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.
pro's CI - 11:15pm
Need to get ready for bed now...
Good night!
G'night...
Hope you wake up and find something to smile about :)
pro's CI - 10:20pm
Need to get ready for bed now...
early to bed
I'm going to bed early tonight. I didn't get much done today, but I can't, so that's okay. I need some down time. I'm really low - need to withdraw and think.
1Focus 8:20
Already done:
-Ready for work
-Quick breakfast (I'm still hungry)
-To work a few minutes early
-Met with staff, plan for day
-Check in with PA
-Journal and stuff
-Organize/Prep for office moves (scheduled for this PM)
-Check in with rest of staff
-Call sub (no answer, follow-up this afternoon)
-Meet with another sub (rain delay, I'll see him tomorrow)
-Odds and ends
-Meet with boss for a few minutes, new priorities
-Make the office move this afternoon
-Prepare training materials
-Call and track down part numbers for broken plumbing fixture
-Follow-up call to sub, he'll be here tomorrow
-I addressed the first item in my inbox. I've had all work I can handle today.
-Goof off for a few more minutes before heading home.
-Clean kitchen
-Farm chores (include daughter)
-Money stuff
-Play with kids (I didn't really, but the in-laws elbowed me out so I'm taking credit)
Blew Off at work:
-Empty inbox
-Prepare employee evaluation for tomorrow
-Order parts
Home To-Do:
We'll see if I can really do it!
-In bed by 10:00
pro's CI - 5:55pm
slider's 4:30 pm CI
Well, ha, I sure didn't check back by 9 am!
Ta Da:
--last night purchased laptop from Best Buy
--got up at 6:30
--got DD up at 6:30
--saw news--cuop
--delegated picking up new laptop to DH
--coffee and food
--went over to church to check on calendar for caller
--stayed at church for 4 hours, working (mostly trying to understand all the new software applications on the church's new Dell computer--haven't used Microsoft Office, Excel, etc., not to mention music, audiovisual stuff, desktop publishing, etc.--we are used to Windows 98 and Outlook Express!). And having multiple identities for the secretary, me, an adminstrator, and the treasurer is a real pain. I can't get any email at all on my own identity--have to figure out how to install Outlook to all the identities (why can't they all be done at once???).
Blew Off:
--make plan for the day
Still to do:
--medicine and vitamins
--unpack from trip
--brush teeth
--shower and dress in clerical get-up for meeting followed by directory photos
--doctor skin and put on makeup extra well for photos
--look over women's yearbook for notes on tonight's meeting
--need to take snack to share?
--put bible study mags and bible in purse
--leave house by 6:35
--call DH to remind to leave on time
--leave bible study by 8:15
--pick up DS from band at 8:30
--make sure everybody looks nice
--go over for photos ASAP (appt at 9:10)
--kids to bed by 10:00 (start getting ready immediately after photos)
--me to bed by 11:00 (earlier, if possible--do bedtime routine ASAP after kids are finished)
--set alarm for 6:30
You know, today my biggest problem isn't so much procrastination as it is remembering what to do (well, I did time-binge on the church computer!) :LOL:
sly
Wondering how I stayed at the church even though I hadn't showered and dressed? Last night I slept in a sports bra and athletic clothes--comfy enough, and I was decent immediately, though not formal. Wasn't my plan, though! In fact, I didn't plan to stay at the church at that time at all, but the secretary was already there with questions and tasks to attend to. I got snared. But it seems practical to shower the night before and sleep in sweats rather than pjs for just that reason! I used to do it with my kids when they were little so they were ready for daycare even if they were still asleep. :)
what about primping?
Sounds like you aren't very appearance-conscious! LOL :D
LOL
Not under duress (mornings are a battle zone). But note the photo-primping I scheduled in! :)
1Focus 4:35
Already done:
-Ready for work
-Quick breakfast (I'm still hungry)
-To work a few minutes early
-Met with staff, plan for day
-Check in with PA
-Journal and stuff
-Organize/Prep for office moves (scheduled for this PM)
-Check in with rest of staff
-Call sub (no answer, follow-up this afternoon)
-Meet with another sub (rain delay, I'll see him tomorrow)
-Odds and ends
-Meet with boss for a few minutes, new priorities
-Make the office move this afternoon
-Prepare training materials
-Call and track down part numbers for broken plumbing fixture
-Follow-up call to sub, he'll be here tomorrow
-I addressed the first item in my inbox. I've had all work I can handle today.
