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.

Sunday 23 December 2007


          
            

movingalong checks in (sort of)

Hello all,
I really appreciate this site. It helps me.  I just have a hard time posting tasks.  I do get a lot of inspiration from reading the posts.

Sometimes I start a thread (like today) ... and intend to post a task ... but then I freeze up about posting. Like .. what if I don't do it? or something.

But I really do appreciate this site.  I come here every day!
-- movingalong

I understand what you mean...

I get really embarassed when I don't finish my CI's (and I get really tempted to lie about it...but then I realize that's dumb :blush:)

But we're all procrastinators, I think we all understand not finishing stuff.
(for example, I'm one for three so far today).

I hope you start posting tasks soon! I just started a few days ago, but I think it really helps.
You might start by just posting something small and easyish to finish (rather than your whole to-do list, or something you're dreading).

telling on yourself

For me, it's really important to tell on myself when I don't do stuff - and when it's my pile, usually (lately) I don't do it. It's only when I force myself to check in every hour and say whether I did it that finally I do it. A lot of it is embarrassment - I just can't bear to say again that I didn't do it. But lying, of course, is silly so I do a little. And for me, that's often all I need to get started. It's getting started that's so extremely difficult for me.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 8pm

In the last half hour I did some kitchen stuff. I did over an hour on my pile so I'm going to stop for tonight. Tomorrow will be an intense pile day, for sure. I also need to go to the grocery store and post office tomorrow.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 7:30pm

I did something substantial. I filled out a request for medical records, put it in an envelope, and put a stamp on it (ready to go). That was 15 more minutes.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Impressive!

Hey Pro,

Wow, you not only got started, you really worked on that pile!  Good for you!

Falcon

thanks, Falcon - I need the encouragement!!

I'm really glad you're online today, Falcon. Your posts definitely helped me get started. I'm not sure I would have if you hadn't been answering my posts.

Thank you!!

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Glad it helped

I'm glad to have been of help!  It helped me to know you were here, too.  I've really been finding this check-in board useful -- sometimes just the presence of other people makes it easier to concentrate on getting stuff done, especially people who understand how hard it can be to "just do it."

Hope your fudgy cookie things turn out well!  (I was making peanut butter cups & cashew turtles for christmas gifts.)

Falcon

pro's CI - 7:15pm (some more around the edges)

I did a little more - around the edges. I'm sort of avoiding the worst part of the pile, but still clearing the decks a little bit.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 6:45pm (finally, a start)

I worked on the pile for 30 minutes - slowly. There's so much more.

I'm thinking... I need to start on this pile the second I open my eyes in the morning. In the past, that's the only way I've been able to do it. I'll try that tomorrow. (Not to say I won't try to do more tonight...)

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 6:05pm

I didn't go outside because it's dark and raining, and I don't have any reason to go outside except I haven't gotten any exercise today and I'm restless. Maybe that's a good enough reason to go outside and I would go take a walk except for the rain.

I checked on some stuff I'm cooking, made some recipe adjustments, and washed the dishes.

At least my plants are watered.

I'm tempted to say screw it for today, but there have been too many days like that. I should at least do 15 minutes on my pile.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

kromer CI 2:30 (Pacific Time)

Chaos! All my relatives are arriving today, it's been a frenzy of cleaning.
Not planning on being too productive for the next few days, but there are a couple things I need to get done.
Already finished wrapping packages and cleaning my room.
By 5 today, I'm going to have submitted my MIT application (yes, I'm still trying to get thant done :rolleyes:)
By 8, I will have made a birthday card for my mom.
By 12, I will have finished the intro to my senior project.

kromer 11:10 Check-in

OK, a *tiny* bit behind schedule, but my MIT application just got submitted! A full week before the deadline, this is a new record for me :)

Birthday card will have to wait until tomorrow morning.
I'm going to work on my senior project intro now.
I don't think I'll have time to finish it, but I need to make progress, I've been putting it off forever.
So, I'll work on it in 10 minutes increments, with short breaks in between. I'll do 3 10-min. chunks, and then call it a night.
I'll try to finish it tomorrow before my family wakes up.

kromer 11:40 CI

All right, lots more break than writing, but I've gotten one 10-minute chunk. Now for a second!

kromer 11:55 CI

Second chunk done!
I realize I still need to do some more background reading, but I want to get over my writer's block, so I'll write what I can for the next 10 minutes, then go to bed.
Then, first thing tomorrow morning, I'll make a plan for further background reading.

kromer 12:05 CI

Made it! Finished 3rd chunk (and actually pretty productive)
I'll check in tomorrow as soon as I get up (and I'll try to get up early, say 6:30, so that I can get some work done and then relax and enjoy the holiday)

