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.
Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
pro's CI - 11:05pm
I'm tired - need to start getting ready for bed. I ate dinner really late tonight and I don't like going to bed with food in my stomach. Oh well.
todayfirst 4:10 PM EST
Well, I was going along pretty well and then I got a last minute request for YET ANOTHER document. I spent a little more time than strictly necessary on that but the results may be worth it. People may actually read it and ask me fewer questions. I won't be in the office next week so you won't be seeing as much of me. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Done:
- Meeting
- CUOP & BE (now)
- work on program!
- Proof read & email document I wrote yesterday
- Database recovery
- Write up another document
Todo:
- out of office messages
X Type up test plan for new hardware
X work on program (more)
waited too long
I did something else before leaving for the Rec Center, and now it's child time (3-5pm) so I can't go.
I made a preliminary move to close one of my businesses. It's my main source of income right now, but it doesn't bring in enough income and I really hate doing it.
I want to go outside and take a walk and think - maybe hang out in Starbucks for a while.
pro's CI - 1:45pm
I'm going to check out a recreation center near here, run by the city. I can't afford a gym, but this is free. I want to start making exercise part of my daily routine. From 3-5pm is for children and adults can only go when accompanied by a child, so I want to go now (before 3pm).
pro's CI - 1:20pm
I picked up something to eat on my way home from J&R - eating lunch now...
todayfirst 12:47 PM EST
I probably spent about an hour and a half or two hours on the program and did make some progress.
Done:
- Meeting
- CUOP & BE (now)
- work on program!
Todo:
- Proof read & email document I wrote yesterday
- Database recovery
- Type up test plan for new hardware
- work on program (more)
pro's CI - 11:50am
I'm very self-conscious about the way I look because of the puffiness of my eyes. I have a bug bite on my left lid, and somehow that made both eyes swell up. But I can't hide out in my apartment all day because I have stuff I have to do. Maybe I'll wear sunglasses all day.
I'm done with my morning routine. I think what I'll do next is go to J&R and pick up my notebook. This is a good time to do it because the subway won't be crowded.
sunglasses
No one will be able to tell if you wear sunglasses. Be sure to see a doctor if it gets worse though... could be an allergic reaction.
Now I've got that song in my head: "I wear my sunglasses at night..." 8)
Norm's 4.15 pm BE
Sorry to have to disappoint you all but I've not attained my goal of being inspiring post-lunch! How are you doing todayfirst? Is it still morning there - if so you still have hope!
I decided to do the book order next, and got sidetracked following up orders that were still open, and ticking things off my Waiting For list, and then ended up filing or deleting Emails from my Sent Emails folder. It's maintenance stuff that's good to do, but it's really low priority and I've got better things I could be doing. (At least I was doing ~some~thing useful).
I also did some Tasks that were on my Task List, but hadn't made it to my ToDo list i.e. contacted a student, and read yoga Emails.
I'm just going through my Task List to see what else needs deferring, and what else needs to be done soon.
Doin ok so far
Just got back from lunch so now is the challenge... keep the momentum for just a few more hours.
pro's CI - 10:15am
The banana bread came out badly. I think I should stop trying to "improve" the recipe.
pro's CI - 9:50am
pro's CI - 9:30am
I just realized I left my hair conditioner in the shower at the inn where I was staying. Drat.
Norm's 1.45 pm BE
Good morning todayfirst, and pro! I'm right at that post-lunch slump that todayfirst mentioned, and I'm determined to be an inspiration to you today! :P
Well, I took an hour's lunch break and took delivery of the ticket I was going to chase up later, so that's one off my Task List before I even posted it here!
I couldn't take DDog out because I was waiting in for another delivery (of the enzyme stuff for neutralising dog pee), but apart from that I did the whole Daytime Routine (didn't take too long because no work prep for tomorrow), incuding the new one of dealing with the post. It felt good to feel I had a bit of a break too and I could look at the post and not just stuff it away somewhere until 'later'. Back at my desk an hour later, and the delivery guy came with the pee stuff (just in the nick of time too - the previous bottle's run out and I want to go round tonight with the black light and blast the areas I've missed). Another one crossed off my Task List :D
*Got up 5.45 am (target 6.30 am), snuggled with Ddog, and had a bath and a read
*Morning Routine
*Printed directions and map for next month
Work
*Start of Workday Routine
*Outline Plan for next week (1 hour max - no sidetracking!) 2 hrs! I think I can't stop until I've finished because I love the feeling of being in control it gives me. I ~do~ follow through on these and they do increase my efficiency, so at least it's not wasted time.
*Checked mail - Ater I signed off last night I got an Email from a potential booker (bookee?) who had a financial query, and I spent an hour carefully working out the response. I got my reply today and have the booking (maybe two, but one confirmed). Spent a bit too much time checking mail, actually, as I read the personal ones too, but as I emptied my Email inbox the other day, thankfully there wasn't much ;)
Household
*Daytime Routine (lunch break)
*Took delivery of pee neutraliser
Personal
*Lunch (dancing in the kitchen to Wings Over America)
*Took delivery of ticket
*Read and dealt with post
*Studying
*Apply for Cancer module
*Check out Ayurveda module
*Project 1
*Order book(s) re cancer (use gift cert if not already)
*Start outline plan for Project 7
*Start outline plan for Project 8
*Start outline plan for Project 9
*If there is any workday left choose something from the Friday task list depending on time and energy left!
