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

Norm 3.15 pm BE

Got sidetracked putting off doing my banking, and went internet shopping which I couldn't afford. Fortunately the website's 'spend money' button wasn't visible in my browser, so I gave up the idea. At least I didn't spend too long on it (not for me anyway).

Still going to do the banking.... here I go....going now....

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Milo 11:15pm

Okay, I'm off to bed now. I am not even going to be kept here by pro's arrival, as much as I want to chat to you :).

I had fun putting the clothes on the airer! Wanna know why? They were mostly dry anyway, so I stood a couple of metres away and threw the clothes on it by the handful!!!! I felt like a kid :P

So, parting words:

pro, just decide today isn't an exercise day, and get to work. Like you said, you just need to make the decision otherwise it will affect the rest of the day.

Norm, I'm glad we were online at the same time, it's been a while :). And I don't think slider was going away, but I might have missed a post, too, as I tend to do overnight ;)

scarlett, you'll be okay :), it's normal to lost momentum.

Everyone else whom I've chatted to tonight, it's been worth staying up late for it :) :)

Goodnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where's slider?

Is she away? I missed a lot of posts when I was away.

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Here I am!

Missed you guys. My server has been wonky. I could get online and get to some places one moment and then the next the page was unavailable, and most of the shortcuts on my desktop wouldn't work. Never could get into this site. And the techline was busy (with an unusually nasty-sounding busy signal) for over 4 hours yesterday. I'm still trying to get my laptop set up with my ISP, and it's really frustrating that I can't! If I could remember all the information from when I set up the dial-up on my desktop that would be nice, but I don't. I've been cuop, and I like the idea of posting the Big List in the Big List forum, and having Friday as an Anticrastination Day!

big list forum?

Is there a big list forum? What did I miss? Should I create one?

September Procrastination

Sorry--that's the actual name I meant, though her Big List is what Normy posted.

Big List

Can't assume everyone's list is a big list now, can I? ;) Some people may have a short list of big frogs! Pro I wouldn't ask you to do something if I already knew how to do it myself anyway - I've been told! I'd just set up a new thread in the BE and CI Forum.

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pro's CI - 9:30am

Instead of exercising, I watched the recordings of Jon Stewart's Daily Show and the Colbert Report. I didn't mean to do that, but when I turned on the TV to put in the exercise video, a rerun of the Colbert Report was on and I couldn't help myself.

I guess I could exercise now. Really don't want to, though...

I'm afraid I will procrastinate all day because I think I "should" exercise and I don't want to. Maybe I should just cut my losses and get to work.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~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.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~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.

scarlett CI 9:30 am

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

To do:
PLAN SITE VISITS
LEAVE SLIPS
call IA & B&B to set up visit
Frog 4a
Frog 4b
Frog 3 - enter comments
work order
update for staff mtg
check on R tickets
job description
review plan 20 min
review 20 min
Check on submission deadlines
check on library (waiting to hear)
update $$ on each tab in spreadsheet
Clean desk 20 min. GTD style (10 min)
fax stuff

Tonight:
yoga
make/eat dinner
dishes
scoop pan
inventory

yesterday wrap up.

Well, yesterday evening did not go the way I planned at all. I got exhausted at the end of the day suddenly. Then I misread the bus schedule, so I didn't go to the gym - it was pouring and I missed the class I wanted to do, so I just took the bus home. Got home and took a nap, didn't get up when my alarm went off and woke up at 8 pm. My Al Anon meeting starts at 8. I went anyway, getting there at 8:30, and I'm glad I went.

Got to bed at 11:15, 15 minutes late, but my hip was hurting so I didn't get to sleep until after midnight. Got up late today.

This is where it gets hard. The energy I had the last couple of days is gone, and I'm feeling anxious and overwhelmed. CI to come in a few minutes.

Energy

Scarlett don't get disheartened about the energy change - it happens to all of us. Sleeping badly always increases my procrastination tendencies. I've also noticed that my procrastination/neither procrastinating nor anticrastinating/anticrastionation comes in waves - not figured out a pattern to it though or I'd plan around it, LOL!

Just trust me, it ebbs and flows and it will come back. In the book I read recently, Isn't it about time, bu Andrea Perry, she talks about having a Pausing stage. Some procrastinators put off pausing, and end up burning out (I'm one of them, and am slowly learning not to). You've had a couple of days of hard work - now it's time to take it easy. Are there any jobs you enjoy that you have put off? (Not as daft as it sounds - sometimes we procrastinate on our rewards and fun stuff because we feel guilty when we do it). Examples - craft projects, tinkering with car, gardening, reading. That way you won't lose momentum, but will be refreshing yourself too.

