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 last check-in - 11:10pm
I didn't do the dishes, but at least I brushed my teeth, put away the food, etc. (in between watching TV). Anyway, I'm ready for bed now. Good night.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
pro's CI - 10:30pm
Falling asleep on the couch without brushing my teeth, lights all on, TV on, food not put away... This is not okay. I need to get ready for bed and go to sleep - as early as possible. So I can get up early and get to work early.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
scarlett 5:40 pm EST
Last work CI of the day. I was not quite as productive today as yesterday, but there were mitigating factors. And tomorrow may get VERY interesting.
Ta da:
BCs
Eat breakfast
Take pill
Print sheets
Look at reviews
Upload pics
Email CK re: ticket
Get contacts fixed
Eat lunch
Call CG
Type up/enter rev 1&2
CO - Review survey results
Postponed:
Enter rev 3
Look at rev 4
Type up/enter rev 4
CO – create budget estimate (per unit or by sizes?) (started)
Email re: seats to MT
Memo rough draft
Fix effing PDF
Review website - mark errors/broken links
Call P re: tile p/u & pallets
scarlett CI 3:22 pm EST
Back on track, but I just can't get things done as quickly as I'd like. Probably unrealistic expectations.
Priority: expenses, box
Next CI: 4 pm
Ta da:
BCs
Eat breakfast
Take pill
Print sheets
Look at reviews
Upload pics
Email CK re: ticket
Get contacts fixed
Eat lunch
Call CG
Type up/enter rev 1&2
Email KS
To do:
Turn in expenses
Find box
CO - Review survey results
CO – create budget estimate (per unit or by sizes?)
Email re: seats to MT
Memo rough draft
Fix effing PDF
Review website - mark errors/broken links
Call P re: tile p/u & pallets
Postponed:
Enter rev 3
Look at rev 4
Type up/enter rev 4
Thoughts out loud1
FWIW fellow PAers,
I 've really struggled with procrastination and its life-suspending consequences. However, there have been times/periods where I've turned, albeit all too briefly, the tables on this afflication. I'm sure you can all relate to this.
I realize, for my part, that I have a problem with HOPE or more with its opposite dispair. Whereas I've lost touch with the fact that EFFORT can and will be rewarded, although often times it can be hard to ascertain/prove. See I've seem to have lost, somewhere along the line, that my efforts [wherever they may be put towards] will TRULY benefit me in the end. I (subconsciously) usually assume that any effort that put forth will, at best, allow me to "break even" or will surely be met with yet another complicated/energy-sapping demand/challenge (unforseen) that serves to "break my spirit".
Ironically, its just this attitude or maladaptive reaction, that serves to reinforce this very notion.
My history is such that I get/feel discouraged, although I'll will reluctantly accomplish SOMETHING due to pure necessity/deadline, and then wake up the next day with yet another SERIOUS overdue commitment/problem to face. See, I'm too smart to start something (procrastination) knowing that there is little or no satisfaction to be had from doing so. For, in my paranoid/deflated mind, it'll just be followed up with yet another demand I feel little desire to address. For the pleasure that would have been derived from having done it on time, under budget, and with spiff & shine has been squandered -- so I'll frustratingly ask myself, why attempt something that can NOW only be deemed late, overpriced/costly, and perceptively tarnished?
Its not that I'm DEPRESSED if you will. Its just that I've FORGOTTEN that effort DOES pay off, its just that I've (due to my extended bouts of procrastination) have LOST SITE of the fact that my situation has made my residual effort(s) seem useless. I realize that life itself isn't a hole that you dig yourself out from, its the HOLES we dig for ourselves that make it seem that LIFE is nothing but a endless, fruitless, demeaning, and cruel process.
See PROCRASTINATION tells me that further procrastination is the only way I can guarantee myself some modest/minimal degree of gratification from life on a minute to minute basis. It also FALSELY holds out the promise that a SOLUTION is (could be) forthcoming/being developed -- and therefore further sabotages your will to do something NOW.
I feel that I've built up a HUGE backlog of things that should/must be done [mostly for others] that I WRONGLY assume that there is no sensible/practical way I can get out from underneath it all without facing further degradation/embarressment/humiliation.
Truth is however, I now relaize, is that I've learned to overVALUE time (ration it for myself) and underVALUE effort. I've told myself that I've NOW got so little time left to accomplish/remedy this situation (whatever it specifically might be) that I force myself to RATION time (whatz left of it.) Simply beacuse there will be none left over for me and my basic needs. However, by RATIONING my time so ardently -- I give it TOO MUCH VALUE. Which then requires me to look at how much EFFORT would be needed to accomplish X, Y & Z within the RATIONED timeframe(s). Given the unrealistic nature of trying to accomplish X, Y, & Z within this/these RATIONED time -- I throw my hands up in the air and say "SCREW IT" (<<DESPAIR.) ...and so the cycle self-perpetuates.
DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE TO ANYONE?
Jack
Jack says :I feel that I've
Jack says :
I feel that I've built up a HUGE backlog of things that should/must be done [mostly for others] that I WRONGLY assume that there is no sensible/practical way I can get out from underneath it all without facing further degradation/embarressment/humiliation.
Oh, yeah, I can relate lol
J.
Keep coming back
Hi Jack,
Just wanting to say that I could relate to a lot in your post. I have to remind myself to "stay in the day" "do the next right thing" and "turn over the results" about 1000 times a day!
