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.
Monday 18th September
Now, I know it's not Monday for most of us here just yet, but it is for Milo, and won't it be nice for her to wake up to a new thread! (Also, I want to post my Day Plan where I'll see it prominently in the morning!).
pro has been very proactive just lately - the business decision seems to have made a huge difference in outlook.
Slider is having a tough time with DSO's illness (((Slider)))
Milo has a new job
Jester is going great guns, and (the rest of this sentence has been edited by Norm so as not to cause offence!).
Scarlett is making strides, and is contemplating auto-shutdown like me! ;)
1Focus made a last minute appearance on the Sunday thread, and will hopefully be joining us today.
Our new member barret has been joined by a LittleSister from Greece - welcome both!
gettin-it-done and neuway where are you?
Hello to tantrums and any other lurkers out there! 
Come in! The water's lovely! :D
And I'm planning not to procrastinate AT ALL on Monday! There - I've said it!
Apologies to anyone I've missed - our little band is not so little any more - I'm going to have to start taking notes!
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pro's CI - 11:50pm
Bedtime routine is done. I'm showered, teeth brushed, contacts out, dishes washed, bed made up, and meds taken.
I didn't do too well today work-wise, but as JestRight said, tomorrow is another day. Or was it Scarlet who said that? ;)
Tomorrow morning I'm going to start learning Pilates, and I'm going to take a walk in the morning so I don't get antsy later.
Good night!
1Focus 9:35
Blew off:
• Unload dishwasher(out of bed late)
Already Done:
Morning Routine
Work Routine
Work Plan
• prepare for board meeting (moved at last minute, didn't have much to do afterall, but I was ready!)
• misc stuff
• PROCESS MY ENTIRE INBOX (I did it, and it really didn't take long)
• now I need to deal with the massive to-do list I creating while processing my inbox (I prioritized the first 20 on the list and even got a couple moving WTG!)
• reward myself for PROCESSING MY ENTIRE INBOX (going home early, to work on my other inbox )
• Process inbox at home(only got started, I took it easy since I was on "reward" time, DD3 was outside running through the sprinkler, thankfully.)
Evening Routine
• Help in kitchen
• Dinner and hang with family
• Farm chores (include kids; even wrestled the goat)
• Clean up kitchen
• Scoop catbox
• Office chores (caught up my financial "always" list)
To do:
• Process inbox at home
Evening Routine
• Early to bed (lights out 10:00pm)( I might even make it on time)
One big focus:
Clean up financial responsibilities
• Stay on top of my "Always" list
Goodnight
Last CI for today.
Still sick but getting things done.
Cleaned messy stove except racks - forgot about them till too late- put on tomorrows list
Helped DH clean kitchen
played W/ DD3
Put DD3 to bed
socialized for a few w/ neighbor
cut DH's hair for him
Sleep well all - see ya tomorrow.
best in show
gettin-it-done...
"best handle in show"
pro's CI - 8pm
I went out for a walk about 4.5 hours ago, and ended up blowing off the rest of the day. First I read a magazine in the park for a while (it was beautiful out). Then I decided I'd go to the bookstore and get an exercise book. Naturally, the selection took a long time. I ended up buying two small books on Pilates mat work, plus an exercise mat. By then it was meeting time, so I went to a meeting and I ended up speaking so I couldn't leave at the break like I (and everybody else) usually do. Now, finally, I'm home, having something to eat, and confessing my sins here.
Besides being out of sorts because of the frustrating start to the day, I think I'm procrastinating on closing that piece of my business because I feel sadness about it failing (which really it has), even though it almost had to fail because the business plan had structural problems.
Also, I've been feeling bad about myself today - all day. I'm mad at myself for some reason, or disappointed. Not sure what my problem is exactly, but for some reason I'm not very happy with "me" today. I think that's more a cause than a result of the procrastination on my work.
I did some work. Maybe I should post my list.
Yay, pro!
You made it back to a meeting. Way to go.
gettin-it-done says gratz, too.
