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, 14th of September, 2006

Good idea

On the early night - it's time I went. Have a good evening, and see you all tomorrow.

Night night.

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scarlett CI 4:53

Just about time to head out of here. I may CI tonight - probably will. See y'all then!

Already done:
eat breakfast
take vitamins
check work/personal email for urgent stuff
work order
update for staff mtg
fax stuff
review plan 20 min
Frog 4a (20 min)
Frog 4b (20 min)
Frog 3 WHOOT!!!
call Al
PLAN SITE VISITS
email Karen

Bump to tomorrow:
check on library (waiting to hear)(call John)
call IA & B&B to set up visit
Frog 4a
Frog 4b
check on R tickets
job description
Check on submission deadlines
update $$ on each tab in spreadsheet
Clean desk 20 min. GTD style
review 20 min

Tonight:
yoga
make/eat dinner
dishes
scoop pan
inventory

Have a great night!

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Norm's Final BE 9.50 pm

I feel like I've been talking to myself in the Bookends most of the day, but I might as well finish off what I started...;)

~~~TaDa~~~

*Morning Routine inc bathe Ddog
*Swimming
*Take car to garage
*Extra laundry
*CUOP
*Speak to venue about double bookings and re-organise rooms (gribbit)
*Made lunch/ate/cleared up
*Put away dry laundry, put next batch on radiators
*Start getting clothes ready for next week
*Sidetracked on online shopping then couldn't do it anyway
*Work Emails (stayed away from the others!)
*Respond to enquiries
*Phoned garage to see if courtesy vehicle was coming for me - no reply
*Rang taxi (prepped evening meal whilst waiting for it)
*Collected car gribbit It's now fully serviced and MOT'd (EARLY!!!) Laughing out loud
*Whilst on the industrial estate I went back to a shop that I don't normally go to because it's out of the way - I'd taken something faulty back there recently and wanted to replace it, but they didn't have any in stock. Managed to get what I wanted today.
*Also on the industrial estate I went to the sports wear shop and got three pairs of trousers for work (would have got five but they only had three that were suitable). I get through trousers like nobody's business, and I'm always on the lookout for suitable ones - it's difficult because I seem to have long legs.
*Spoke to DSO on phone - he's coming home soon
*Put food in oven/meal
*Most of Daytime Routine
*Walk DDog