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Remember your 'motto'?

"Tomorrow is another day". Forget yesterday, set some small achievable goals to get some energy back and see how you go :)

Milo 11pm

Oops...

Ta Da:
- most of morning routine, just breakfast and sweep floors to do
- packed for consultation
- confirmed babysitter
- load of washing on
- Finished morning routine (except I still haven't swept - no big deal)
- buy materials on way to babysitter
- dropped off DD
- did client consultation
- collected DD
- had lunch
- rang DMIL about this evening's arrangements
- Booked appointment with printer
- put load of washing on line
- Took DD to the park (we had great fun!)
- went to printer
- went to look at getting shirts with my business logo
- bought nappies (diapers!)
- picked up DS
- gave DFIL father's day present (it's late, but not because we forgot - long story!)
Evening
- Kids dinner, play, bath, book, bed
- Feed DDog and fish
- Ate dinner (am on my own tonight - DH away)
- ooh, forgot - take washing off line (I guess I need to do that to do the ironing anyway....duh...)

Blown off beacuse I spent too much time CUOP and watching TV }:)
- research for client A
- post-consult report in CRM for client B
- Ironing & watch DVD I'm half-way thru (this I ditched because the clothes were still damp and I decided I didn't want to watch teh DVD at all so I'm returning it tomorrow half-watched!)
- bed by 10:30 (I ALWAYS go to bed way too late when DH is away. I never knew why but have recently figured it out - I am enjoying the solitude and want to make the most of it!!!!!) Told you so!!!

To Do:
- after-dinner routine (wash face, clean teeth, check calendar, lay out clothes, shine sink)
- put damp clothes on clothes airer to dry overnight
- get to bed before midnight!!!!!!!!

gettin-it-done - just got your PM. I don't PM anymore due to anonymity issues (might get a different email address so I can!) but I'm not sure what you mean!!!! Do you mean the ones I had for breakfast??? If so, they were just packet ones, I didn't make them :)

lol- yes the breakfast ones.

So are they like Doughnuts? or are they for real biscuits- lol.

Ha ha!

Okay, they are what you guys call cookies, and yes, I have no doubt you'd be able to find them. They are called Delta Creams and they are made by Arnotts. In fact, I just remembered - they are virtually identical to Oreos. That should help with the visual!!!!!!

Chocolate Biscuits

OK you two, you had me so vexed about this breakfast thing I had to trawl back through the old posts to find out what you were talking about, LOL!

gettin-it-done - OMG you don't have chocolate biscuits where you live!?!?! :O You poor poor thing! (((g-i-d))) Nothing else for it - you're going to have to emigrate.

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DVD

WTG on ditching the DVD - I tend to keep going with books and DVDs even if I don't like them (could be a perfectionism thing - needing to finish it off).

It's weird seeing half a conversation, LOL! Like code.

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Not really a bookend

But pro and I were discussing on another thread the value of posting what it is I'm procrastinating about, so this is what springs to mind:

*Make CD
*Check out a new venue
*Weekly Review
*Accounts
*Get these bloody books off the floor (need registering first)
*Print out last year's accounts
*Email butty ideas to juice bar
*Write to J
*Listen to new yoga CD
*Watch DVD re breathing
*Homework
*Copy what I need from M's file and return it
*Household finances
*Reinstall software on Palm
*Read cancer books
*Finish sciatica book and pass on
*Retreat planning
*Plan 1-1s/1-2s
*Plan Heart class
*Plan Breathwork and Relaxation class
*Plan Gentle Yoga or Beginners class
*Contact K re room hire Thursdays?
*Check refund is in account
*Find hand exercise handout
*Pension (! keep forgetting)
*Foundation course application
*Cancer course application
*Make appt to visit Uni
*Email banana loaf recipe
*Follow up order cancellation
*Claim refund for MSND tickets
*Book tickets for BdeG
*Branding
*Emails
*Phone re accom for retreat (urgent!)
*Plan Autumn classes
*Buy books for competition
*Phone L
*Meter reading
*Clear old stuff out of filing cabinet, then I can do the...
*...Filing
*Sort through Scary Cupboard, clear out junk, reorganise
*See what's lurking in the bottom of my wardrobe
*Deep clean house (it's mostly neat and tidy, except in here)
*Get a website
*Reconcile bank statements
*Any of many household projects (there's a sub-list)
*Inflate fitball
*Mend mala
*Gardening
*Ironing (I used to do it on days when there was no washing, but we never have days like that any more)
*Buy lightbulbs
*Buy new mirror (we just did, but DSO had an accident with it)
*et al

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WOW!

