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.
Julie's "I should be in bed" CI
I should be relaxing and getting ready for bed but I fiinished a couple of more easy things on my list so I wanted to post them.
I got more done than I thought I would today. I still have not worked on my Spanish): I think I'll start with that tomorrow.
Good morning everyone!I was gone most of the day yesterday seeing students so didn't make much progress on the other things I needed to do. I have been on the internet too much, so I need to focus today and get some things done before I leave for a conference on Saturday.
Completed:
8:30 appt.
Morning routine
Give T meds
Call about student pictures
Buy tickets
Look over presentation-also made all the needed changes so it's ready to go
Pick up clothes from cleaners
Lunch
Pick up pet food
Look over L’s document-this one was definitely a "frog" that needed to be eaten! I went ahead and spent an hour and a half, did all the editing and handed it off to the next person-yeah!
Meditate-will do before I go to bed if I can stay awake (:
Email JG about conference
Check date for Spanish final
Answer students' emails
Open quizzes
To do:
Spanish-finish Chapter 4***
If time:
Unpack suitcase and put things away
Fill out graduate faculty form for work
Gather receipts for expense report
Julie's 10:15 CI
I got more done than I thought I would today. I still have not worked on my Spanish): I think I'll start with that tomorrow.
Good morning everyone!I was gone most of the day yesterday seeing students so didn't make much progress on the other things I needed to do. I have been on the internet too much, so I need to focus today and get some things done before I leave for a conference on Saturday.
Completed:
8:30 appt.
Morning routine
Give T meds
Call about student pictures
Buy tickets
Look over presentation-also made all the needed changes so it's ready to go
Pick up clothes from cleaners
Lunch
Pick up pet food
Look over L’s document-this one was definitely a "frog" that needed to be eaten! I went ahead and spent an hour and a half did all the editing and handed it off to the next person-yeah!
To do:
Meditate
Email JG about conference
Spanish-finish Chapter 4***
Check date for Spanish final
Answer students' emails
Open quizzes
If time:
Unpack suitcase and put things away
Fill out graduate faculty form for work
Gather receipts for expense report
Edge's Closing CI - 10:40PM
Going to turn in, try to get some early revision tomorrow morning.
Good night, everyone :-)
Important
X Study
X DCS
Regular
X Shower
X Morning med
X Evening med
X Clean room
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
scarlett CI 4 pm EST
Headed out to an appt.
Ta da:
Eat snack
Take pills
Listen to voicemail
Resched mtg BT
Update accomplishments list
storm - what kind
check spreadsheet
create talking pts
Postponed:
Calls:
check prox
make calls
Clean off desk (10 min)
Update to do list
scarlett 2:35 pm EST
Instant Boss activated.
Ta da:
Eat snack
Take pills
Listen to voicemail
Resched mtg BT
Update accomplishments list
To do:
Calls:
storm - what kind
check prox
check spreadsheet
create talking pts
make calls
Clean off desk (10 min)
Update to do list
Inner Cranky Cat acknowledged.
Joe K's CI
I will work on the paper and not surf the net or other time-wasting distractions.
I won't extend my Lunch break (11:20 to 11:50 AM only).
Return to work immediately after lunch.
Are you back, Joe?
If you are like me, you might need a reminder to get back to work!
Hope its going well for you.
rec
Returned
I didn't return from lunch until 12:15, but I did get right back to work. Thanks for asking--it's hard to believe that someone else is reading this! I will now continue to work on the paper until 2:00 PM. I will not leave my cubicle to raid the candy machine, to chat with coworkers, or otherwise avoid the task.
rec CI; Help keep me honest
While I view this site daily, I am erractic about posting CIs even though they seem to help me focus and get more done, and many of you post daily and obviously are getting a lot done - good job, by the way! Like others have said, often I am distressed as to how late I really get started and how little I feel I have to show for the time spent, so I do not check in as I should.
I have several things to get done today, all of which I keep putting off in favor of mindless paper shuffling and other time-wasters. To try to do better, I will post back at 5 pm CST to report what I've done. I need to work on:
L. file - calls, appl.
F. file - calls, appl.
SR file - e-mails to J., D., review docs, call J.
R agmt.
Thanks
rec
Hey Joe
Glad you're giving this another go :-) You're doing great! Hang in there buddy ;-)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
Only 15 min to go!
Althought tempted several times, I didn't surf the web. Only once did I find myself walking outside my cubicle in a Jeckyl/Hyde like state--but I quickly returned to write this note and get back to work!
Go, Joe!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
Round 2
OK, you guys are hilarious! Thanks for the enthusiastic cheers!
I worked until 2:10 and took a 20 minute brisk walk outside. Now I'm back to work until my 3:30 PM quitting time. I'll check back then.
Thanks again!!
Julie's 10:45 CI
Good morning everyone!I was gone most of the day yesterday seeing students so didn't make much progress on the other things I needed to do. I have been on the internet too much, so I need to focus today and get some things done before I leave for a conference on Saturday.
Completed:
8:30 appt.
