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 August 25, 2009

                                                                 Easy Does It, But Do it!

first CI ever

Hi.  I'm new and this is my first check in ever, so forgive me if the formatting is off.

I had only one item on my to do list today--one very important item.  I have a report, a full month overdue that I absolutely UNQUESTIONABLY had to do today.  And I did not do it.

I actually brought the report with me on vacation after I finished my summer job (for which I still have to produce this report).  I've spent over two weeks of my vacation ignoring my family and shunning all things fun and relaxing to work on it, only I can never actually really get working on it.  I've pulled no less than 8 all nighters (in which I accomplished nothing) trying to write it. The deadline simply doesn't even motivate me anymore--I don't know what does!  I've promised it to my employer now almost daily (tomorrow, this weekend, tomorrow again...etc.) and yesterday I promised I'd send whatever I had by the end of the day, which I didn't end up doing because I'd hardly written a word.  I'm coming off as the most irresponsible, flaky student on earth, I'm destroying my relationships and my physical and mental health--I feel like I'm going crazy :(

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Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. 

~William James

Animated Tired Emoticon Drinking Coffee


Thank you to all!!!

Thank you all for all of your kind words and advice!  I ended up sleeping last night with the plan (again) to try to write the report after my class today. I'm now back, done eating lunch, etc. and knocking off the few other short things on my to do list before trying to do the report yet again.  I'll be checking in on today's post for updates.

Thank you all again!

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Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. 

~William James

hi Crayon

 

I am new to PA, but not to compulsion.  I SO get where  you are coming from.  The only thing I do know, and that is from a piece of DA approved literature, is that in order to stay alive a compulsion must be fed.  It seems like if we give in and do the drug (in our case: inaction on the very thing we most need to do) the need will ease up.  Just the opposite is true.  So if you can pray to your HP to help you not procrastinate on one little part of it (I think this is where the break-it-down can help.), one day at a time, you can maybe get a tiny part done.  That in turn can open the gate for more. 

Feedback from people who have been here longer??? 

Anyway, your issue just touched my heart.  I am there too.  I will keep coming back.  Don't give up.  It's as cunning and baffling as any drug addiction.

 

crayon keep coming back

well, i admire you for the sacrifices you made to at least try to get your work done. I've been there, but more often i dont make the effort.

so perhaps you're one step a head.

it sounds like what vic was saying, the break it down technique, one of our PA Tools for Recovery might help you. It certainly has helped me, and from what i read, many others here.

The advice i wish someone had given me on my first post, something i learned eventually, is keep coming back and posting, even when you feel like crap. It's the consistency of applying the technique, even when it's not working, ironically, that helps. at least that's what i've found.

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the touch of the master's hand: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1898#comment-27748

"fall down seven times, get up eight" - japanese proverb

Welcome Crayon!

I second what Vic said!  Many of us, including myself, arrived at this site with an overdue project that we had not even started on.  I've been here almost two years (can you believe it!?) and I've made a lot of progress, although I'm certainly not perfect (yet).

Try setting a timer and working on the report for 5 minutes, then take a 5 minute break.

Good luck! 

Jo 

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."  - Kurt Vonnegut 

Welcome C-ray

Thank you for sharing- only at this site was I able to find true empathy for something we cannot explain. We all feel your pain.

Thank goodness you "showed up" that is the first step, coming out of the closet. You also put together a few paragraphs, so you can still write.

Could you have your materials together ready for writing, take a break, then could you write the first sentence of the report and check in?  or feel free to e-mail me.

If a sentence is too much write the title or your name or the date, then check in. I will pray for you and for all the people who are suffering in silence. Take care,

Vic

Recycler CI 9:10pm EST

Hi Pro Buddies!

This morning at the gym I did my full routine of stretching & ab exercises. Still no word from my doc to approve my foot for exercise, so I'm still holding off on the cardio.

At work this morning, I did various projects. At lunchtime, I bought something for a friend & mailed it to them, and ate food that I had brought from home. During the afternoon, I did some communication projects so I could mark things off my list. At the end of the day, I updated & highlighted my project list so that I can immediately know what to do in the morning.