I feel like I blew it big time today
I'm feeling rotten. I realized another reason (perhaps the main reason) that I'm procrastinating on taking the final move to close this piece of my business, which is clearly the right decision. I'm scared. It's my only source of income - however inadequate - and I will have to find something else to do.
My career collapse is still a source of great confusion, shame, and angst. When I was living under the illusion that this business would somehow miraculously work, I didn't have to think about this so much.
My contacts are bothering me. It's 10:30pm and I haven't started my bedtime routine. I've been playing Tetris (bad). I need to start my bedtime routine now.
that makes 2 of us
bur wait till next game, coach!
closing bookend
OK. Not quite done, but I am going to turn off the computer now since is 1:15 in the morning and the dreaded plumber (really a very nice taciturn old man) is coming at 8:30 in the morning. I need to shower and to empty the bathroom before I go to sleep. so...
So here it goes:
- correct undergrad exams DONE
- 2 hours of organizing my materials for writing DID DO 40 min
- 1/2 hour of exercise DONE
Norm's 9.40 pm BE - Last of the day
Well, I finished my Planning 1 planning. Didn't get to Planning 2, but I'm still pleased with what I got done. I still do need to do Planning 2, so I'll probably be jiggling my schedule around a bit to make time for it.
Got home from work at 9.00 pm, started to CI at 9.04 pm and now I'm only just getting round to BE - I ~did~ take two phone calls (one from DSO, one from a student), heated up and ate my soup (yummy Winter Vegetables - taste even better after defrosting and re-heating than they did first time round), and CUOP, so maybe it's not so surprising after all.
Now then, let's have a look at that list and see how I'm getting on...
*Wake up; canoodling with DSO; cuppa
*MR
*Course planning nearly completed 2h 40m
*Phoned DSO to see how he got on this morning with ~his~ new group
*Bookend/Dinner and Daytime Routine
*Continue Planning 1: Monday Hatha/Chanting & Meditation 2 hours
*Haul yoga bags out/Bookend
*Go to class
*Set up
*Teaching
*Pack up
*Spoke to College staff - governor is interested in their students doing yoga now too (exciting!)
8.45 - 9.00 Come home
Afternoon work estimate: 5 hours/Actual: 6 hours/Total: 8h 40m
Personal/Household
*Meal/Clear up/BE/CUOP
10.00 - 10.30 Still need to do DDog walk (left over from Daytime Routine)
10.30 - 10.50 BBR
11.00 Bed
~~~Blew Off For Today~~~
*Bookend/Planning 2: Retreat
*Me time/Chill out
IMRESSIVE!!
Thank you :o)
CUOP now. Going to let this PC shutdown, and take DDog out. Payroll day tomorrow, so may not be checking in.
Night night!
scarlett CI 4:15 pm
Just talked to boss, who (rightly) pointed out that frogs are higher priorities than report. Oh, well!
Probably won't be around again until Wednesday. I have dance tonight, a training all day tomorrow, then a dr's appt, then more dance. See you Wednesday!
Bedtime last night: 11:10 pm (target 11 pm) As I predicted, had trouble getting to sleep - it was at least 1:30 before I drifted off.
Wake up time: 7:48 am (target 7 am)
Already done:
Eat breakfast
Take meds
Check work/personal email for urgent stuff
REVIEW SCHEDULE
reminder email to M
call vet
go to mtg, update coworkers on results, create folder & file notes
first pass on report; started: read and marked up
Frog 1 (BTSU review); started: notes taken, copies made
Frog 2 (BTSD review); started: notes taken, no copies needed
traded emails on library issue
revise soft copy of report
send report to committee
checked in w/ boss
Postponed:
Frog 1 (BTSU review; type up and enter comments
Frog 2 (BTSD review); type up and enter comments
EXEC SUMMARY (This is important and I want to work on it, but doesn't have the hard deadlines of my other tasks)
Frog 3 (VDSD review)
Frog 4 (VWMP approval)
check Flex
call tattoo parlor (after noon)
Tonight:
Fix/eat dinner
Feed cats/scoop pan
Dance 5:30-9 pm
Grocery store between classes
Shower
TV from 10-11?
