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.

Friday April 10, 2009

  Photobucket

You are a miracle!   Celebrate overcoming....  Persevere. Persevere. Love and Laugh. Rejoice.

Pyrotecher CI 10:30 pm PDT

Yesterday's check-in admitted to a pretty badly handled week:
http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/2045#comment-29935

Unfortunately today was only marginally better.
- I did get more sleep than the previous nights but still ran way too late doing so.
(Particularly telling was my post on the PA forum last night at 2am. Not exactly in line with fixing my schedule.)
- As a result my schedule was still badly out of sync with the rest of the business world in my time zone.
- My depression was marginally improved by additional sleep but still there as major tasks still went unhandled.
- I still locked myself into a set of routines that took a huge chunk of productive daytime that could have been spent on the urgent.

I did work on my tasklist but even that went badly. My Outlook task list, which is currently my main collecting point, got updated to include all those little actions on sticky notes, but its still unsorted and full of redundancy.

Sorting and prioritizing tasks effectively is a major issue. Tonight I tried to get a broad view of what truly matters most. I wanted a list of the big items, the real top priorities. I know what they are but tellingly, when I go to write them down I start adding lots of lower priority stuff. I tried doing it by hand a couple of times and then turned to a spreadsheet.

This simple excercise resulted, several hours later, in a big spreadsheet with multiple columns categorizing my responsibilities into various roles, programs, projects, Important Tasks, Urgent Tasks, and Appointments. I came up with about 7 major roles in life (e.g. job, household, extended family, avocations). I came up with 40+ tasks with some urgency attached. (My current outlook list has over 300.)

The only way I salvaged my goal of identifying the true top priorities was to go in at the end and highlight those items red. And it was the same items I'd thought of at the start.

The exercise was really just another time binge.
Looking for the good from it, I did get some insights: 
- There are too many things that I label important/urgent and allow to take priority out of turn.
- My tasklists are generally either poorly organized (as my Outlook list currently is) or made with such effort (like the spreadsheet) that I don't expect to maintain them.
- On top of that are the various old lists and collecting points that never quite got integrated into my current ones.
- Yet without these lists my brain is a frantic disorganized mess.

I did get some degree of brain uncluttering as I looked through this spreadsheet and the still-disorganized Outlook list and came up with the short list of things to focus on this weekend. (Surprise - top of the priority food chain is taxes, just like the last 4 weekends.) I've found I need that list, which I keep in my pocket, updated about once a week, if I want to remember what's important.

Plan for this weekend:
- Handle the true highest priority items (yep, taxes)
- Get to the "other high priority" items IF there's additional time left
- Get my schedule back on track for the new week, which also means
- don't let routines dominate my time and hijack my schedule
- Get my thought patterns out of depression (cognitive approach)
- And maybe see if I can make my big (Outlook) tasklist more functional.

And yeah, it would probably be more time effective if I made these posts shorter. Smile


-=-=-=-=-=
"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."
Benjamin Franklin

re: Sorting/prioritizing roles and tasks

Hi Pyrotecher !

I, too, have difficulty with sorting and prioritizing tasks -- and often waste more time spinning my wheels trying to figure it all out.

Your post reminded me of this thread on "roles": http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1232 I had forgotten about it and need to think about it again, now that I understand my procrastination slightly better.

Your post also reminded me that, just for today, I need to stop ruminating and just file my taxes!

-- movingalong

Just for Tonight I will

1.  Not sit down for the next half hour

2.  Empty the trash

3.  Declutter and clean up the left side of my living room

4.  Stay off this addictive internet 

5.  Forgive myself 

 

Recycler CI 5:30pm EST

Hi Pro Buddies!

Thunderstorm here, so I can only be on the computer a minute. While I don't think any lightning strikes are nearby, I prefer to not risk a power surge to my CPU! ;)

At the gym I did my cardio, ab exercises, and stretching.

Today at work I did stuff on my project list. Lunchtime I went on my walk, ate lunch, and did an errand. At the end of the day, I updated my project list for when I am back in the office on ... Tuesday ((g))

Tonight I will use my "PA Friday Night List," then go to the 12-step meeting of my other program.

More thunder! Talk to you tomorrow! Have a great night, everyone! :)

Recycler


Recycler

Thank you, gals & guys, for being here! :)

Perservering and rejoicing

Believe it or not, I just set up the taxi for my ride 4am to the airport tomorrow morning!