To do:
Morning routine
Give T meds
Meditate
Call about student pictures
Email JG about conference
Spanish-finish Chapter 4***
Check date for Spanish final
Buy tickets
Answer students' emails
Open quizzes
Look over presentation
Pick up clothes from cleaners
Lunch
Pick up pet food
If time:
Unpack suitcase and put things away
Fill out graduate faculty form for work
Look over L’s document
Gather receipts for expense report
scarlett 11:45 am EST
Hey y'all, back again. Hope everyone who celebrated it had a fun Halloween. Here goes, getting back on track.
To do:
Eat snack
Take pills
Listen to voicemail
Clean off desk (10 min)
Update to do list
pro's CI - 8:50am
I showered last night so I'm already dressed and the dishes from yesterday are washed. I'm tempted to go to the grocery store before going to work - I don't have much here for breakfast. Of course that would make me late...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
Journey 8:30
To work early since I had to share a ride with hubby :) Didn't get much done yesterday although I did get the status report done which was my #1 priority for the day. I did spend a lot of quality time with my daughter though and that's important too. Now to catch up!!
DONE:
-Exercise (at home)
-Email
-Daily Planning
TO DO:
-Edit documentation (formerly the yucky project) - 2 hrs.
-Test SAD - 2 hrs
-Nov. budget - work on this for 15 min
-TM Roster - 1 hr.
-Finish panels - 2 hrs
-check on WPS - did they test hipersockets or not? - 15 min
-Read about LDAP - 1 hr
-Financial paperwork - an insurance thing - 15 min.
-Financial paperwork - the tax thing - work on this for 15 min.
-another insurance thing - don't have to do this today but don't forget
-dishes
-fold laundry for 15 min
and that will be a wrap - this is a totally doable not overwhelming list. Let's get rolling!
J.
Journey 2:45
DONE:
-Exercise (at home)
-Email
-Daily Planning
-TM Roster - 1 hr.
-Finish panels - 2 hrs (didn't finish but done working on it for today)
-2 unplanned meetings - 2 hours
-check on WPS
TO DO:
-Edit documentation (formerly the yucky project) - 2 hrs.
-Test SAD - 2 hrs
-Nov. budget - work on this for 15 min
-Read about LDAP - 1 hr
-Financial paperwork - an insurance thing - 15 min.
-Financial paperwork - the tax thing - work on this for 15 min.
-another insurance thing - don't have to do this today but don't forget
-dishes
-fold laundry for 15 min
Journey 6 pm
DONE:
-Exercise (at home)
-Email
-Daily Planning
-TM Roster - 1 hr.
-Finish panels - 2 hrs (didn't finish but done working on it for today)
-2 unplanned meetings - 2 hours
-check on WPS
-Test SAD - 2 hrs (didn't finish but made LOTS of progress)
POSTPONED TIL TOMORROW
-Edit documentation (formerly the yucky project) - 2 hrs.
-Nov. budget - work on this for 15 min
-Read about LDAP - 1 hr
-Financial paperwork - an insurance thing - 15 min.
-Financial paperwork - the tax thing - work on this for 15 min.
-another insurance thing - don't have to do this today but don't forget
TO DO:
-dishes
-fold laundry for 15 min
Hmmm I see I have procrastinated on my financial paperwork yet again even though I was only planning to spend a few minutes working on it.
Unplanned meetings took precedence over the documentation and reading, so that's ok, but the financial stuff is pure procrastination. Tomorrow we shall slay the frog!
J.
Random check-in from MovingAlong
Hello all.
I haven't posted a check-in since about mid-September. But I just wanted you to know that I read the board here every day and gain inspiration from it.
I have even tried starting the thread some days. But I just can't seem to post that I'm going to do something... because I usually don't do it. It's so embarrassing.
Regarding the things I have posted about back in September:
So, that's the update on me. Don't know when or if I'll be brave enough to post an update.
Thank you for being here. Everyone's posts really do inspire me.
AND.....
Thank you all.
MovingAlong
financial legal paperwork
movingalong said:
"My big task, the legal financial paperwork. No progress. I need to realize that this is something that will help me, and that I will feel good when it is done, and that I don't have to do it ALL today. Just start."
Amen.
J.
Yay! Movingalong!
Lol, yay! Movingalong is back! I was wondering where you'd gone to :-) I'm used to seeing your lists up, so when I came back after my own stretch of absense, it felt felt not seeing your posts anywhere! Really glad you feel up to posting again :-) I know what you mean about feeling embarassed sometimes for lack of productivity. When I disappear from the forum it's pretty much due to the same thing - I'm not finishing anything on my lists and I just lose heart and decide to take a break from it all lest it seems like I'm not trying or making progress. Though you know, logically speaking, it probably doesn't make much sense, but, meh :-p
Looking forward to your next post, movingalong :-) Take care, and keep smiling ;-) :-D
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
moving along's moving along
Good for you, Movingalong,
somedays I am frozen by the prospect of not having made progress: yesterday Edge turned me on to Steve Pavlina's website: I found this article particularly helpful in moving fout of that mode... http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/overcoming-procrastination.htm
keep coming back
Edge's CI - 1:09PM
Last day :-) Tomorrow is my final test. Fingers crossed!
