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.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Ok, its mid afternoon here. I have two hours to work with.
And I don't want to do a damn thing!  
Is there a smiley for depression ?
 
 :-(:(:?
 
Its not like I want the world to end. Its more like I just don't care anymore.
I don't feel anything.
 
Nothing.
 
 
Zip
 
 
*sigh* 

tiptree CI

- investigate P. issue
- research H.
- reproduce M. xml issue
- review bugs
- rehearsal
- docs requested by R.
- get at least 7 hours of sleep
- clean office
- cull items for sale - LPs/CDs/books
- meeting
- shave
- wash tub/toys
- read 50 pp. MC

Agnus checking in 11:45

Greetings, cherrypicker. You're in the right place, seems. Many of us felt the same way, but showing up here makes a difference.  I keep coming back; hope you will too.

I overslept and feel hungover from work-binging last night - I remembered at 8pm that I had promised a client to do something by noon. Then the job took about 3 hours longer than my estimate (5 hours counting my dinner and increased distractability at night). I nodded off over my laptop at 1:45am, missed 6:45am sponsor call but my 7:30am sponsee woke me up, thank God.

I did my Step 11, breakfast and finished the client task including amends.  I have had one break. Next I need to ask God's help to prioritize the rest of the day:

  • square away all meeting notes
  • create tasks from each set
  • study brgta plans
  • 1 hr to clean up tasks list
  • clarify sub status on em
  • get smarter about the webinar platform
  • reply to dbh
  • clear calendar for grncap webinar
  • 1:15pm call
  • 4pm dr appt

 

"My boundaries enclose a pleasant land..." Psalm 16

Ag resetting at 1pm and 6pm

Many emerging issues and hard to keep up; had to resched some things. 

  • 1:00 eat lunch while reviewing proposal and talking to boss DONE
  • 2:00 incoming calls from clientsDONE
  • 1 hr to clean up tasks list
  • 2:00 get smarter about the webinar platform DONE-ast least, found a source and made an inquiry for tech supt
  • studying brgta plans
  • 2:10:15 reply to dbh
  • 2:4530 study for grncap webinar DONE
  • 3:10pm dr appt DONE
  • 4:30 call client DONE
  • finish webinar THURSDAY (need more info, mtng in a.m.)
  • square away all meeting notes
  • create new tasks as needed DONE
  • ADDED 6pm: em sendouts - 2-3hr job must be done this eve, urrgh
  • clean out Inbox

"My boundaries enclose a pleasant land..." Psalm 16

vIC 4/21

 sHOW UP (DONE)

I just read something:All human behavior is motivated by two things – seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.It’s all about the IMAGINARY pain and pleasureHere’s the fun thing. We make decisions based on what we THINK things will feel like in the future, not based on reality. It’s all about our PERCEPTION of reality.

Going to the chatbox - cannot trust my reality right now.

this is what i'm saying

...in my post about microbursting. This quote has a lot to do with my faith. It has a lot to do with selflessness--neglect the self, neglect what we THINK will make us feel good, and serve the greater good, and get ACTUAL joy.

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

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

e's April 21st

Good morning!
I am in a very good mood this morning, mostly because I thought ahead of time about today and all that I needed to do. I have been to the doctor, the post office, the bank and the drug store. I have taken a shower and made the bed. I ate breakfast out, so I have not had my breakfast medications, so I will do that next.

Today I plan to make Greek green beans and need potatoes and garlic for those. I also would like to pick up some milk, vacuum bags and so forth.

So far I am able to tolerate the flagyl I am on, so I am optimistic about feeling better.

The big tasks to accomplish this week are to finish the taxes, actually file the FAFSA forms I had been trying to do three months ago, pray that the lateness for those will not hurt my son's financial aid, and go to the consulate. I have laundry to fold, delicates to wash, and papers that got wet in the flood to be destroyed.

The MIT's today are to make the phone check ins, get to another fellowship meeting tonight, and to make and amends that is overdue.

have a good day, everyone

"There are two different kinds of people in this world: those who finish what they start, and"
---Brad Ramsey

e's check out 4/21/10

it was a combo day for me. vacillating from productivity to escapism. I did manage to do lal of my MIT's today, plus the laundry, two doctor's appointments, a variety of errands and some down time. I feel optimistic (at least, as optimistic as a pessimist can be!

I made a healthy dinner tonight, had a good phone conversation with a friend, finished the dishes. All the clean laundry is put away. I would like to brush my teeth, wash my face, and then have some time to watch one episode of television and then read.

Tomorrow I would like to wake early, do my morning routine, and then go to the consulate: that is a task I have been putting off forever and it is a bone of contention between my husband and I. I also would like to make the morning phone in meeting and get to work by 1PM.

be well, all you procrastinators in recovery!

"There are two different kinds of people in this world: those who finish what they start, and"
---Brad Ramsey

kromer 9:50 CI

Hi all.

I'm feeling really behind today, and of course my temptation is to just do nothing because it's hopeless to catch up...clearly not the right solution.

There are a few short tasks that I need to nail right now:
*Finish biosensor analysis
*Email about HPLC, GSEA, committee mtg

Once I've done those I'll check back. 

kromer 1:20 CI

Did most of the above short tasks (turns on GSEA email is a pretty big task, so I'm putting that on the list), plus proofread an exam.

