl who live very public lives that can conduct their lives by that motivation.
For me, there's way too much "just me" tasks that no one else cares about--and that includes the boring and maintenance tasks that are part of the overall project that ppl care about--that i have to somehow find motivation to do.
And i have found that strength here, to find the motivation all by my self. well, with the help of my Higher Power.
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the touch of the master's hand: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1898#comment-27748
"fall down seven times, get up eight" - japanese proverb
Mark Forster's "I'll just get the file out" technique
This reminds me very much of Mark Forster's (author of "Do it tomorrow" & "Get everything done & still have time to play") "I’ll just get the file out" technique. The idea is that when you are procrastinating over something, you just tell yourself that you'll "just get the file out" or whatever, with no promises to do anything else with the file, just that you'll get it out and put it on your desk.
It actually works pretty well, when I remember to do it (which is unfortunately not that often!), as you often end up at least looking at the contents of the file and often actually get the task done or at least properly started. The only trouble is that unless I actually do finish the task, occasionally my forgetfullness & disorganisation get in the way and the file gets lost in the pile of crap on my desk and I forget I put it there... but then that kind of thing happens anyway, regardless of whether I'm using the "I'll just get the file out" technique!
Obviously the "file" could be anything; if you are procrastinating over cleaning, it could be getting the cleaning equipment out, if it's making dinner it could be looking in the fridge to see what you've got, and so on.
For really chronic procrastinators (myself included!) this technique alone won't be enough to transform you into a non-procrastinator, but it's a very good start and perhaps, if you can get into the habit of using it regularly (easier said than done, of course), it might break the cycle of procrastinating behaviour. I think the trick is to move your habitual patterns of behaviour from inaction to action. The only snag is that changing the habits of a lifetime is not an easy task!
More info on "get the file out"
I just found more info about this on Mark Forster's website: http://www.markforster.net/get-the-file-out/
I think, perhaps, that he didn't have chronic procrastinators in mind when he wrote the "Conquer Procrastination for Ever" tagline, though!
very wise message from movingalong
Hi moving - this message is so wise, I think I will move it somewhere and make it sticky so newcomers can see it. Thanks for posting it.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
motivation follows action
Thank you so much for your message. This makes so much sense - "motivation follows action". I'm also so relieved that someone understands how I feel. Sometimes I think I must be crazy or something - my family doesn't understand at all why I can't "just do it".
I'll try your suggestion of taking some very small action. That sounds like something I can do.
Again, thank you so much!!!!
motivation follows action
I feel exactly like you described, I am so glad you posted it, because it validates that I am not crazy and not alone....Gina
"Motivation follows
"Motivation follows action"- It is true, I really like this!
In recovery,
Elina