*End of Workday Routine
Household
*Put in claim for refund for MSND tickets
*Finances - check Ddog's insurance claims
*Cleaning
Personal
*Evening meal - friend coming round
*Before Bed Routine
*Check A's course application
*Phone calls: A & S (Frogs)
*Unsubscribe from Play.com
*Make lunch date with G
*Payroll pension application (or take to work?)
pro's CI - 8:45am
The notebook I had to have repaired is ready for pickup, so I need to do that today. I'll add to my daily plan as I think of stuff I need to do.
todayfirst 8:24 AM EST
Yeah, it's Friday! :)
The dog woke us up a lot last night because he was having issues with the weather. So, I'm very sleepy. This week I've been on this pattern of working well most of the morning but then it falls apart after lunch and I only get a few pathetic little things done. Maybe I'll plan to work on the more involved stuff (programming) this AM and leave some easier stuff for the PM.
I need to come up with some good rewards for myself... hmmmm what do I really want to do/get that I wouldn't normally?
Done:
- Meeting
- CUOP & BE (now)
Todo:
- work on program!
- Type up test plan for new hardware
- Proof read & email document I wrote yesterday
doing the hard stuff when you're freshest
>This week I've been on this pattern of working well most of the morning but then it falls apart after lunch and I only get a few pathetic little things done. Maybe I'll plan to work on the more involved stuff (programming) this AM and leave some easier stuff for the PM.
I've realized that I have to accept that I'm better able to do some things first thing in the morning when I'm freshest, and have adjusted my routines to accomodate that. I think it's a great idea for you to arrange your schedule according to when you're most alert. This has worked well for me.
pro's CI - 7:55am
I was veering way off track this morning when I suddenly remembered my morning routine and my commitment to stick to that. I woke up with both eyes extremely swollen for some reason, and that distracted me. I haven't CUOP yet. I wanted to post my check-in right away - make the commitment.
Good Morning Pro!
At least you caught yourself and you've re-started now!
Norm's 10.10 BE
Own up time. I sneaked off and set the timer for another 10, then wanted to do 'just one more'. I forced myself to reset timer even though it was 'really' just one more (of course it wasn't). So since my last post I have just BE'd and CUOP and not got any actual work done!
I know people who work in offices goof off getting themselves started in the mornings sometimes, so I'm not going to give myself a hard time about it. Plus I don't feel I can expect people here to support me unless I support you too, so I wanted to do my bit - I don't have 'BE & CUOP' on my list anywhere - it's supposed to just magically happen. I guess I need to think about planning a time for it (but not now! Time to start work now, LOL!)
BE & CUOP
Yeah... this has a way of sneaking up on me and taking more time than planned. I'm one of those people in offices goofing off getting themselves started! Maybe I should write my next days todo list before I leave the day before, so I can waste less time at the start?
Taking time getting started
I used to do it when I did office work - I think it's part of the culture in some places. I don't do it in my current payroll job, mostly due to the nature of the work (mostly either seeing clients, or prepping for clients).
When I do my ToDo list in advance it always seems to go more smoothly I must admit (part of why I wanted to get back into Weekly Reviews - they help me to prioritise the ToDos).
Norm's 9.10 am BE
Timer is on - I'm posting the BE first, ~then~ CUOP until the timer goes off, so apologies for not responding the events that happened in my sleep!
DSO made an interesting comment last night, that I've made a lot of progress on letting go of perfectionism, but I'm still trying to be perfect at anticrastination! He says I'm always tweaking because I see myself as a procrastinator, but no-one else does (I'm sure some people do, but I try to spread it around!).
I told him that part of it is because I don't tell people what I'm planning to do, then they don't know I haven't done it, so I showed him my list for yesterday which had loads of stuff done, some things deferred because the list was long, and some things plain procrastinated on (by time bingeing on planning). I don't think it's realistic to expect myself ~never~ to procrastinate, but there are still things I can do to make it easier to not do it than to do it.
*Woke up early, and instead of trying to go back to sleep I got up, snuggled with Ddog, and had a bath and a read
*Morning Routine (the new one, which included Ddog bath and Ddog laundry, so I start a bit earlier now)
*Printed directions and map to Edinburgh where I'm going next month (I used to leave this sort of thing until the night before!)
*Start of Workday Routine
Workday Plan
I've been picking up tips from todayfirst about listing my projects. I have nine major business projects that I want to work on, and I regularly only work on two or three of them because I've just been working on the ones that are in front of me. If I can keep on top of the ones that are already ongoing, I can rotate around the others so I make some progress on all fronts.
*Outline plan for next week (1 hour max - no sidetracking!)
*Studying
*Apply for Cancer module
*Check out Ayurveda module
*Project 1
*Order book(s) re cancer (use gift cert if not already)
*Start outline plan for Project 7
*Start outline plan for Project 8
*Start outline plan for Project 9
*If there is any workday left choose something from the Friday task list depending on time and energy left!
*End of Workday Routine
Household
*Daytime Routine (lunch break)
*Put in claim for refund for MSND tickets
*Finances - check Ddog's insurance claims
*Cleaning
Personal
*Evening meal - friend coming round
*Before Bed Routine
*Check A's course application
*Phone calls: A & S (Frogs)
*Unsubscribe from Play.com
*Make lunch date with G
*Payroll pension application (or take to work?)
Timer's gone, I can't resist just sneaking to have a look at some posts - gonna set the timer for 10 mins. }:)