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.
tracy-la check in jan 21
I had a day where I thought a bit about my own motivation, how to stay motivated and frustration when my husband/partner is not motivated to achieve the goals I think we need as a family. But yet I am not doing it on my own. Part of me wants him to force me or help me do it.
Today I thought about how I can motivate myself by taking action and by focusing on the small steps toward my goals -- no matter how small. If I think of myself as unstoppable and work in tiny bits toward my goals, it is contagious. If I were to be paid $1 million for some of the tasks on my list, I'd get it done and have focus. I know HOW to do these things it's that I need to WANT to do them. How intense is my desire to get these tasks done? Can I remind myself how good it will feel to get these tasks done?
Reading #1 - Motivation
Most of us fight the temptation to be lazy, to get by with doing the minimum instead of our best. When we were children, we had parents and teachers who urged us on to greater efforts. As adults, we have to depend more on internal motivation and less on the exhortations of others.
Working for strictly material goods is not enough to provide the impetus and enthusiasm we need. It is our Higher Power who gives us our talents and abilities, and it is His plan for their use, which we seek to follow.
Doing less than the best we can is short-changing ourselves. We miss the satisfaction that comes from stretching as far as we can. We also miss the opportunity to exceed former limits. The more we do, the more we are able to do.
Motivation comes from our Higher Power and can only be received, as we are willing to act. Thinking and planning have their place, but it is action, which generates fresh enthusiasm.
Sometimes the thought of a large task looming ahead of us is overwhelming, and we feel that we will never be able to manage it. Here is where the willingness to take one step at a time can make the difference. If we will begin, God will keep us going when the task is part of His plan.
May I live up to the maximum of my abilities today.
From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations
tracy-la
First, thanks a lot to
First, thanks a lot to #Fermiona for such a funny start.
So, today's check-in:
- Write schedule.
- Calm down the riots of malign evil thoughts.
- Play a little more with Arduino.
I already:
- Went in the morning for medicine and other needs.
- Organized a good breakfast.
- Went through today's list and got approx. 50-50.
- Played a little with the Arduino tablet.
- Great Time Spp.
Wow. Second day. Good.
Fear is only a thought and as a thought you can ignore it.
01/19/2012
I'm new to PA and am looking for support and accountability. I have been in a rut for such a long time but I still remember when I had a clean house and didn't have to make a to-do list to get anything done. My biggest obstacle is my home which has become cluttered and dirty. Now I am overwhelmed by just trying to stay ahead of the daily stuff, let alone get to all of the unfinished projects. I am guilty of waiting for a "big block of time" to tackle projects and of spending way too much time on tasks. One of the best tips I have picked up so far was about using music for a task. I have picked out a Joni Mitchell CD that is now my "paperwork" music. Time to forge ahead!
Highways Slave - 10:13 PM
Yikes!
Because I was up till nearly 5 in the morning trying to make sure my brokien refridgerator wasn't going to burn the house down (it was starting to over heat in back), I didn't take time to post a check in this morning.
But I did get plenty done.
I got to both of my lessons.
I got home and checked over to make sure I had all of my poetry homework before classs.
Going to class.
Had to take time to eat out thanks to the fridge between lessons and class.
But hopefully better day tomorrow with enough sleep!
1.19.12 ci babarino
do 4 15 minute chunks of project
chunk 1 down.
chunk 2 down
chunk 3 down
chunk 4 done!
Wow. Sounds like a very
Wow. Sounds like a very good method, the "chunks of 15 min". Great you finished them all :).
Fear is only a thought and as a thought you can ignore it most of the times.
Awesome!
Great job completing all of your goals, Babarino!
1/19/12
Show up (done) look at calender (done)
So grateful for PA. I have crossed the line from procrastination to resistence. No need to say more, which is great about PA(ers), not having to explain, something I cannot explain to someone who does not have this issue.
Showing up has been my lifeine. Ist step back to safety. I know it will take more work than usual to get out of the resistence, but I am here. My son has midterms and I home/cyber school him. Need to start the tedious, tedious calculations of his Algebra 2 last test and midterm with him. He is relying on me and I have gone past procrastination to reisstence.