I want to rejjoice and yet I kind of feel both anger at myself for making this so complicated and for being like this, and making my life so hard.

However, I am going to rejoice anyway- who cares. It's like I feel shame for letting all of you see my flaws and my pride is coming in- but hey, I am not judging anyone else, and this is working, so who cares

Also I check with some pro buddies and got the ok to share a helpful tool I found. I only went to one meeting so I don't know too much, but it looks good.

I would not consider it a substitue for PA, but it has many helpful and similar elements, especially the peer support and building skills. They have phone meetings which probably I will have to do when I get back home.

A summary of this tool is Self-Help Systems is to use the cognitive-behavioral, peer-to-peer, self-help training system developed by Abraham Low, M.D., to help individuals gain skills to lead more peaceful and productive lives.
the website is:

http://www.recovery-inc.com/

Thanks again.

Yay vic!

Good for you!  Go ahead and rejoice!  I totally understand how a small task can seem like moving a mountain. . . better to feel good about climbing the mountain than to waste energy kicking yourself for feeling that way!

Falcon

Check-in

I really thought I could follow my ridicuolusly simple plan without checking in. I got up at 6, did some comuter stuff, ate and ????????????????I guess went into a time warp because here it is 10 am and I had planned to be out by 8am.

I want to get into a head analysis about this but what has been working is checking in and say I am going out. So that's it- I am goingout of my room and will check in later.

Miracle- the freedom to unload the insanity in me.

Thank you. 

 

Journey 9:30 tired and grumpy

Good morning . . .I was awakened at 0400 this morning by a call from work (I'm on call this week) which turned out to be nothing important but my sleep was disrupted.   I am quite grouchy and I still have a lot to do to get ready for the weekend.  The good news is that what I need to get done today is pretty straightforward stuff. I'd like to get everything finished and leave a little early today, since i have to work this weekend. 

Jo aka Grouchypants

There is a proper balance between not asking enough of oneself and asking or expecting too much.  - May Sarton

feel better jo!

hope the grumpiness goes away soon!

Falcon CI Fri.

Hi pro buddies,

My brain is a little tangled today.  I'm dealing with some health issues -- not life-threatening, but tiring and tiresome.  

Feeling a little overwhelmed & I'm not sure how much of it is mental and how much is physical.  Actually, it's a combo of both. . . my mind is needing to think about a lot of tasks and do some breaking down and prioritizing so I'll feel more on top of things.  My body is tired and just wants the brain to shut up for a while so it can sleep.

Going to do a little planning & thinking & see how it goes. 

Falcon

Falcon CI priorities

O.k., I feel a little better.  At least I've figured out what needs to get done today.  

  • I need to do a bunch of things to get ready for my date tonight.  I'm kind of bummed that, now that I have a date lined up for the first time in ages, I'm feeling so down & wanting to curl up in a ball rather than go out.  But it's just for coffee, and the person sounds nice (met online) so hopefully it won't be stressful.  Doing this
  • This afternoon, I need to call the two dating services I'm considering & get some info on whether I can afford, etc.  Will have to wait until next week when I have some energy
  • I need to email the landlord about the apartment.  I'm not going to try to go see it, because right now thinking about moving is way too overwhelming, and if I'm going to have a medical procedure done I need to get that scheduled before I'll know when I can move.  Done
  • I need to clean up for company tomorrow.  I especially need to get the vacuuming done today, since I'm hoping to go to class tomorrow morning, and may not have the physical energy afterward.  Done (some tidying & all the vacuuming)

That should be enough to keep me out of trouble today.  Wink  Right now, the MIT is to take a deep breath and eat some soup.

Falcon

babarino check in

I am getting away for the weekend and I am so excited!

Before I leave:
Pack
Change voice mail
Yoga

Okay I am making coffee and eating breakfast then getting started.

kromer 8:50 CI

Today I'm leaving for a long weekend, to visit my parents for easter.

I need to be on the train to the airport by 11:50. Before then I want to:
*Pack
*Finish secondary structure analysis
*Finish MoD summary
*Print stats stuff
*Photocopy and mail taxes
*Track expenses

While traveling I want to:
*Finish reading paper
*1 stats problem

This evening I want to:
*Document 1 code file
*Email RH, CB, DG, RS

Right now, I'm going to track expenses and finish up taxes, then I'll come back home to do other tasks. Heading to chatbox now.