I'm going to do one, too. Because I only post on my bookend what I intend to do, not what I'm ignoring. I only realised that when I read your list.

Hmmm....

But not tonight - it's already 10:30 and I haven't even started my evening routine. TOLD YOU I stay up too late when DH isn't here!!!!!

just wanted to let you know...

that the Thursday graphic is cracking me up. Thanks.

Thursday

I love that one - it's a favourite. It's definitely perked my Thursdays up. :)

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Naughty Milo!

Go to bed! LOL!

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Hey! I've had an idea! I'm going to declare tomorrow an 'Anti-crastination Day' (I'm not procrastinating choosing tomorrow - just being fair to Milo who has already been anticrastinating, and doesn't have much of today left, LOL!)

Friday is....

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Just Thought

We can start a new thread for our Big Lists - I had one before. I've just got so used to Daily BE that I'd forgotten. I'll copy mine over, but I can't edit it any more (I've posted another one since), so either ignore it, or maybe pro - if you feel inclined feel free to delete the long post above.

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AND..

Good idea for Anticrastination Day, too!!

Good idea

I'd do it.

Newbie wants to know...

Is there special significance to an "Anticrastination Day?"

Only if you make it so!

For me it's a day where I make a concerted effort to tackle some of the things that have a tendency to get put off because I'm busy doing day-to-day stuff (which I also used to/sometimes still procrastinate about - so it's a move in the right direction!). If we could get a group vibe going I thought it might be more fun and supportive. I'm just going to get stuck in! :D

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Norm 1.40 pm BST BE

Anyone noticed how the board's gone a nice shade of violet today? Someone must've left a tag open - I quite like it ;)

Looks like pro's busy on excercise mat! Good morning 1Focus - looking forward to reading about those 'ahas' later!. I like the idea of having a main focus - mine ~was~ the venue booking, but now that's sorted it's the banking.

Good morning gettin-it-done - looks like you're living up to your name already today!

~~~TaDa~~~
*Morning Routine inc bathe Ddog
*Swimming
*Take car to garage
*Extra laundry
*CUOP
*Speak to venue about double bookings and re-organise rooms (that was the frog - he ended up ringing me and we sorted it).
*Made lunch/ate/cleared up
*Put away dry laundry, put next batch on radiators (taking ages to dry - it's been pissing it down outside for days, and it's 15C so too warm to put radiators on, too cool to dry stuff quickly)
*Been getting clothes ready for next week, but waiting for next batch to dry before I'm finished

~~~ToDo~~~
*Banking
*Walk DDog (I used to be able to take her with me to do the banking, but she's so slow it'd take all day)
*Finish Daytime Routine
*Charge phone
*Phone vet
*Pick up car (how am I going to get there??!!)
*Menu and shopping list
*Work Emails (stay away from the others!)
*Respond to enquiries

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Violet?

I don't see violet..... :?

ps - morning Norm!

unclosed font tag again

1Focus didn't close a font tag - I just closed it so the purple is only in his post.

Good afternoon here

Good evening! :D

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Oh, it is too

Silly me :)

Oh...

Now I see it, further down ... doh!

How to PM

I assume PM is private messaging... How does one do that?
thanks

PM

Click on the persons 'name' either on the bottom of one of their posts, or in the member list and 'contact' is a tab in their profile. Warning, tho - if you PM, the person knows your email address because it comes straight from your email - it's not anonymous (hence Normy knows who I am, I found that out a week or two ago, after I PM'd her!!!).

I know who you are!

Yes indeed, I now know that you are in fact a drink of hot chocolate! (Don't worry - I won't tell who you are ;) ). I think I ~have~ seen that brand here, BTW, but our famous one is Cadbury's - do you have that there?

Moral: If you want to stay anonymous you just need to use an alternate Email.

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Cadbury's

Yes, we have it, but the other is our favourite. Cadbury's is our favourite chocolate by far, tho.

Thanks

thanks milo. I'm not too concerned about the emial thing but thanks for the warning.

gettin-it-done CI 8:10

Good morning everyone. Wanted to get my to do list posted so i can get started with my day. Figured out why I was so tired yesterday- getting a cold along with the rest of the family. DD3 woke up sick today, so she can't go to gymanstics :( DD8mo. is already back down for a nap, so she must not be feeling great either.
anyhow, here the run down for today.