Happy Christmas Eve, all! :)

pro's CI - 4:45pm

I just watched a movie. Now I have cabin fever - I haven't been out all day. I'm going to take a short walk, then start on this pile.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

A few deadlines

O.k., lots to do today, but I think I can get it all done if I keep moving & don't let myself conk out early -- now that the days are short, I keep wanting to nod off early in the evenings.  Let me see if I can get things done on this schedule:

Dust -- do by 3:15
Eat a snack -- do by 3:45
Make the rest of the chocolates -- by 5:00
Use my light box -- by 5:10
Eat dinner -- by 6:00
Box up the chocolates -- by 7:00
Get groceries -- go at 7:00, so I'll be out & about & not falling asleep

Falcon

Coming along

So far so good.  I'm even a few minutes ahead of schedule, with time to check in here.  Time to make chocolates while listening to a book on tape.

Falcon

what kind of chocolate?

What kind of chocolate are you making? I'm making something sort of chocolate-ish, too. I made up the recipe, so I'm not sure how it will turn out. Right now it tastes fudge-like, but it might end up as cookies.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Now a little behind

Chocolate-making is going slow!  So now I'm a little behind.  I'm heating up some soup for dinner. then the big challenge will be to not get sleepy and crash like I tend to do this time of year.  Maybe some lively music will help.

Falcon

Now groceries

O.k., now I'm off to get the groceries.  Chocolates are all made, and I'll box them up when I get back, which hopefully won't take too long, since I want to get to bed at a good hour -- got a lot more stuff to do tomorrow, so I gotta get up earlyish.

Falcon

Bedtime

I got all the chocolates made and boxed up, and in time to get to bed at a reasonable hour, too!  And got the groceries & put them away.  I still have a boatload of stuff to do tomorrow.

My goal tomorrow morning is to be up by 7:00, get dressed & eat breakfast, do one of the tasks on my list, then leave by 8:45 to pick up the wine & cheese.

Off to bed!

Falcon

Hi Pro -- where's everyone?

Hi Pro,

Is it just you & me today?  Everyone's probably out doing their last-minute christmas shopping! 

Falcon

dunno

I especially don't know what happened to movingalong, who started the day thread but then never checked in!

I have a major catch-up planned for this holiday. I need to catch up on my accounting so I can file tax returns.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Any luck with the timer

Hey Pro,

Did you have any luck with setting a timer to do paperwork?  (That often helps for me.  I HATE paperwork, but can usually convince myself that doing it for 10 minutes isn't going to kill me.)

--Falcon

haven't gotten started yet - starting is the hardest!

I haven't gotten started yet - but I haven't given up yet. I'll keep checking in.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

Yeah, starting is hard

I know what you mean; getting started sometimes feels like getting a huge boulder moving -- uphill!  Best of luck with it!  Even if you just spend a few minutes on the pile, you can feel good about having tackled it.

Falcon

spending even a few minutes on it

I know - believe me, I know. I have to spend at least a few minutes on this pile today or I will feel awful.

The inertia I have against getting started is unbelievably huge.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 1:55pm

I'm done watering the plants, and I also picked up in the apartment a little bit. I cleared off the area where I need to work on the papers. I want a break before I start, though. I'll check in within the hour - to tell on myself if I'm fooling around.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

movingalong?

How are you doing? You started the day thread, but then never checked in!

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 1pm

Hourly check-ins are working, even though there's no one else here today. I didn't want to post that I still wasn't dressed, so I got dressed. What else did I do in the last hour? Made some ice cream. I think I've got the cooking bug out of me now.

I'm going to water the plants, and check in when done.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 12:10pm

I just finished making some cookies. Need some cookies for Christmas, don't I?

Still not dressed. It's dull and rainy out.

Dishes are washed. I should get dressed. Also water the plants.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 10:30am

I made some hummus. Came out really, really well!!

Making hummus is not getting dressed or doing taxes, however. But it's Sunday and I like doing some cooking on Sunday so I'll let myself do a little more. But I'll continue to check in every hour.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

pro's CI - 9:15am

I like the thread-starter today - thanks, movingalong.

I have to work on my accounting/mail/pile today - there's no reason for me not to do it. And I really don't want to do it. But I have to.

Even if  procrastinate today, I'll continue to check in and tell on myself - every hour if that's what it takes.

Yesterday morning I cut my hair (did a good job - I'm getting better at this). Today the only thing I have to do (versus "want") is get something at the store. Oh... getting started will be the worst part, I just need to start.

I'll get dressed, and then I'll commit to 15 minutes and see how that goes.

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Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.