~~~ToDo~~~
*Before Bed Routine

~~~Blew off for Today~~~
*Banking
*Phone vet
*Charge phone - because it doesn't need it
*Finish Daytime Routine (done bits and pieces as I've gone along)
*Menu and shopping list

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look at your Ta Das!

That is impressive. Good job, Normy.

TaDas

I know! And I've no response from anyone else all day to any of my actual bookends. I feel like 'who cares?'. I know ~I~ do because it's my stuff, but sometimes I also need a pat on the back from someone else. I guess I'm feeling whiney because I'm putting out a lot of support for DSO at the moment, and getting zero back, and now I feel like it's happening here too.

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We DO care..

I think there are so many of us here now that it's hard to respond to everyone's bookends and still have time to do the stuff on our own!!!!

But I know how you feel. I think we have all felt it at least once here!

I'm still learning...

How to use this site and figuring out how I'm going to participate. I know what you're saying about the bookend thing - they do work better when people cheer you on.

I will try to be consistant about giving feedback. Today I was barely on the board, I was so busy!

Still, it's great that you managed to get so much done just with the level of accountability that you had.

Ah yes...

Good day, Norm.

And AH HOW WELL I know about SO's who are one-way. Those who shine bright like a sun with generous love, can sometimes attract those who are black hole of self-centered neediness. Oh well - black holes need love too!

But back to the subject at hand - MAJOR kudos to you, for ASKING for a little credit when credit is darn well due. THATS the spirit.

Great day, great accountability, great example.

Thanks everyone

And thanks JestRight for seeing my whining in such a positive light.

DSO ~is~ usually shiny, but he goes through phases as do we all, and this is one of them. He apologised today! I don't know if he'll actually change his behaviour at all, (he's apologised without making change before) but it shows awareness at least.

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scarlett BE 4:30

Note to self: budget an hour for planning site visits. But it's DONE!!!

WTG Scarlett!

Yay!

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pro's CI - 3:50pm

The PayPal Backlog is DONE!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:45am (target: 6:30am).
  • Morning Routine
    • Empty dish drain and wash any dishes from previous day.
    • Make and eat breakfast.
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.
  • Vacuumed rug (necessary before I'd be willing to lie down on it for exercise, but I'm sure the vaccuum didn't thrill my downstairs neighbor since it's just 8am).
  • Moved rug a little closer to couch (for reasons that have nothing to do with exercise.
  • Changed from exercise clothes into street clothes.
  • Check email and clear spam folder.
  • Reflection.
  • Review to-do list.
  • Go through PayPal notification backlog.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Write program to identify a certain class of customer I need to be able to identify.
  • Pick up mail.
  • Straighten work area to prepare for next work day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~Blown Off~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Exercise.
  • Rinse out workout clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.
  • Handle mail, pay bills, filing.

Yay!!!!

Well done!

why thank you, ma'am!

:)

this program

This is some complicated database programming I need to do here. I'm getting a headache trying to think it out. Maybe I'll go get the mail.

WTG!

You really cranked on that backlog today! You're making terrific progress on changing your business.

PayPal Backlog

OMG - the universe has just shifted! I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon! Come to think of it, though, once you'd decided you didn't need to do it for the nasty job you didn't like, and that you wanted to do it to perfect your database you did suddenly get motivated!

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actually, I did need to do it

>OMG - the universe has just shifted! I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon!

LOL!! :)

>Come to think of it, though, once you'd decided you didn't need to do it for the nasty job you didn't like, and that you wanted to do it to perfect your database you did suddenly get motivated!

Actually, I did have to do it. I found some database errors going through it that I fixed. I also found a serious problem in identifying a certain class of customer I have to be able to identify to make the change in my business. I am now getting a migraine trying to figure out the query that will extract these people. AUGH!!

I'm going to go get the mail and get some milk. Maybe that will clear my head.

scarlett CI 3:40 pm and BE

All right. I am going to plan my site visits. I will check back in 20 minutes.

Last night: bedtime 11:15 pm (target 11 pm)

This morning: woke up 8 am (target 7 am) oops!

Already done:
eat breakfast
take vitamins
check work/personal email for urgent stuff
work order
update for staff mtg
fax stuff
review plan 20 min
Frog 4a (20 min)
Frog 4b (20 min)
Frog 3 WHOOT!!!
call Al

To do:
PLAN SITE VISITS
call IA & B&B to set up visit
Frog 4a
Frog 4b
check on R tickets
job description
Check on submission deadlines
update $$ on each tab in spreadsheet
Clean desk 20 min. GTD style
review 20 min

Bump to tomorrow:
check on library (waiting to hear)(call John)

Tonight:
yoga
make/eat dinner
dishes
scoop pan
inventory

Norm 8pm

Ha ha! Two reminders came up on Outlook and I've already done 'em! So there!

Later: And another one! The first two were directly work related. This one was about sub-dividing my Someday/Maybe category on my Outlook Task List. I was procrastinating when I did it - I'd forgotten it was a 'proper thing' on my list. I've now got S/M Business; S/M Household; S/M Personal; S/M Fun, so when I've got a few minutes to spare I can quickly trawl for a relevant S/M thing.

(Where's DSO? He's supposed to be home now, and tea smells cooked).

Another 2 mins later And another! :)

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Banking

I don't know why I didn't do the banking. I've got it all ready and in my bag. It's easy. I don't dislike it. I think I was just glued to my seat or something.

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Norm's Sunset BE (7.30 pm)

This is looking better than I thought it would. Not made much progress on my projects, but I'm really pleased about responding to client work so quickly.

~~~TaDa~~~

*Morning Routine inc bathe Ddog
*Swimming
*Take car to garage
*Extra laundry
*CUOP
*Speak to venue about double bookings and re-organise rooms (gribbit)
*Made lunch/ate/cleared up
*Put away dry laundry, put next batch on radiators
*Start getting clothes ready for next week
*Sidetracked on online shopping then couldn't do it anyway
*Work Emails (stayed away from the others!)
*Respond to enquiries
*Phoned garage to see if courtesy vehicle was coming for me - no reply
*Rang taxi (prepped evening meal whilst waiting for it)
*Collected car gribbit It's now fully serviced and MOT'd (EARLY!!!) :D
*Whilst on the industrial estate I went back to a shop that I don't normally go to because it's out of the way - I'd taken something faulty back there recently and wanted to replace it, but they didn't have any in stock. Managed to get what I wanted today.
*Also on the industrial estate I went to the sports wear shop and got three pairs of trousers for work (would have got five but they only had three that were suitable). I get through trousers like nobody's business, and I'm always on the lookout for suitable ones - it's difficult because I seem to have long legs.
*Spoke to DSO on phone - he's coming home soon
*Put food in oven

~~~ToDo~~~
*Walk DDog
*Finish Daytime Routine (done bits and pieces as I've gone along)
*Menu and shopping list

~~~Blew off for Today~~~
*Banking
*Phone vet
*Charge phone - because it doesn't need it

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Ha ha!!!!