Bedtime 11 pm
See you Wednesday Scarlett
Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight.
checking in
Progress::
- correct undergrad exams DONE
- 2 hours of organizing my materials for writing [I will start on this one now, and stop in about 40 min. for exercise]
-1/2 hour of exercise
WTG LittleSister!
When I used to mark stuff it used to take me ages (except when I was marking IT - it was generally either right or wrong that stuff - very strict marking criteria, which made it easy to mark).
thank you
... but the truth is there weren't that many... I have only dreaded the idea of what I would read, [DREAD CONFIRMED] and was puting it of in an "I can't deal with it" fashion. So now it is done (sigh in relief).
I know what you mean, I also have some IT courses and some more 'soft' or 'theoretical' [I don't know quite how to put it] courses. When there is a right answer LIFE is easier. But then again, how often is this the case...
LOL!
(I'm not quite sure how that relates to marking - I was looking for some smart comment about LIFE, but didn't want to get into surfing procrastination looking for the 'perfect' quote, LOL!).
1Focus 3:53
Blew off:
• Unload dishwasher(out of bed late)
Already Done:
Morning Routine
Work Routine
Work Plan
• prepare for board meeting (moved at last minute, didn't have much to do afterall, but I was ready!)
• misc stuff
• PROCESS MY ENTIRE INBOX (I did it, and it really didn't take long)
• now I need to deal with the massive to-do list I creating while processing my inbox (I prioritized the first 20 on the list and even got a couple moving :) WTG!)
• reward myself for PROCESSING MY ENTIRE INBOX (going home early, to work on my other inbox :? )
To do:
• Process inbox at home
Evening Routine
One big focus:
Clean up financial responsibilities
• Stay on top of my "Always" list
Home Early?
Hey - I like that reward too! So will DD3! ya mean it?
Home early
Yeah, but he's going to process the in-box! Unless DD3 can 'help' him? LOL! (Like Milo has little 'helpers' for putting shopping away).
Dunno though, going home to process another in-box doesn't sound like much of a reward to me - but if it gives you a kick 1Focus then go for it!
WTG
Good work good work. :D
gettin it done CI - 3:20
Done:
Oven cleaned - yech- what a nasty job. Now it won't catch on fire anymore though... LOL
Cancel a Dr. Appt.
Scheduled a different Dr. Appt.
Called DD3 teacher- made potty training plan for school. (BTW, anyone with any good advice in this department please share in off topic.)
Rested a little - trying to get better sooner.
CUOP
'Trying to get better sooner'
Are you poorly g-i-d? I may have missed something, if so apologies, and if you're poorly I hope you do get better soon.
scarlett CI 3:00 pm
Feeling frustrated - seems to be in the air today. Really wanted to get those frogs done but it's not looking good now.
But oh, well! That's Monday for you.
Top priority now is revise report and send out to committee before I leave at 4:30. If I finish that early, I will get back to my frogs.
Bedtime last night: 11:10 pm (target 11 pm) As I predicted, had trouble getting to sleep - it was at least 1:30 before I drifted off.
Wake up time: 7:48 am (target 7 am)
Already done:
Eat breakfast
Take meds
Check work/personal email for urgent stuff
REVIEW SCHEDULE
reminder email to M
call vet
go to mtg, update coworkers on results, create folder & file notes
first pass on report; started: read and marked up
Frog 1 (BTSU review); started: notes taken, copies made
Frog 2 (BTSD review); started: notes taken, no copies needed
traded emails on library issue
To Do:
revise soft copy of report
send report to committee
Frog 1 (BTSU review; type up and enter comments
Frog 2 (BTSD review); type up and enter comments
EXEC SUMMARY (This is important and I want to work on it, but doesn't have the hard deadlines of my other tasks)
Frog 3 (VDSD review)
Frog 4 (VWMP approval)
check Flex
call tattoo parlor (after noon)
Tonight:
Fix/eat dinner
Feed cats/scoop pan
Dance 5:30-9 pm
Grocery store between classes
Shower
TV from 10-11?