Still, I do find that it does work. Not always miraculously, just in that, today, I feel better if I at least try than if I blow it off entirely. It's like I've procrastinated so long that I'm really allergic to it. Sometimes, for me, this means breaking things into TINY pieces. Like right now. I logged on here to bookend a 10 minute break (and then got distracted and am writing to you -- lol -- but you see what I mean).
I am taking 10 minutes to totally space out with internet celebrity gossip (my guilty pleasure). I set a timer, then I bookend when I (reluctantly) stop. Then I get back to work. Even if the work is just sitting there staring into space (I'm writing my dissertation). At least I'm not doing something addictive/escapist. Hopefully, I pick up a book or start taking some notes. Just "one day at a time" -- or sometimes broken down to "10 minutes at a time."
It works if you work it. DO NOT "quit before the miracle happens." :)
N
scarlett CI 1:15 pm EST
Got off track for a while. Now I'm really hungry.
Priority: Eat lunch and type up/enter reviews
Next CI: 2 pm
Ta da:
BCs
Eat breakfast
Take pill
Print sheets
Look at reviews
Upload pics
Email CK re: ticket
To do:
Eat lunch
Type up/enter review 1-3 (30 min)
CO - Review survey results
CO – create budget estimate (per unit or by sizes?)
Email re: seats to MT
Memo rough draft
Fix effing PDF
Review website - mark errors/broken links
Call P re: tile p/u & pallets
pro's CI - 10am
Leaving for work now... Will arrive 15 minutes later than yeterday (I'm not making progress).
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
One day at a time.
I'm not making progress
I know this is how you feel, but it is a generalization that implies that the future will be the same. Try again tomorrow. Tweak what you can.
(says someone who is struggling with the exact same thing and has been reprimanded for it multiple times)
scarlett CI 10:00 am EST
Just got an email that may change my day considerably. We'll see.
Priority: reviews
Next CI: 11 am
Ta da:
BCs
Eat breakfast
Take pill
Print sheets
To do:
HJFS review
SM
ULQRH NFSS
WR&RI
CO - Review survey results
CO – create budget estimate (per unit or by sizes?)
Email re: seats to MT
Fix effing PDF
Review website - mark errors/broken links
Call P re: tile p/u & pallets
scarlett CI 9:34 am EST
Good morning. I kept things rolling last night: went to the farmer's market, made dinner, went to a dance class, and then a 12-step meeting. When I got home I scooped the cats' pan, did 15 m in of dishes, and spent 5 min. picking up my room. And I even got to bed almost on time! Phew!
Lots to do today, as usual.
Priority: breakfast, pill, print BC
Next CI: 10 am
To do:
Eat breakfast
Take pill
Print BC
HJFS review
SM
ULQRH NFSS
WR&RI
CO - Review survey results
CO – create budget estimate (per unit or by sizes?)
Email re: seats to MT
Fix effing PDF
Review website - mark errors/broken links
Call P re: tile p/u & pallets
Not feeling particularly cranky this morning (how unusual) so I'll go with balance instead of the don't wanna cat.
pro's CI - 9:15am
I gotta wonder why I've been awake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and all I've managed to do is eat breakfast. Why am I so slow?? Other people don't take this long to get dressed in the morning. My brother is up and out in half an hour.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
You rock Pro
Good morning, Pro, thanks for the site - it helps us all. glad you got your problem fixed or at least circumvented and hope you have a good day.
Mornings are not my best time of the day either, I'm a very slow starter in the am. I'd much rather be a night owl.
J.
good morning, journey!
Thank you! I need some encouragement this morning. Have a great day! :)
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
time-saving for this morning...
Things I WILL NOT do this morning so I can get to work:
- I will not make and pack a lunch.
- I will not exercise.
- I will not look for my doctor's receipts and file them with my insurance company.
- I will not work on the programming bug in my business site.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
N's Bookend
to do:
6 hours of work on dissertation
including: contact at least one advisor for help
N's break bookend
to do:
10 minute break.
:)
N's break bookend 2
to do:
10 minute break. I'm feeling so fatigued!
8:30 CI for Lark
Hi everyone. I didn't sleep well, and I'm tired, but things need to be done first off. I'll be able to take a coffee break later, and perhaps sort of nap in the chair for a half hour. Also, I need to do a time log today. I REALLY reccommend doing that to anyone who's never done one.
To do:
morning things
spiritual time
work project A (main focus for today
work project B (between times)
bathroom floor
put laundry away
check in
I'm tired, too.
Right now I'd much rather go back to bed than hurry up and get dressed. MUCH!! And I slept okay last night - don't know what my problem is. I keep having weird dreams - nightmares. Last night I woke up once yelling, and when I woke up this morning I was having another scary dream. Maybe that's it. I wake up feeling off-balance.
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
pro's CI - 8:25am
I didn't get to sleep until midnight because of my business site problems, and then I didn't get up until 8am. I've been checking email. I'm going to be very late for work again today - definitely no time to exercise. :(
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
Julie' s Early Thursday CI; 9 pm CI
Good morning everyone! I'm posting early so my list will be on here when I get up.
starting off the day thread for Thursday
I want to get to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow so I can get to work on time. I need to get this straightened out so I'm not always late. I've done my evening stuff, so that should help.
Until tomorrow...
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
bad programming problem
I have a serious programming error occurring on my business Web site. I really need to address it, and I cannot because I have a full time job - I don't have the time. This is bad. Also, I can't go to bed until I find a bandaid fix for the worst of it. Anybody got some duct tape?
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
bed, bed, bed!!
I got the thing working with duct tape, so to speak. Now I'm an hour late getting to bed. GOOD NIGHT!! (When am I going to really fix this?)
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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.