Important
- Study
- DCS
Regular
X Shower
X Morning med
- Evening med
- Clean room
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
test
Dear Edge,
you seem to be consistently making strides in your check ins, so you are prepared. So I don't say good luck, but good work on your test!
Elisaveth
Thank you, Elisaveth! I really appreciate you saying that :-) I tend to worry too much and berate myself for doing too little too late, but I think I'll be able to be ready in time for tomorrow, and I know I'll do the best that I can no matter what. Thank you so much for the encouragement, I truly do appreciate it :*
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action - Walter Anderson
Rexroth 09.24 GMT
Todo today
up post this
prayer reflection meditation
deal with phone messages emails post
clean up in kitchen (which I left in a mess yesterday)
put on coloured to wash
work on file and letter from yesterday
rest I feel rough again
write journal
prayer and reflection
bed and sleep
Regards Rexroth
Rexroth 22.40 GMT
Done pretty well all of it and wasted so much time today I feel fed up with myself.
Night Folks
Rexroth
new beginnings
Good morning, All,
Today has a good feeling about it: I have a lot to do and am on my way to doing it
meds: X
shower: X
Christian costume: X
pay bill X
write Anna
begin revisions of annual report - in progress
tackle a box
holiday planning
walk
drink morning water X
green tea X
breakfast X
sign out camera
check in again
transfer money
pay off v
spoke to g on storage system: meeting planned for monday x
pick up lunches
eve check in
Overall it was a fairly productive day. I still need to do most of the longer term things on my list, so here is what is left for tomorrow....
write anna
draft to Steve of bloody annual report
tackle a box
still more holiday planning
sign out camera
transfer money
pay off v
plan an outing for sunday
all of a sudden
Something just happened to me that I think is a pattern: I was skipping along editing my annual report and feeling like I had done a pretty darned good job of it when all of a sudden I couldn't continue: some anxious feeling descended as if I was in DANGER of getting it done. I have had this happen before when writing papers in college: I will be making good progress when I suddenly have to go eat something, pace, lie on the couch, do anything but stay in the moment. Does that happen to anyone else?
danger will robinson
Yes, I'm starting to recognize this in myself too - I call it "the wall" - it's like I hit a wall in a task and I just can't get past it or through it. Fear of failure or fear of success??
J.
lol warning warning
we are dating ourselves, I always wanted to be Penny in that show.
People have remarked before on being afraid of success, but I can't imagine why I would be afraid of it. I mean, I am TORTURING myself not getting this thing done, so why won't I complete it and move on? Perhaps it is simply a fear of ... completion.
lost in space
I've never been on tv but I have surely been lost in space lol!
I like that term, fear of completion. I think I have that too. I'm pretty good while I'm in the middle of a project and it's rolling along, but I have a real problem STARTING a new project or FINISHING up an old project. It's like the current project is comfortable and when it's over, I know I have to start something new that I don't feel confident about yet.
J.
that does not compute
in fact, it does compute, but i could not give up on the tv tie in!
For me, it means looking at something older and moldier that I have been procrastinating on longer because it is even more odious.....
You two hit the nail on the head!
Elisaveth, you and Journey really hit the nail on the head for me. I, too, have great difficulty starting and finishing projects at office and home, and I think your analysis of that reflecting a fear of facing the older, "moldier" projects that we have been putting off for a long time is accurate. I like Journey's visualization of breaking through or dismantling the wall, brick by brick, given in an earlier post. Any other ideas for fighting the inertia that accompanies the dread of completing projects??? I have been fighting it this week again.
Thanks for your sharing - it is helpful to me!
rec
fighting inertia
I am the last person who should be giving advice on how to get through things, but when I am really down and out I fall back on timers. I have to trick myself into getting things accomplished in tiny, bitesized pieces with lots of mini-rewards, even if it means sandwiching work between procrastination/self soothing behaviors. For me that can mean two minutes of work on something before allowing myself 15 minutes of play. One website I found had a really strange but effective suggestions: I can't remember it now, but the first rule of the day was to get dressed down to your shoes and then to go shine your sink. Funnily enough, both of these things set the stage for me to go out and do more.
me too
this is an old thread, i know, but i can't resist "me too"-ing. I didnt realize until now that i stop myself when the end of task comes into view. I hadn't noticed going thru it, but looking back, i can see the ptn. Thanks for the light.
I've envisioned part of this consetllation of phenomena as trying to turn an aircraft carrier. When i get going on something, i can't stop. But if i'm not going, it's hard to get going. And it's hard to veer of course (which is so often necessary in a mediocrity-requiring world) because there's such mental momentum in the current direction.
So, then, ending a project would meant that we know *something* is going to have to change, and that change means moving that whole aircraft carrier, and even if we don't know how it's going to change, we know *that* it's going to change.
We say, in our family, we have "transition issues"
Here's a post by j saying something similar.
But hey, i feel blessed to be driving something with so much momentum.