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.

Tuesday, 25th July 2006

Anouk saying hello

Hi everybody,

sorry I haven't been here lately. Because I procrastinated learning for my exams this week, I am sitting at my desk all the time, trying to get as much facts into my brain as possible. The result: I feel stressed, my brain feels like mashed potatoes, I am really angry at myself (even though I know it doesn't help).
An it is sooooo unusually hot here. Can't sleep at night and can't concentrate during the day.

I guess I am not procrastinating at the moment because I am learning all the time. But I am really feeling the effects of procrastination. As soon as thursday is over, I want to work on a plan how to learn more continually so I don't end up in situations like this anymore. There is just this mean little voice telling me that that's just the way I am and I should not even try changing my behaviour...

Ok. Back to the desk!!!

Hope you are all doing better!

time-bingeing

Sounds like you're in time-bingeing mode, Anouk. Been there, done that - a million times!!!!

I'm looking forward to when you can participate in the forum again. I'm trying to eliminate time-bingeing, too. I think the "schedule some time each day" approach is what works. I haven't done this yet, but I've read about it. :?

using the timer

I thought, time bingeing is, when you don't have brakes. I set my timer for 30 minutes then have a break, then another 30 minutes. I am doing other things in between but as I am reading so much, a can't concentrate on the forum topics, save reply to them.

I will open a neew section for today.

See you there

todayfirst's bookending section

Pro... the topic header looks great!

I took a long weekend. Had a Dr appt yesterday and decided to take the whole day off. Took it easy but still got some chores taken care of. Now I'm back at work and figuring out what I need to get done.

todayfirst 4:25PM

Getting ready to go home... I was very busy today but I only spent an itsy bit of time working on the program. That's bad and it happens too much. Then again, getting the design document drafted is good because I might get a little bit more feedback on how others want the program to work. That might really help me get it done. This is a big assignment so I really want to stay on top of it.

Done:
- weekly status report
- Recover a database someone screwed up
- Respond to several questions
- Draft a design document - 2/3 done
- one meeting this afternoon
- Meet with another programmer who wants to ask me some questions

Todo:
- Research for a section of my program
- Actual programming

glad you like it! :)

It's nice to see you, todayfirst! I was here on my own this weekend, and Normy is away today, too (has work, then a yoga class). It helps me to bookend here even if it's just me, but it's much more fun when there are others!

todayfirst 8:30AM EST

Todo:
- weekly status report
- Draft a design document
- Recover a database someone screwed up :?
- Research for a section of my program
- Actual programming
- one meeting

todayfirst 12:40 PM

Done:
- weekly status report
- Recover a database someone screwed up
- Respond to several questions

Todo:
- Draft a design document - 2/3 done :)
- Research for a section of my program
- Actual programming
- one meeting this afternoon
- Meet with another programmer who wants to ask me some questions

WTG todayfirst!!!

Particularly awesome that you got your weekly status report done. I just HATE doing those.

pro's check-in section

When Normy gets back, she can tell me if I did an okay job starting the day thread. :)

I did like I said I was going to do - went to bed early and got up early. I'm going to get right to work.

It's beautiful Pro!

:)

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Why, thank you!

:)

oh, forget it.

No way I can walk away from a two back-to-back episodes of House. Looks like I'm going to be up very late tonight. {{sigh!!}}

Come, on - you can do it!

Come on, Pro - you are taping it! Reality check: use your time wisely. If you are recording it, it becomes a reward for doing something. You are rewarding yourself for procrastinating now, and reinforcing the behaviour.

Turn the TV OFF - NOW!

Pick one task and START IT. Set your timer for 1 hour and then STOP and either go to bed or watch House as your reward.

I know you can do it!!!

I couldn't resist.

It was House - my favorite FAVORITE TV show of all time, even better than the original Star Trek! Do you know how major that is, coming from a techno-nerd like myself? Better than Star Trek!!

I couldn't resist watching it - I missed some of the second season, and I hadn't seen either episode. But I did answer business email during the commercials, and cleared all that out.

Now I'm tired (I've been getting up very early), so I'd better go to bed. I have to go out of town tomorrow so I won't be able to work much (also won't be online much until Friday).

You could have, you know.

I think willpower has a lot to do with this. Forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do (ie, delay...not miss...seeing your favourite show).

But you did get some stuff done in between so well done!

Oops...

I forgot to do the 'off' tag for strong...sorry. Not very good at html

I fixed it.

I closed your "strong" tag. :)

thinking about working in a coffee shop...

I'm thinking about bringing my computer to a coffee shop and working there because in a half hour my favorite TV show is on, and I won't be able to resist watching it if I'm here (although I'm recording it).

oh - maybe I spoke too soon...

Now they're talking about another issue I care very much about, and the other guy said "the wrong thing". We need a third candidate. Maybe I'll vote for the Republican.

I've heard enough...

One of the democratic candidates just said something so outrageous that I don't need to hear anything else. I know who I'm voting for.

I'm answering business email messages now while eating dinner.

pro's CI - 7pm

Took a longer break than I intended, and now am captured by the NYS Democratic debate for governor.

pro's CI - 5:45pm

Well, I didn't start right at 3pm - it was more like 3:30pm. The other bad thing is that I spent more than an hour on it - more like 2 hours and 15 minutes. Spending too much time on things is a serious problem for me. It's that perfectionism problem I wrote about in the article on the home page. So it's good I did the first report, but I did it too slow.