I get it - clever chicky you are :)

1Focus 1:38

Already Done

Morning Routine
Work Routine
• Meet with staff/general plan
• CUOP
• Time Sheets
• Specific plan for the day
Work Plan
• Interview applicant
• Office moves

I want to:

Work Routine
• Clear my head
Work Plan
• Review notes from yesterday
• Process inbox
Evening Routine
Put off
• Run errands I didn't get to Tuesday (priorities have shifted, scheduled for tomorrow)

One big foucs:
Financial stuff

Gettin it done -some reflective thoughts and CI 1:30

Well I am a free from kids woman for about 2 hours now. YAY! Me time!
It has been such a successful morning that I acutally will get to enjoy /participate in me time today. Turns out the DD3 isn't feeling as poorly as originally thought, maybe just allergies or something.
Anyhow, a few thoughts on some things I've picked up on the past day or two since i have been frequneting this site... I am getting significantly more done in less time. The article ( i think it was an article - may have been a post) on using all the little pockets of time availible throughout the day was very useful to me. I have been taking advantage of those few minutes here and there, and they really do add up. I am astounded by my productivity today. I have finished the majority of the housework by noon. THAT NEVER HAPPENS.
Something else cool, is that I seem to have more patience with my kids- DD3 in particular- . I think that is because I'm not having minor anxiety attacks about what isn't getting done. When I take advantage of all those little spots of time, I feel like I have the time to sit down with her and play puzzles or whatever it is she wants to do. It also helps that she is back in preschool now, where she gets the structure she needs 3 days a week, and I get a break from her as well.
It's really nice to feel this way. I have been really in the dumps for a few weeks just feeling frustrated b/c i couldn't ever seem to accomplish waht i wanted to among other things. ALso, 1Focus and I had a talk after dinner last night about how you really can only schedule like one extra thing a day besides your regular stuff, that's all we humans can handle. No wonder I felt bad. I had atleast ten or twelve every day. It really does help to only have one thing at a time to focus on. Thanks for the tip honey- err- i mean 1 Focus ;)
So all that to say thanks for this site, and thanks for the support. It Rocks.

Done:
Breakfast/clean up
Insurance stuff
Folded yesterday's laundry/put away
Showered, dressed and Self care
Delcuttered MB
Spent quality time w/ kids
loaded/unloaded dishwasher
mid-day Clean up (toys /kids stuff)
1 load kids laundry washed /dried
lunch at w/ DH- 1Focus :)

To do:
1 more load kids laundry
fold clothes in dryer
put awy kids clothes
Call Tractor Supply Co.
Compost out to Chickens
Free time
start on consigment sale to do list

WTG!

That's great, gettin-it-done. It's amazing how quickly this site is proving helpful to us newbies.

scarlett CI 12:59 pm

Okay, plodding along. I'm glad I got that stuff faxed, that had been hanging around for months and could have affected me negatively. I didn't think I'd get my update done, so I warned my boss, but I ended up managing it. Yay!

Thanks for the comments on my first entry of the day. I get really down when I have no energy, and I start to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. It's hard for me to do anything and I feel like I'm never going to have energy again. Y'all's perspective is helpful.

Last night: bedtime 11:15 pm (target 11 pm)

This morning: woke up 8 am (target 7 am) oops!

Already done:
eat breakfast
take vitamins
check work/personal email for urgent stuff
work order
update for staff mtg
fax stuff
review plan 20 min
Frog 4a (20 min)
Frog 4b (20 min)

To do:
PLAN SITE VISITS
call Al
call IA & B&B to set up visit
Frog 4a
Frog 4b
Frog 3 - enter comments
check on R tickets
job description
Check on submission deadlines
check on library (waiting to hear)(call John)
update $$ on each tab in spreadsheet
Clean desk 20 min. GTD style
review 20 min

Tonight:
yoga
make/eat dinner
dishes
scoop pan
inventory

Scarlett

I'm interested in the 'Clean desk 20 min. GTD style'. Given I've had so much success with GTD I wondered what you meant? From the state of my desk at present, if I ever knew it I've forgotten.