-Goof off for a few more minutes before heading home.
Work To-Do:
-Empty inbox
-Prepare employee evaluation for tomorrow
-Order parts
Home To-Do:
-Play with kids
-Clean kitchen
-Farm chores (include daughter)
-Money stuff
-In bed by 10:00
Knowing your limits is important part of anticrastination
Good job on forcing out one more task, and equally good job on quitting after that! Hope that your evening is a pleasant mixture of chores and enjoyment.
todayfirst 4:26 PM
Ok, I screwed around most of the afternoon. Then I finally did the dreaded estimate. I was honest but I hope they don't like it. I don't want to be assigned the task. I'll do a bit of "weekly review" on the train. I better get back into the programming tomorrow. I really can't afford to keep putting it off.
DONE:
- Email catchup
- CUOP (partial)
- Source code control tasks
- Status report
- New program activation
- Request vacation
- Pick up train pass
- Estimate 2 new requested tasks
TODO:
- Weekly review
- Work on my program
1Focus 3:55
Already done:
-Ready for work
-Quick breakfast (I'm still hungry)
-To work a few minutes early
-Met with staff, plan for day
-Check in with PA
-Journal and stuff
-Organize/Prep for office moves (scheduled for this PM)
-Check in with rest of staff
-Call sub (no answer, follow-up this afternoon)
-Meet with another sub (rain delay, I'll see him tomorrow)
-Odds and ends
-Meet with boss for a few minutes, new priorities
-Make the office move this afternoon
-Prepare training materials
-Call and track down part numbers for broken plumbing fixture
-Follow-up call to sub, he'll be here tomorrow
Running out of steam...less than an hour to go...maybe I can do just one...more...thing...
Work To-Do:
-Empty inbox
-Prepare employee evaluation for tomorrow
-Order parts
Home To-Do:
-Play with kids
-Clean kitchen
-Farm chores (include daughter)
-Money stuff
-In bed by 10:00
pro's CI - 3:30pm
pro's CI - 2:45pm
pro's CI - 2:30pm
pro's CI - 1:45pm
todayfirst 1:05 PM
DONE:
- Email catchup
- CUOP (partial)
- Source code control tasks
- Status report
- New program activation
- Request vacation
- Pick up train pass
TODO:
- Weekly review
- Work on my program
- Estimate 2 new requested tasks
pro's CI - 12:55pm
To my great relief, my new, not-desirable-because-broke, prospective client found a free solution to getting her Web site created, so I don't have to deal with it. I'm glad I delayed and didn't spend time on it.
Intermittant Postive Reinforcement
The most powerful kind of behavioral reinforcement there is! It's why gambling is so addictive. People will get tired of something that never works, and even of something that always works. They'll be kept away for awhile by intermittant negative reinforcement, but IPR will hook people every time: it might work THIS time. Sometimes when you ignore something it really does go away! But that sure doesn't help a person get OVER procrastination, does it? ;)
delay but not procrastination
"Intermittant Postiive Reinforcement"? Sounds like you were a psych major. ;) Yes, I've read those studies, too.
This wasn't really procrastination - not the bad kind. I realized I was feeling reluctance to do the work, asked myself why, realized that I knew it wouldn't end up paying for me, and wrote her last week saying I didn't want to do it because her budget wasn't big enough. She asked me to price it anyway and I said okay, but not until next week. And then next week came and she found someone to do it for free (much to my delight).
Ya done good, then
Sounds like you handled that situation quite appropriately, and then you were let off the hook while still within the realm of appropriateness. Super! Writing to her was one of your frogs last week, wasn't it? Be proud of yourself for that. And a relief, too, no? Hope it feels good! (PS: In grad school I was a psych minor; but I learned the most about behavior modification from working with folks with mental retardation at a state school. Too bad I can do so little with myself!)