Time to get the big guns out and head for the chat room. 1 tedious calculation at a time.
Thanks for being here.
wrkinprogrss: 01/19/12
Hi and Solidarity to all! Thanks for the cartoon, Fermiona (hee!), and special good wishes to 4Change.
Today, I commit to choosing to concentrate on reality. I am postponing all reading or listening to fiction that was written by others until another day, and I am postponing reading or writing any of my own fiction until after 18:00.
(I accomplished the letter of this without a problem, though I possibly compromised the spirit a bit by zoning out on putting together online jigsaw puzzles for 45 minutes or so, in the early evening.)
Done on Thursday, 01/19/12:
made notes about dreams per request from therapist
brushed teeth and splint
commented on a couple of P.A. posts by others
emailed check-in buddy
meta: complete at least three 15-minute bursts of job work by noon
update spreadsheet
shower, etc.
meta: complete at least four more 15-minute bursts of job work by 15:30 (did two on schedule and two late)
finished initial read-through of spec
send status report by 17:00
make wiki update by 17:00
massage heel
participate in dance class
email D about Saturday plans
do at least 15 minutes of Qi Gong
take bedtime Rx
Made Progress on Thursday, 01/19/12:
check in and bookend at P.A.
make progress on spec reading/evaluation (first read-through done)
meta: complete at least four more 15-minute bursts of job work by 18:00 (did one)
investigate at least one thing related to possible better futures (looked into several things, including opportunities to comment at blog sites of LN and SFI)
be ready to leave for dance class EARLY: aim for leaving at 19:15 (started prep significantly earlier than usual, and was closer to on time than I sometimes am, though still a few minutes late)
Not Done on Thursday, 01/19/12:
finish S item!
wash warm load of laundry
Can't Recall if Done or Not on Thursday, 01/19/12:
use balancer
Good wishes for your day, All!
tracy-la check in 1-19
Am helping my best friend as part of my work and not charging her and it's beginning to eat up hours of time a day. So started my day with her 911 calls and emails. I came up with a strategy and drafted a letter on it but it's time to set the boundaries. Spent 2 hours on that.
Time to shift to the other things to be done. Will write list and start attacking it - being fearless. And not lamenting the 2 hours I got off track.
Here's the read for the day:
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
—Chinese proverb
Even the strongest, most organized, action oriented persons always have room for growth. There is no such thing as a "perfect" person. If we are far from perfect, that's okay. It only matters that we are working at getting better. Often, runners will say they can remember many days when they just did not feel like running; however, once they started, they felt more energy and were easily able to run the distance they had set for that day.
Whatever we need to do, we can do in small acts--an email, an outline of a letter to be sent, a phone call asking for an extension, delegating to someone else, working in 15 minute blocks with a timer, or anything else that helps us get started. These are small things, easily done. Self love and action is made of small things. Love yourself while taking the action and accomplishing the tasks.
When we begin to work on our relationship with ourselves, we will feel the new energy, and quickly we will find ourselves making progress.
What is the first thing I can do today to improve my relationship with myself and feel better about my ability to get things done?
Adapted From Today's Gift: Daily Meditations
re: tracy-la
these hit me:
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
(((clement - boy don't we have to remind ourselves)))
Clement~
funny how we have heard these sayings so many times but we need daily reminders. It's just like Coach John Wooden used to say about "motivation" - that the reason you motivate players/athletes daily is that they need it daily. It's not as if you take a shower one day and say "I'm clean - don't ever need to shower again." It's something you do every day. He says motivation is something you need to do everyday.
And that's what peak performers do -- and we are all seekers, looking to get better. Which is also something that joins us or binds us as a group. It's not just that we suffer from the same thing but that we're all working on getting better at how we live our lives. Some people just give up and don't even try. Kudos to us for keeping at it!!
tracy-la
encouraging, tracy-la
so interesting. I just read this one in "clement's bookmarks"
i did know it was coach john wooden. But it does seem so true.