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GTD style, my style

I have a tendency to keep things on my desk as a reminder that I need to work on them, and I'm trying instead to put things away and add reminders to my to-do list as I do so, if needed. That's all that means.

I've only implemented a few things from GTD - the two-minute rule, putting to-do items into categories, stuff like that. I'd like to revisit the book and try and do some more, but I've been, well, you know. ;)

What have you found most helpful in GTD?

most helpful part of GTD for me

The most important part of GTD for me was the central place for tracking everything. It was after reading GTD that I started using the PIM part of Outlook. I bought a Pocket PC around that same time, and I started replicating Outlook on the Pocket PC. This has made a huge difference for me. Everything I have to do is in one place, reminders pop up for EVERYTHING (very badly needed since I have a mind like a sieve), my lists are centralized, notes. It's really great.

Outlook on the Mac has a "Projects" feature that the PC version doesn't have - it's much better. I'd eventually like to move everything over to the Mac, but that's a big job and I don't have time right now. I have too much backlog in other areas, and current system is working. But eventually I'd like to do it.

What's PIM?

It's possible that I use it myself, but I'm not familiar with the acronym.

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PIM = Personal Information Manager

:)

Most useful in GTD

*Probably the ToDos (Outlook Tasks) - the downloadable guide really helped with that (that was the first thing I bought - had to wait ages for the books from the US). Putting EVERYTHING in it, in categories (I've recently diverged from the DA categories, but I used them for a good long while whilst I got to grips with what would work even better for me). What a relief it is to get this stuff out of my head and down in writing!

*The Tickler system (I used one at my old payroll job, but didn't think to use it for home/personal/self-employed).

*The Weekly Review is absolutely fabulous when I do it.

*Using little bits of time - trawling the ToDos for what I fancy doing next that's relevant (like, when my brain hurts and I'm taking a break, I can go and check out a web link I'd made a note of, etc).

*I might as well just say 'the whole book', really ;)

(I get the two books mixed up in my head, but I think the principles are about the same).

What about you?

(Oh! And I liked it when I was getting my in-tray and my Email in-box back to zero at the end of the day. I'm still pretty strict about my Email in-box and Sent mails although I rarely get back to zero).

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back to zero...

Well, I got my work inbox down to 758 from 5000+, but it's been holding there for a while. Probably about time to get back into whittling it down. I know one reason I'm resisting - I start finding all kinds of stuff that I never did, that are long past possible, and I feel guilty/overwhelmed.

GTD is a great book, though. I might want to look into that DL'able Outlook thing; my task list right now is completely unusable.

reliving past sins

>I start finding all kinds of stuff that I never did, that are long past possible, and I feel guilty/overwhelmed.

I experience a form of this when I enter old receipts into my money management program. I relive my life from that time. For the past few years my life has been very difficult, so it's like reliving a nightmare.

annals

yeah - emotions tied into bookkeeping - the "annals" of almosts past

very familiar

Let's say, "I am a new person. My job today is to clear the decks of this historical rubbish."

ooo, I like that.

Thanks!

pro's CI - 12:10pm

Just finished a lovely lunch of pizza, seltzer, and a chocolate chip cookie.

Now back to PayPal notifications (for a while)...

slider's 10:45 CI

Don't have time to really CI. I've just been cuop and drinking coffee/Red Bull (not together--yech!). Feel a bit foggy today. Slept poorly, something fishy going on at church behind my back. My main thing to day is getting to nursing home on time (or nearly so, at least) and not forgeting any of several things I need to take there today. Then tonight whole family is going to see Little Miss Sunshine. DD and I saw it on Saturday, and we were charmed. We WANT the boys to watch it with us!

Norm 4.20 pm BE

Wow! It's been just over an hour since I last posted!

Didn't do the banking, but I ~have~ responded to client enquiries which is quite a big frog for me because it involved several steps including updating information leaflets - messy. The sort of thing I put off. Anyway, I got them all done up-to-date (and they ~were~ on today's list too!).

Got to go get the car now. I'm hungry.

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pro's CI - 11:10am

Continuing with my rain-inspired day of hedonism, I just ordered a pizza for lunch. I don't want to go out to the salad bar.