Arriving at home, I rested before going to volunteer activities tonight. Back at home, I've just taken my melatonin tablet; I'll have a few minutes to surf the Internet before getting too sleepy to stay awake. I also want to read an inspirational chapter before sleeping.

Have a great night, everyone! :)

Recycler


Recycler

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

Journey noon

Late checking in this morning, had the semi-monthly review meeting with boss this morning and he's unhappy with my results on Project L.  I feel discouraged.  I could just pout and whine and blame him for not taking the leadership role but . . . I want this project to succeed and if he wants me to do the project management stuff, then I will.   It's frustrating because I don't really know what my role is and things keep changing.   I think I am going down the right path, and then I have a meeting with the boss and he's like "well, why didn't you do this or that?"   But I am just going to suck it up and keep moving forward.  

Anyway, it took me  a while to a) prepare for and then b) recover from that meeting, so I am just now making my todo list for the rest of the day!!

Jo 

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."  - Kurt Vonnegut 

thanks for all the encouragement!

Today was a pretty good day after I recovered from the boss meeting and I actually got some stuff done this afternoon.   I did a little bit on several projects.   I think I am more productive if I can concentrate on one project for several hours during the day but some days just don't work out like that. 

Going to make dinner now . . . see ya later 

Jo  

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."  - Kurt Vonnegut 

Showing up

I have had so many jobs and filled in as "acting" chief... because no one else had the license/certification. I still believe 95% of the job is just "showing up" and go with the changes, he probably is not happy with anyone if he acts like that.

Keep smiling.Cool

((jo))

I really admire how you're taking control of the situation! It sounds like you have plenty of reason to get frustrated, kudos to you for keeping going :)

Hugs and best of luck for the rest of your day. 

Vic 8/25

I really like the table feature. Must start new message. Dr. called back, I thought they would not want me as a patient, I am always messing up apts., but this time it is not til Fri. Thank God, I thought it was today- lost my appt. book.

Called church about kids boating nite. She was on phone and I left a voicemail. I honestly thought they would not call me back, she called back right away, so at least one sone and his friend we leave at 3 to go on the lake. At least can have some fun.

Must be having severe self esteem issues. Need to get out of myself. 

      calls               done    misc.       done     master list             
 sponsoree  X  dishes  X  papers
 cell phone  X  vacuum  X  
 CANCEL MEMBER    wash    

 aetna

Kristin

 X

X

 car

dinner

recyclye

 X

X

X

 

 

check-in (11:09AM)

Hi All,

Welcome back George!!

Grateful to be here again today. Must admit it's a little hard for me, people seeing my imperfections, etc. Showed up for work again today!! It's day 6!!

Did some good stuff for my sick girl (dog) last night:
-Contacted 1 homeopathic Dr.
-located another
-located a natural & healthy kibble

To do for my girl (dog):
-get new kibble
-I want to change her diet to this kibble and cooked chicken. Get book to help with this.

My interview is re-scheduled for tomorrow - YAY!!

Take good care everyone,
hope4meandu

♥"Kindness and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed." Psalm 85♥

GeorgeSmiley: Back again. 9:30 AM

Greetings.

The last 3 weeks have been almost a complete mess. No one or nothing to blame but myself.

I'm trying to turn over a new leaf today.

Today's Project #1 will be to review and reorganize my task list.

When I've done that I'll come back here and follow up.

 

~~

Want what you have. Be who you are. Do what you can. ~Forrest Church

The Hero's Code:

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

GS 3:20 PM

 Checking out for the day. I'm hoping I have a less overwhelming list tomorrow so I can actually do something.

 

~~

Want what you have. Be who you are. Do what you can. ~Forrest Church

The Hero's Code:

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

Welcome Back GeorgeSmiley!

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."  - Kurt Vonnegut 

Yellow Ribbons

You will find nothing but yellow ribbons here. Try not to be so hard on yourself (I know it is easy for me to say), just "act as if" you are exactly where you need to be.