It's sooo similar too to my christian walk. I have to receive a reminder that God saved me and that i serve him every day. It is also like a bath; i get dirty and i have to be washed clean again.
It's also like this novel by Ted Dekker called _Red_.
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Elephant in the room
So...I have one very large, very overdue project which is resaonably on the cusp of being finished today. All it will take is a concerted push. But I am trying very hard to avoid finishing it. Why? Because once I do, it will only be as good as it is at that moment, and can never be good enough to justify how long it took me. Right now, in my "magical realism" view of the world, it still has the potential to be a seminal piece of work, a shining example of what a truly awesome project should be. It's hard to give up on that aspiration, silly as it may be in something pretty mundane. Once my self-esteem gets entangled with the perceived quality of the work, however, that complicates things. Another troubling thought: what if, despite having taken far too long, it still *isn't* particularly good, but barely adequate? How embarrassing, to be terribly slow AND terribly mediocre (or just terrible). Well...the only real goal for the moment is to finish this one project today so it is gone. There are plenty of others I can turn my attention to, once this roadblock is out of the way.
Goal 1: Finish this project, in several sittings, if needed, but today.
Goal 2: Finish two current tasks and one slightly delayed one.
Goal 3: Attend 3 meetings this afternoon.
Goal 4: Leave at 8 PM, after the last meeting.
Back to report.
re: 4change
i get that. finishing means giving up making it better. Yes, i struggle with that too. You inspire me the way you can acknowledge that, put it aside, and finish the project anyway. I hope i can do the same.
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Thanks clement but...
...I didn't finish, although I did make some progress. Thanks for your supportive words. Best to you in your work.
So many people have cool pithy quotes. I think the most apt one for me today is:
"He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day."
Ergo, I am back today. Cheers!
re: thanks but...
i get that. Hard to have someone compliment you and then not deliver. But that's the story of our lives, right? I was impressed that you could form the intention that you would finish it anyway, even if the execution of that intention had difficulties. It is so often that way with myself. I'm still impressed with the mental work you had to do to get yourself to that place.
:)
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Journey 10:30
Good morning! I'm checking in a bit late but I've been to the gym and attended an early morning conference call. I'm in the office today. Finishing up todo list now and then I'll start checking off those items . . . here we go y'all.
Be confident. Stay focused. One thing at a time.
SJ
YAY!!! I FINISHED EVERYTHING ON MY TO DO LIST! I worked for 7 hours today!!! It has been forever since I worked that many hours in one day. It's all because of this group!!! SO THANKFUL!!
To Do List:
Done=this color
AND, if I get it all done, I get to watch some American Idol! :P
Congratulations Sarah Joy!
Be confident. Stay focused. One thing at a time.
clement ci
cool starter. yes, that's the problem with all surfing and my entire brain.
but today i have the strength by god to focus. so i'm going to get some work done.
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Lucky FRANTIC playlist
Thanks SO MUCh to all who've checked up on my during my absence - I'm incredibly grateful to know that ppl are looking out for me. No email from mum yet, I've just been having difficulties generally.
Off on holiday in an hour and have to pack AND clean the house first, terrified! (Again, if I don't get the house clean before leaving, I'll be given a month's notice. I'm aware that my relationship with my housemate is problematic. I'm working on this, slowly and with a lot of difficulty and fear. No advice/crosstalk about it, please, I'm too stressed! Sorry!!)
Scared scared scared! Got to:
Put clothes in dryer
Brush teeth
Pack: clothes, towel, wash stuff, hairbrush, makeup, contact lenses, toys, pills
Clear table
Clean kitchen
Clean bathroom
Mop
Hoover
Bank transfer (66)
I cleaned last week so nothing's very dirty, so should be just about doable, I hope!!!
EDIT: DONE DONE DONE!!!!
I'll try and CI at least briefly during my holiday, which ends on Monday.
--
Metaphor Mouse! Because playlists are better than tasklists.
Please help me email my mum this week!
Fermiona