1Focus 11:20
Already done:
-Ready for work
-Quick breakfast (I'm still hungry)
-To work a few minutes early
-Met with staff, plan for day
-Check in with PA
-Journal and stuff
-Organize/Prep for office moves (scheduled for this PM)
-Check in with rest of staff
-Call sub (no answer, follow-up this afternoon)
-Meet with another sub (rain delay, I'll see him tomorrow)
-Odds and ends
Unexpected:
-Meet with boss for a few minutes, new priorities
Wow this is working, I'm still feeling motivated.
Work To-Do:
-Make the office move this afternoon
-Prepare training materials
-Prepare employee evaluation for tomorrow
-Follow-up call to sub
Home To-Do:
-Play with kids
-Clean kitchen
-Farm chores (include daughter)
-Money stuff
-In bed by 10:00
WTG, 1Focus!!
Bookending works really well. I'm glad you decided to try it. You're doing great!! :)
pro's CI - 11:10am
Bravo for you!
Throwing away unread magazines is pretty bold stuff! WTG! (I know that clutter is not one of your issues, but it is for me, and so I honor you).
throwing out unread magazines
Thanks, slider. Clutter isn't a big issue for me, but I do tend to hold onto magazines with the idea that I'll eventually read them. I finally decided I wanted the space more than the magazines. ;)
pro's CI - 9:30am
todayfirst 9:00 AM EST
I'm off "vacation" and back to work. Vacation being in quotes because it was all spent watching my daughter so my wife could work. The remainder of my vacation time will be spent at the overseas in-laws later this month. I used to go on some real adventures during my vacations. *sigh*. /whine
DONE:
- Email catchup
- CUOP (partial)
- Source code control tasks
- Status report
- Weekly review
- New program activation
- Work on my program
I know those vacations!
Weekends seem that way, too. I've committed to getting over it and including my kids in the things I want to do, rather than use it as an excuse to procrastinate.
weekends & vacations
Yeah, partly it really is an excuse to procrastinate. Partly it's because my interests are not things my wife is interested in or my daughter is capable of. Which means if I choose to pursue them, I do so by myself and usually feel like I am abandoning my family responsibilities.
slider's 7:45 am CI
Well, surprise--I got up! Wanted to see news on Irwin's death. :(
Ta Da:
--last night purchased laptop from Best Buy :)
--got up at 6:30
--got DD up at 6:30
--saw news (bonus news: we should get some much needed rain this morning)
--cuop
--told DH about laptop I purchased last night on way through city as I returned from my dad's house for Labor Day. It was closing time, so they couldn't get it ready for me. (I am NOT a techie!) He'll pick it up for me today when he goes in (the store is not far from where DH teaches).
To Do:
--coffee and food
--medicine and vitamins
--shower and dress
--brush teeth
--doctor skin and put on makeup
--unpack from trip
--make plan for the day
I'll go that far and check back in--hopefully between 8:30 and 9 am.
Red type?
How did my entry wind up so colorful?
somebody didn't close a tag
Somebody left a tag unclosed. When people do that, it affects the whole board. I noticed it before, but didn't hunt for it yet.
...and that would be me (oops)
I was the one with the unclosed font tag. :P
Fixed now.
Everyone else is doing it, why can't I.
What the heck does CUOP mean :?
CUOP = Catch Up On Posts
:)
1Focus 8:20am
Already done:
-Ready for work
-Quick breakfast (I'm still hungry)
-To work a few minutes early
-Met with staff, plan for day
-Check in with PA
Work To-Do:
-Journal and stuff
-Organize/Prep for office moves
-Call sub
-Meet with another sub
-Prepare training materials
-Prepare employee evaluation for tomorrow
-Odds and ends
Home To-Do:
-Play with kids
-Clean kitchen
-Farm chores (include daughter)
-Money stuff
-In bed by 10:00
Milo 4pm
Won't have time to finish work stuff. But will do some work on job B - at least I can make a start.
Ta Da:
- Got up, dressed, to work and kids to care
- Assessed to-do list and assigned time in my schedule for all my to-dos
- CUOP
- Publish form changes to test for testing (duh..)
- Put job C into production
- Monthly report
- Update job log
- Send job application
- have a pub lunch with DWC and catch up (dear work colleagues - one wasn’t here last week)
- organised budget and spending plan for colleague (couldn't help it - she's a hopeless saver so I designed a good system for her because she wants to move overseas to live for a little bit yet has debts and NO savings!)