Heading out for a week

Sons and I are visiting their grandmother for the next few days. Today, a 14-hour-plus car drive to get there. I may have to do some work on vacation, but I'm hoping to not have to do so. I'll be back a week from today.

All the best to everyone. Happy Easter, Pesach Tov, Happy Spring, and best wishes for any other religious or secular holiday you may be marking this week.

 

The Hero's Code:

Show up. Pay Attention. Speak the Truth. Let Go of the Outcome.

And a further thought for the day

Something I saw on an old post of Chickadee's just now:

 

"I don't feel the same need I used to to ask: where does p[rocrastination] come from.

I need to ask: what's the next thing to do, find the courage to do it." 

 

 

The Hero's Code:

Show up. Pay Attention. Speak the Truth. Let Go of the Outcome.

Great Quote

thanks for sharing it! :-)

check in

I've already spent an hour on internet cruising and game playing since I woke at 4 from a nightmare about my mother dying (she passed away 9 years ago). Now I look at what I need to do today (teach 5 classes and rehearse a play after school, plus catch up on grading) and I'm exhausted and wanting to avoid more, but I can't, since I already have consequences from past procrastination.

I have been working out and taking care of my health better, finally picked up the meds my doctor wants me to take.  It's very hard to keep a balanced view of things. 

 

Realistic Scheduling

Hi All, 

 I am having a hard time coming up with a realistic schedule.  Instead of working on practicum prep, I reviewed notes and did a written assigment due today... and did not go to the pool to relax.  I feel slightly deprived, but happy to have made a more realistic choice.  I am tired because I did not get enough sleep...

I read about the importance of visualizing of tasks.  I def know I'm not being realistic in writing down what I can accomplish in a day... because even the idea of imagining myself doing all said tasks for the day feels exhausting!! 

I think the key is not to deprive myself of sleep and downtime that is enjoyable and constructive and relaxing (vs zoning out via aimless internet and/or tv use which doesn't feel relaxing or energizing or phone calls that seem to go nowhere).

Today: class, study group, class, coffee w/friend, nap, exercise and 2 hours practicing.

Wishing everyone a good day.

re: realistic scheduling

Very good point Sarito!  This is an area that I struggle with too.  I am prone to making todo lists that no human could possibly complete, then of course I don't finish everything on the list and feel bad about it although it was impossible!  Another side effect of this poor planning is that only the most urgent things on the list get done, and the less urgent things fall off the bottom of the list and never get done.  We will work on this together!

Jo

There is a proper balance between not asking enough of oneself and asking or expecting too much.  - May Sarton

visualizing list

Yes good points and ditto Journey to being prone to....

Sarito - even tho I've used the visualization tool when I am working thru one hard task and breaking it down into doable steps, I've never thought to apply it to my day or my list!  Interesting! I think it might help me see what is realistic - thanks for sharing!  :-)

Thanks for your comments! 

Thanks for your comments!  Very helpful to feel I'm not alone and that there is support.  I have the same problem re: tasks at bottom of list never getting done.  For me, the tasks at the top of my list usually consist of the urgent "pants on fire" items.  While the ones on the bottom may not be urgent,  they usually consist of things that are very important to me in terms of longer-term goals and significant personal fulfillment...

Still working on trying to break up tasks into doable steps...

Thanks again.  I'm learning a lot from the shares.

re: pants on fire

 snicker.  I love that!  I am going to have a "pants on fire" category in my todo list from now on.

Jo

There is a proper balance between not asking enough of oneself and asking or expecting too much.  - May Sarton

ByGodsGrace todays CI

Word and prayer for the day again: Psalm 119:114, Hebrews 10:23

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

God does not just want to give you strength - He wants to be your strength!

Prayer changes more than things, it changes you!  Joyce Meyer 

Soundtrack of my day: Joyce Meyer /Bible teaching, Third Day 

My to do list: 

Read Bible/Pray

jobK email

job1 revisions, email

new clients A, C, M emails

order supplies job1, f,p,

library, hair appt?

playdate

Clear email/inbox for day 

jobA invites, assemble

job 2 continue tools: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/2023#comment-29655