Bedtime 11 pm
pro's CI - 2:30pm
I'm feeling very frustrated today. Maybe tomorrow I'll get up earlier and go to the gym. I enjoy going - it's just the time it takes.
A little at a time
I too like this method. That's what I did this morning with the fridge. Needed cleaning so I cleaned it. That's kinda my new approach to the whole house really. Ultimately, I want to have a houseclening routine that I do each day; that's the same every week. That way the weekends are houskeeping free other than things like dishes, trash, etc, that must get done regardless.
I do a bit each day
And I never let it get really ugly, because if it is then that's housework becomes a prime candidate as a way to procrastinate on something else. This room's the worst room, because it's small, yet it's the most heavily used room (and full of paperwork - sigh).
feeling restless
I'm really feeling a lot less good not having gone to the gym this morning. I think I'm going to go tomorrow morning even though it does make me start work so late. When I don't go, I feel so antsy sitting here because I haven't gone out at all yet.
I also ate crap for lunch, which didn't help the situation. I had crackers with pesto that I got at the Farmer's Market. Now I feel heavy and bloated, and I have garlic breath.
I think I'll go to the salad bar and get a salad for dinner. I'm not hungry now, but I feel like I need to get out of here. Also, it looks sunny and nice outside. Maybe I'll just go take a walk and clear my head - let that be my morning meditation.
Starting late
As my high-school chemistry teacher used to say, "Better never than late." I hope he didn't mean it. }:)
Starting late is probably better than not starting-at-all-because-I'm-kicking-myself-for-not-going-to-the-gym-today all day ;)
Gym
It also means you're working out from personal experience what works for you and what doesn't, finding out from your own exploration what you want from this, and letting that be your motivation.
1Focus 1:54
Blew off:
• Unload dishwasher(out of bed late)
Already Done:
Morning Routine
Work Routine
Work Plan
• prepare for board meeting (moved at last minute, didn't have much to do afterall, but I was ready!)
• misc stuff
• PROCESS MY ENTIRE INBOX (I did it, and it really didn't take long)
To do:
Work Plan:
• now I need to deal with the massive to-do list I creating while processing my inbox :(
• reward myself for PROCESSING MY ENTIRE INBOX
Evening Routine
One big focus:
Clean up financial responsibilities
• Stay on top of my "Always" list
WTG on the Inbox!!!!
Yay! Inbox clear! Isn't that a wonderful feeling? :)
Don't tell anyone.
I need to do the same at home, too 8)
LOL-yea you do!
}:) hehe.... Sorry hon, couldn't resist.... not that I am one to talk.... Mine was overflowing up till sat. morning when our professional organizer came to check in. I was overcome with guilt and shame... and had to clean it out. ANd yours looks WAY better than mine EVER does!
In-box
I have every intention of the same happening to my in-box this week too. Not necessarily ~dealing~ with everything in it, but ~processing~ it. I managed to process my in-crate last Friday so an in-box should be easy ;)
opening bookend
hm! it is 8:30 in the evening (GMT+3) and I am puting in my opening bookend. Do you see a pattern here?
Things I want to accomplish:
-correct undergrad exams [must do, deadline was today, I am no longer the student JestRight, yes I've managed to go through the whole system procrastinating]
-2 hours of organizing my materials for writing
-1/2 hour of exercise
Yesterday, after I stopped working after two in the morning, I stayed up until 7 in the morning on the internet -- I just HAD to read all the windows I had opened while looking for some info earlier in the day and which I dutifuly ignored while working on the bookend tasks. The result of course was that my work day didn't start until 2 in the afternoon, as I didn't have to be anywhere in particular, thus thankfully slept through the morning. But tomorrow, Mr. Plumber is coming in the morning at 8:30. Oh dear...
hello, fellow night owl.
I just HAD to read all the windows I had opened while looking for some info earlier in the day and which I dutifuly ignored while working on the bookend tasks.
That's pretty much what I did Saturday - hadn't surfed the net all week, and stayed up until 4 am doing just that. It did have some slightly negative effects on my Sunday!
Do you mostly get to set your own schedule?
yup!
only about 12 hours a week of structured time (classes).
the rest is mine. freedom hurts!