Did you know after 3 years there were only 2 score that were in AA recovery?

CL daily overcoming

i almost wrote "daily battle" but that has a more negative connotation so i like the more positive "overcoming". But it is certainly daily. I have to deal w/ this part of myself every day.

God give me strength for today.

9:50 check, but dont do, email - DONE
interruption: feed dogs - DONE
interruption: fix phones - DONE
interruption: banking - DONE
10:30 wko - 12:20 50 min late, but - DONE
12:50 qt - 1:20 on time - DONE

accepting forgiveness is hard, because it means letting go...

1:20 work - nbf dir problem
sometime read hswsv
brpt

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the touch of the master's hand: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1898#comment-27748

"fall down seven times, get up eight" - japanese proverb

kromer 9:45 CI

OK, feeling a lot better today. I have lab mtg in a little while. After lab mtg, I want to:

MITs:
*Talk to MG about dissection practice (she agreed to help me w/ practice in an hour or so)
*Finish choosing samples for training compendium (made some progress on this)

*1 hr work on meiotic blocks project
*Finish fgf writeup
*Microburst embryonic data analysis

Other tasks:
*Read 2 Sohlh1/2 papers
*Finish hh writeup
*Start mtg pres

Breaks:
*Square dancing
*Friend's goodbye party
*Email friend

OK, right now I'm going to work for 10 min on choosing samples for  training compendium and then I'll go to lab mtg. After lab mtg (around 11:30 or 12) I'll talk to MG.

kromer 6:10 CI

OK, I had dinner, made more progress choosing samples for training compendium. Now, I'm going to do an hour of work on the meiotic blocks project. Heading to the chatbox to do that.

Update 6:30--plan for project work:
1)Write up summary of Dmc1 expt plan
2)Read 2nd Dmc1 ref
3)Summarize Dmc1 info
4)Summarize Atm info

kromer 1:30 CI

OK, I'm making decent progress. I've been to lab mtg, set up dissection practice for this afternoon, sent email to friend, and worked on choosing samples for training compendium (I've made a preliminary list of possibilities, now I need to go through and cull)

Right now, I'm going to study up a bit for dissection practice, then I'll work on culling list of possibilites until it's time for dissection practice. 

Update 1:45--finished review for dissection practice, now I need to start going through list of possible samples for training compendium. I have 6 pages to go through, I think going thorugh them will take a good chunk of the afternoon. Back after each page.

Update 3:40--did dissection practice, also went through 1 page of possible samples, going to go through another page, then transition to something else for a bit (since this is getting very boring!)

Update 4--I'm falling asleep at my desk, and can't have caffeine in lab today because we're having lab inspections today, so I'm going to go somewhere else to have some soda and read a paper. Back in about 30 min. 

Update 4:35--ended uptaking a walk rather than reading a paper, but I'm back now and feeling somewhat more awake. I'm going to spend 20 more min going through possible samples, then I'll work on meiotic blocks project for a while, then I'll get dinner, come back and work on fgf stuff. 

e 8/25 ci

Good morning! It feels good to be back at PA after summer vacation and I feel ready to accomplish some things. Today I want to deal with the house and finances. Here is the list of specifics, in no particular order.

Clean grill
plan dinner and plan dinner for tomorrow
visit websites mentioned in Money
do laundry
vacuum house
buy shoes for C and A
set up bill pay for tuition
go through emails
swish and wipe the bath
set up daily schedule
mop kitchen floor
sweep front stairs
weed yard
pull up box for A to look through for college materials
purge old coupons

I will not accomplish all of these today, but they are things to do. What I am not going to look at today is my resume or old school stuff. Once I have a schedule in place I will set regular times up for that.

Now: breakfast.

asking for help to do the next right thing

Vic 8/25

Showing up (done) have done program work since 6:30 am. (done) Need to see if I have dr. appt.- called yesterday, they did not call back.I lost appt book. Try making master list- again, this is my 4th try- keep losing it. Need to "chill" feel like I am under alot of pressure.

Thanks.