I have four more to do tonight! But I need to take a short break first. Maybe I'll go take a walk outside.

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.
  • Determined that I have to go down to the DMV to renew my license because I didn't leave enough time to do it online or by mail (and also I need an eye exam). Will do this Friday or Monday.
  • Took pills.
  • Collected documentation to prove I double-paid my last flu shot.
  • Appealed bad decision for parking ticket.
  • Followed up on missing item I ordered.
  • Checked into air conditioned storage facilities.
  • Ate (very light) lunch.
  • Mailed letter, picked up mail.
  • Put recycling in bins.
  • Wrote report to Client A.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Write report to Client B.
  • Write report to Client C.
  • Write report to Client D.
  • Write report to Client E.
  • Errands.

YAY!

I'm so sorry I wasn't here for when you wrote your first report - you're doing brilliantly!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

thanks, Normy!

You were the one who noticed how I'd been procrastinating on those reports - how they were forever at the bottom of my to-do list. Thanks for noticing I finally got started! :)

Takes one to know one ;o)

I probably noticed because it's the sort of thing ~I~ do, lol!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

pro's CI - 3pm

Anxiety time-out is over. Time to start work!

time-out to consider my anxiety

It's 2:30pm, and I'm feeling extremely anxious about getting started on these reports. I'm going to give myself until 3pm to relax, take a break, and get used to the idea. Then when 3pm comes, I'm starting - no matter how ready or not ready I feel.

pro's CI - 2:15pm

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.
  • Determined that I have to go down to the DMV to renew my license because I didn't leave enough time to do it online or by mail (and also I need an eye exam). Will do this Friday or Monday.
  • Took pills.
  • Collected documentation to prove I double-paid my last flu shot.
  • Appealed bad decision for parking ticket.
  • Followed up on missing item I ordered.
  • Checked into air conditioned storage facilities.
  • Ate (very light) lunch.
  • Mailed letter, picked up mail.
  • Put recycling in bins. <--procrastinating

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Write report to Client A.
  • ---- Review material (reading).
  • ---- Think about what I want to write.
  • ---- Write it.
  • Write report to Client B.
  • Write report to Client C.
  • Write report to Client D.
  • Write report to Client E.
  • Errands.

oh, those reports!!

At this point, I really have nothing to do that is more important than those reports, and those reports are very important. I need to psych myself up for this somehow. I feel procrastination coming on, and I really don't want to do that. I'm hungry - didn't eat much of a lunch. Maybe I'll get something to eat and then get started? The reports take about an hour to write (each).

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.
  • Determined that I have to go down to the DMV to renew my license because I didn't leave enough time to do it online or by mail (and also I need an eye exam). Will do this Friday or Monday.
  • Took pills.
  • Collected documentation to prove I double-paid my last flu shot.
  • Appealed bad decision for parking ticket.
  • Followed up on missing item I ordered.
  • Checked into air conditioned storage facilities.
  • Ate (very light) lunch.
  • Mailed letter, picked up mail.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Write report to Client A.
  • ---- Review material (reading).
  • ---- Think about what I want to write.
  • ---- Write it.
  • Write report to Client B.
  • Write report to Client C.
  • Write report to Client D.
  • Write report to Client E.
  • Errands.

pro's CI - 12:40pm

My pile is completely handled - gone!!!!

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.
  • Determined that I have to go down to the DMV to renew my license because I didn't leave enough time to do it online or by mail (and also I need an eye exam). Will do this Friday or Monday.
  • Took pills.
  • Collected documentation to prove I double-paid my last flu shot.
  • Appealed bad decision for parking ticket.
  • Followed up on missing item I ordered.
  • Checked into air conditioned storage facilities.
  • Ate lunch.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Mail letter, pick up mail.
  • Write reports (n=5).
  • Errands.

Fantastic!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Phew! What a relief to have that done!!

:D

pro's CI - 10:25am

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.
  • Determined that I have to go down to the DMV to renew my license because I didn't leave enough time to do it online or by mail (and also I need an eye exam). Will do this Friday or Monday.
  • Took pills.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Figure out weird billing mix-up with last flu shot.
  • Write reports (n=5).
  • Errands.

Reports

I don't know... maybe it would be easier to get started if you broke this up (write report 1, write report 2). Just an idea.

definitely will be doing that

Yes, I will be breaking it up into report #1, etc. After I take come back from the post office, I'll expand this part of the to-do list. The reports will be my #1 priority when I get back.

pro's CI - 10:05am

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.
  • Made and ate breakfast.
  • Checked spam folder for misfilings and emptied.
  • Found name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Paid ASP membership dues.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Take pills.
  • Renew driver's license.
  • Figure out weird billing mix-up with last flu shot.
  • Write reports (n=5).
  • Errands.

pro's CI - 8:15am EDT US

~~~~~~~~Ta Da~~~~~~~~

  • Made bed.
  • Got dressed.

~~~~~~~~Ta Do~~~~~~~~

  • Make and eat breakfast.
  • Take pills.
  • Renew driver's license.
  • Figure out weird billing mix-up with last flu shot.
  • Find name and number of optical lab in Maine.
  • Pay ASP membership dues.
  • Write reports (n=5).
  • Errands.