- interruption to do some work on a job I hadn't planned for
To Do:
- Start work on new job B
- review procedures someone has written (2 lots, only doing 1 lot today)
- Plan for production update happening next week
- Provide some information to audit department
- Attend job interview
- Review request for job D and schedule meeting about it
Evening to-do:
- dowload pics from camera for DH
- wrap DSis birthday present
- evening routine
- tidy up office, it's been sorely neglected since I entered my little slump
Milo's CI 10am
Checking in today as much as I can. At work. Urgh.
Ta Da:
- Got up, dressed, to work and kids to care
- Assessed to-do list and assigned time in my schedule for all my to-dos
- CUOP
To Do:
- Publish form changes to test for testing (duh..)
- Start work on new job B
- Put job C into production
- Monthly report
- Job C
- Update job log
- review procedures someone has written (2 lots, only doing 1 lot today)
- Plan for production update happening next week
- Provide some information to audit department
- Send job application
- Attend job interview (I was lucky enough to secure an interview without an application yet, but will still need to send it before the interview this afternoon)
- Review request for job D and schedule meeting about it
- have a pub lunch with DWC and catch up (dear work colleagues :) One wasn’t here last week)
Evening to-do:
- dowload pics from camera for DH
- wrap DSis birthday present
- evening routine
- tidy up office, it's been sorely neglected since I entered my little slump :(
Fingers crossed
Since you posted it's been around 5 hours, so I'm wondering if you've had your interview and if so, how it went? I'm wishing you the very best as I head off to bed. It's after 12:30 am here. Ought to get up at 6:30 in the morning, but I don't HAVE to, so I probably won't. DH reminded me not to stay up too late as he went to bed! Good luck with the job search, Milo. I really sympathize.
Thanks
Thanks, slider. I read your posts just then, and feel for you. I am the same in that I am still in my job because it earns good money and my DH had planned for that money in our long-term goals. Therefore I felt obliged not to rock the boat. But DH earns very good money - twice what many comfortable families are living on and almost twice MY income. I am really pulling the carpet out from under him by leaving this job - I will be more than halving my income. But I'd rather be happy than have the mortgage paid off in 5 years. He'd rather me 'stick it out' and get the mortage paid off asap. I also found out last night that he's a bit of a job snob, for which I expressed my horror and he was a bit ashamed of. The job I will be taking is lower in 'social status'(ie, you don't need a degree to do it) than my current job, which requires a high level of intelligence and education and has an 'important' title. I don't give a rat's arse, I want to be happy and be good at my job.
And we had another 'discussion' last night (ie, I uummmed and butted while he had his head in his hands) about my indecision about what I want to 'be when I grow up' and finally I said to him that I am indecisive, it's what I am, and I may well change careers another 3 times before I retire. And what's the big deal with that??? He answered "lack of security for the family". I reiterated that I will not be leaving any job before I have another one - EVER. He was mildly comforted but still immensely confused by me. Sigh!!
Have you looked elsewhere for work that you might be happier doing? If you find another job first, leaving won't be nearly as traumatic for the family.
I haven't had the interview yet - it's in about an hour.
Good night! Sleep well :)
Thinking about it
I agree--it's much easier to leave one job when you have another in hand. I can always keep half of my job--the part at the nursing home. It would take a little arranging, but I can get the nursing home to pay me directly instead of through the congregation, and there are steps to keep my credentials when not under call to a congregation. However, it would also mean finding someplace new to live, and in this small town there's not much available. I might have resources among all the contacts I have, though I don't know. I have thought outside the box--like working the night shift at the nursing home as a nurse's aide. There's not a whole lot to do overnight, just make rounds and change sheets. I could do a lot of writing! They don't care what you do in between rounds so long as it keeps you awake. I would guess that some of the staff don't even stay awake! Anyhow, it would be some extra income. I don't know if they would consider hiring someone part-time for the night shift. The hours--on top of afternoons as chaplain--might get debilitating! But if I can write all the time while at my shift, it would leave lots of other time free--and I tend to want to write at night more than any other time. Maybe it's time to commit to that. I could do it in a heartbeat if I were single and childless. I have a much harder time dealing with family expectations and feelings, and especially about seeming like the bad guy making their life get worse.