I've been feeling resistant to going through the PayPal backlog. I reflected on that, and realized that with the change in my business, it isn't really necessary. I still may want to do it to see patterns, though, if it doesn't take too long. I'll work on it for a little while, but realize that I don't really have to do this.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:45am (target: 6:30am).
  • Morning Routine
    • Empty dish drain and wash any dishes from previous day.
    • Make and eat breakfast.
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.
  • Vacuumed rug (necessary before I'd be willing to lie down on it for exercise, but I'm sure the vaccuum didn't thrill my downstairs neighbor since it's just 8am).
  • Moved rug a little closer to couch (for reasons that have nothing to do with exercise.
  • Changed from exercise clothes into street clothes.
  • Check email and clear spam folder.
  • Reflection.
  • Review to-do list.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Go through PayPal notification backlog.
  • Pick up mail.
  • Handle mail, pay bills, filing.
  • Other work stuff (depending on time).
  • Straighten work area to prepare for next work day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~Blown Off~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Exercise.
  • Rinse out workout clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.

actually, I do need to do this

One of the reasons I go through the PayPal notifications is to check for errors in my database programming, and I did just find a problem I need to fix. So going through these notifications isn't a waste. I do need to finish doing it. It's not so bad. It's fairly mindless so I can watch TV while I do it.

side benefits of MEANING to exercise

I didn't exercise today, but making the preliminary moves of doing it has had a side benefit. Not only do I have a vaccuumed rug, I moved the rug in a way that allows me to move the coffee table back when I move the couch back, and that makes the room look significantly bigger. It's an improvement.

(I'm hungry - where's the pizza?)

Creative Procrastination

Great benefits (whether ~or not~ it was procrastinating)! I'm tellin' ya guys--each day we oughtta pick one really big frog there's no way we'll get to--and then creatively procrastinate on it by doing millions of other useful things! Worked for me on Tuesday! I'm only kidding, though--for it to work you probably have to believe you actually might get to that frog, and if you seriously DO need to get to that frog, then procrastinating on it--no matter how useful the other items--is still procrastinating. The only way we'd ever get that frog done is to come up with an even bigger froggie! Maybe we can all procrastinate about giving up! Yeah, that oughtta work every day!

LOL!

I do that, too. When there's something really odious to do that I don't want to do, I'll do everything under the sun first. Sometimes it can be quite productive.

It's a known technique

I read about it, I think on flexiblefine's site. Because of it's obvious downside it has to be something that's not urgent! I can vouch for it, but I don't think it's a very healthy way of dealing with procrastination, LOL! Only to be used in emergencies!

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not a good strategy

I agree it's not a healthy way to get things done. It's important to be able to trust yourself to do what you commit to doing (crucial to self-esteem), and this behavior does nothing in that direction.

pro's CI - 10:50am

Windows is nagging me to reboot because I just updated my OS. Irritating.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:45am (target: 6:30am).
  • Morning Routine
    • Empty dish drain and wash any dishes from previous day.
    • Make and eat breakfast.
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.
  • Vacuumed rug (necessary before I'd be willing to lie down on it for exercise, but I'm sure the vaccuum didn't thrill my downstairs neighbor since it's just 8am).
  • Moved rug a little closer to couch (for reasons that have nothing to do with exercise.
  • Changed from exercise clothes into street clothes.
  • Check email and clear spam folder.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Reflection.
  • Review to-do list.
  • Go through PayPal notification backlog.
  • Pick up mail.
  • Handle mail, pay bills, filing.
  • Other work stuff (depending on time).
  • Straighten work area to prepare for next work day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~Blown Off~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Exercise.
  • Rinse out workout clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.

pro's CI - 10:15am

I'm installing Windows updates now, and it will surely make me reboot. Very annoying. And the slowness of this computer is annoying, too. I'd like to switch to the Mac, but the stuff I need to do today is on this computer.

I'm checking in a lot to keep myself on track. This is a high risk day for procrastination. Rain makes me want to sit and watch movies all day long.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:45am (target: 6:30am).
  • Morning Routine
    • Empty dish drain and wash any dishes from previous day.
    • Make and eat breakfast.
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.
  • Vacuumed rug (necessary before I'd be willing to lie down on it for exercise, but I'm sure the vaccuum didn't thrill my downstairs neighbor since it's just 8am).
  • Moved rug a little closer to couch (for reasons that have nothing to do with exercise.
  • Changed from exercise clothes into street clothes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Check email and clear spam folder.
  • Reflection.
  • Review to-do list.
  • Go through PayPal notification backlog.
  • Pick up mail.
  • Handle mail, pay bills, filing.
  • Other work stuff (depending on time).
  • Straighten work area to prepare for next work day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~Blown Off~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Exercise.
  • Rinse out workout clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.