Done :)
Cooked breakfast and cleared/cleaned table/put away condiments
Made Bed
CI

To do
Shower/self care
load/unload dishwasher
kiddo laundry
Fold yesterday's laundry
Insurance stuff

Consignment sale prep (some of this will transfer over to tomorrow)
Wash car seat cover
Find carrying case for playpen
Tag any untagged items
Check tags for intials

1Focus 8:20

Ok, I'm going to have a much better day today. Early to bed and a decent night's sleep will do that. On further reflection, my seminar was pretty good afterall. I'm excited about implementing some of the ideas; I'll share some big aha's later.

Already Done

Morning Routine
• Out of bed 6:50 (target 6:00)
• Ready for anything
• Feed DD0
• Breakfast
• Head to work
Work Routine
• Meet with staff/general plan
• CUOP
• Time Sheets
• Specific plan for the day

I want to:

Work Routine
• Clear my head
Work Plan
• Interview applicant
• Office moves
• Run errands I didn't get to Tuesday

One big foucs:
Financial stuff

unclosed tag alert

I closed your purple font tag at the end of your post. :)

pro's CI - 8:10am

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~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.
    • 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.

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

  • Morning Routine
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.

Norm's 12.45pm BST BE

OK, I'm committing to getting back on track too. I've been feeling overwhelmed - DSO's being a PITA, and I'm very tearful. I think I was putting off a great big fat frog, but it just jumped out at me so I ate it in mid-flight!

~~~TaDa~~~
*Morning Routine inc bathe Ddog
*Swimming
*Take car to garage
*Extra laundry
*CUOP
*Speak to venue about double bookings and re-organise rooms (that was the frog - he ended up ringing me and we sorted it).

I thought I'd done more than that. Started off well, then crashed.

~~~ToDo
There's just so much I don't know where to start. :O

*Think I'll start with lunch
*Flip laundry
*Banking
*Walk DDog (I used to be able to take her with me to do the banking, but she's so slow it'd take all day)
*Finish Daytime Routine
*Charge phone
*Phone vet
*Pick up car (how am I going to get there??!!)
*Menu and shopping list
*Work Emails (stay away from the others!)
*Respond to enquiries

That'll do for now.
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pro's CI - 7:30am

I have to be careful that my whole morning routine doesn't fall apart just because it's raining. I can feel that tendency in me to collapse back into chaos. For example, I have an impulse to check my email now while I'm eating breakfast, and I know that gets me in trouble. I don't finish my morning routine. It's my sneaky, passive resistant way of avoiding exercise by screwing up my morning routine so there's no time.

So I'm getting back on track here - posting my morning routine, and committing to stick to it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~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.

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

  • Morning Routine
    • Dress (showered night before).
    • Make bed (convert futon back into couch).
    • Take out pills for the day.
    • Swallow morning pills.
    • Wash breakfast dishes.

pro's CI - 6:50am

Got up at 6:45am (5 minutes ago). That's late. Also, it's raining, which is seriously testing my gym resolve. I don't want to go. :(

Not sure what I'm going to do.

'Late'

LOL, that ~used~ to be early! Have you noticed how we all seem to be getting up earlier these days? Spooky.

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hmm.... you're right!

That's true - I should be very happy about getting up at 6:45am! It's a big improvement. :)

or maybe just some floor exercises?

Still waffling here...

I've decided this much... I don't have to go to the gym in the rain. It's silly to go to the gym in the rain. I work at home and have the privilege of not going out when the weather is lousy, so why am I going to choose to do that?

Okay, so that much is settled. But there is the possibility of exercising at home. Starting with the idea that I WANT to exercise (that all-important word, WANT), the task is to figure out the most pleasant way to do this on a rainy day. I don't really like the exercise videos that much because I get a headache trying to look at the TV and do the exercise at the same time. I could do my own exercise routine, though I do tend to work harder if I use the exercise video.

I have to decide what I WANT to do. :)

If it were me...

... which it's not, I'd work on persuading myself to go because somehow I find it ~easier~ to work ~harder~ at the gym IFYKWIM. Also, you tend to get stir crazy if you're stuck in the house, so you could look at going out as an opportunity rather than a chore. It's only rain - you're going to sweat/get wet in the shower anyway!

If you stay at home, is there any chance of you using an exercise ~tape~ (I've got yoga tapes - don't know if people do exercise tapes). Also, free weights is an option if you have them, or using your own body weight - needs very little space. Would be too late for today, but could you ask at the gym for them to run through a programme with you if you don't know already?

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Rain

DD3 likes to play in the rain. Why can't adults play in the rain?