The thing is I didn't even enjoy the surfing, I was sleepy and tired, but couldn't let go...
My week's a bit like that
At the moment mine is 12 hours (give or take a bit) structured, and the rest for me to decide. What I'm trying to do now is experiment with giving myself a bit more structure, not because I want to be a slave to times etc, but because I found that my self-employed and unstructured hours just spread and spread and started to fill the whole week if I let them. Being structured is allowing me to focus on work when I'm actually working, and feel OK about not working the rest of the time. I'm half time payroll, so I figured I'd try to do half time on the self-employed stuff - which doesn't seem unreasonable. It's great! I've got loads more time to do other things in now! (This is why I've been keeping a note of how many hours I'm actually working).
Sorry - rambling! I'm getting tired, zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
hey just saw this...
very interesting and useful, but I have to give it some thought about how it might work for me. I really haven't thought about it this way. Though I do tend to blow off schedules when I make them --so I don't :wink:
I have been logging my writing time -- usually not too impressive
But then there are so many other intangibles like phonecalls, student work to review, the occasional paperwork...
I will get back to this earlier in the day someday.
scarlett TOTH CI
12:51 pm
Whoops, got a little off track. Took a chat break with the coworkers. Back to it - lunch has been heated, report is printing for review. I have to leave for a mtg in 25 min.
Focusing on:
Review report
Then back to:
Frog 1 (BTSU review)
Frog 2 (BTSD review)
scarlett TOTH CI
This is really helping keep me focused, I love it.
12 pm
Focusing on:
Frog 1 (BTSU review)
Frog 2 (BTSD review)
Have taken notes and made copies. Next on these tasks will be typing up my comments, but I'm going to take a break from this and review/comment the report while I eat some lunch.
Norm 4.22 BE
Planning 1 Continued...
~~~TaDa~~~
*Twelve week course planned (except for all the relaxation sessions)
*Handouts written and printed
*Honesty box found and set up (was my Big Sis's money box when she was a teenager - She's 50 now, how's that for hoarding? Knew it would come in useful one day ;) Actually I ~was~ using it as my embroidery threads tin, so I've transferred them to a plastic tub)
*Incoming money book drawn up for today.
*Discovered my singing range isn't up to the chant I want to do tonight, so I've found a work round
~~~ToDo~~~
*Print course plan
*Print tonight's session plan
*Haul out yoga equipment
*Leave at 5.00 pm
curious
What's an honesty box?
Honesty Box
I have some students who pay for the whole course in advance, at a discount, and some drop in when they can and pay as they go. The honesty box is for them to put their fee in as they come in. It's called an honesty box because the system only works if people are honest!
scarlett BOTH CI
11:30 am
Focusing on:
Frog 1 (BTSU review)
Frog 2 (BTSD review)
Kicking butt and taking notes on Frog 2. It's slow going, but I need to be throrough.
(I love that I've been misspelling my own name, apparently. :P )
scarlett TOTH CI
Focusing on:
Frog 1 (BTSU review)
Frog 2 (BTSD review)
Pertinent files pulled, forms printed, and I'm off!
pro's CI - 10:55am
Feeling frustrated at all the time I spent trying to get a workout this morning - especially since I didn't. The exercise video was useless, and the two exercise books I have do not give me what I need. One focuses on gym exercises (requires equipment). The other doesn't have many actual exercises in it. I'm going to sell them both on amazon.com and get new ones.
gettin it done CI
Hello all. Sorry for the sabatical. I had an ok weekend getting things done. didn't slack completely but did give myself a break cause it was the weekend.
Today will be short and sweet probably cause I am sick and feel pretty much like total crap. Came home after dropping DD3 off at school so DD0 who is also sick, could rest well and I could get some things done.
I did:
the dishes
cleaned stove top
started laundry
swept floor
wiped down stove top and front of fridge - they were both so gross i couldn't look at them any more.
sprayed oven cleaner in oven- hopefully i can muster up some energy to get it cleanead this afternoon.
See ya later. THanks for be concerned with me while I was on sabatical :)