MITs (small tasks) are:
*Fellowship activities report (will do this soon)
*Email RH (will do this soon)
*Doctor's appt.
*Deacon notes(will do this soon)

MITs (larger tasks) are:
*Post GSEA results, bug SS about her results 

*Diff EQ studying through pset 1 (have made some progress on this)
*RNA extract/RT(have made some progress on this)

Other small tasks:
*GSEA list/email (will do this soon)
*Email other RH
*Email DP about conference
*Organize papers

Other larger tasks:
*Read paper supp info
*Respond to TC
*Work on pset problem

OK, right now I'm going to make doctor's appt., post GSEA results and do GSEA list/email (these are all things that are hard for me to get done, so I'll take it slow and use the timer chatbox). Then go to the library for a couple of hours and try to get the diffEQ studying done. 

earnest question about microbursting

i want to know what microbursting is like for you. Because, for me, when i take my eye off the "whole thing" and focus on just the "next step" it's not just a simple shift in focus. It's much more for me. I feel like when i take my eye off the "whole thing" that means the "whole thing" will never get done. I feel like i'm choosing the "next step" instead of the "whole thing".

My choices appear to me to be

a) get whole thing done, or

b) get ONLY next step done, and leave the rest UNDONE

so for me to microburst, i reject a) and accept b).

this is so uncomfortable, i would NEVER choose it on my own--it's only due to what i've learned here, and a faith i have that goes beyond what i am actually feeling / believing at the moment that i an reject a) and choose b).

but from what i gather, it's not like that for others. so im really, really curious. What is it like for you?

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

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

e on microbursting

Clem,

Microbursting for me is the antithesis of what you are describing. It is what allows me to become willing to look at a task which fills me with anxiety. In fact, it is almost like not admitting that task is there at all while moving in the direction of progress.

When I microburst on taxes it would be like feeling the anxiety about the whole thing, but becoming willing to sort my receipts into categories. I am not acknowledging the entire overwhelming task, but am still making progress on it. Once that is done, I might be willing to microburst by opening the tax program on my computer. That is all that I am willing to do at that time, but often, once I have done so it is a natural segue into the next right thing towards getting my taxes done.

I still have tasks which feel too large to even begin to think about. Microbursting is how I see myself getting them done.

Hope this helps!
-e

"There are two different kinds of people in this world: those who finish what they start, and"
---Brad Ramsey

interesting reply

Thanks e!!

it's weird, you said

> Microbursting for me is the antithesis of what you are describing.

but then you said

> it is almost like not admitting that task is there at all while moving in the direction of progress.

but that last statement is what it's like for me. I probably did not describe the situation well enuf. But i was trying to say something along these same lines.

This is why discussion is good!

also

> Once that is done, I might be willing to microburst by opening the tax program on my computer.

yes, same for me. and while i know in the back of my mind that this might happen, but while i'm doing it, it doesn't feel like it's true.

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

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

clem

Whoops! I think I misinterpreted your intention: I thought you weren't finding it to be a comfortable thing and therefore didn't like to microburst. I often have the experience of moving from fear and limiting myself to only taking a tiny bite out of a bitter task, to feeling that it actually it will be feasible to complete it: not at that time, necessarily, but eventually. It gives me faith in myself that I can make positive choices even when I am scared and faith in my Higher Power to help me be willing to make those choices.

"There are two different kinds of people in this world: those who finish what they start, and"
---Brad Ramsey

more on microbursting

Clement,

For me, it dispels fear by allowing me to focus on a manageable piece of the task, and also allows me to BEGIN somewhere.

Furthermore, I get instant feedback of a feeling of success, once I've completed the small piece. This motivates me to try the next piece. ("Motivation follows action".)

Here is the original article on microbursting (short and a good read):
http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/1584

-- movingalong

CL daily overcoming

i have A LOT to do. My danger the last 2 weeks is more binging that procrastination.

The urge to binge is very strong. And once i start, i become blind to everything else, even the idea that i'm binging starts to fade.

God grant me the courage to change this. Give me the strength to resist binging, to stay focused, centered, deliberate, to make choices with my time, and to not fall into distraction.

God thank you for the emacs program that writes this block of timed todos for me :D

:) 10min ci
:) 10min emerg email only / ck mtgs
:) 30min quiet time
:) 30min wko
:) 15in rdy
:) 10min dailies
:) 10min work plan
:) rel
:) work hard.
:/ family crisis
:-( p
:-( pr
:-( sig
:-( fam calls

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

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

Journey 9:30 & update

Thanks for starting us out Cherry!

Getting a late start this morning due to stopping by the vet to pick up dog's prescription.  Now I need to grab a quick shower and get to work!   Bookending shower, I need to be quick.

Update 10:15 I'm out of the shower and I have my green tea, I've checked email and calendar, and now I'm working on my todo list for the day.  No meetings until 1 pm so I'm planning to get some heads-down work done. 

Setting Instant Boss for 25/5 . . .here goes!

Jo

Jo 

"Bless the present. Trust yourself. Expect the best." --Steve Nobel

GeorgeSmiley, 4/21/10, 7:26 AM + Updates

good morning

two MIT's today, plus daily quota on a running project

1) Work on Project PQ-E
Smile 9 AM: Transcription completed. Polish set for tomorrow

2) Focus mostly on Project MR Smile 4:05 PM: A lot done on this. More to do tomorrow, Friday & Monday. But feeling good. See everyone 2morrow

3) 10 pages on Project RM
Smile 10:09 AM: Actually did nearly 20 pages. Good job getting ahead. I'll be able to finish tomorrow, a day ahead of schedule.

This was a day in which I could have been easily tempted to put off starting and instead to indulge in my various sources of distraction. 

Making a point of coming here helps me stay on task. So does having set aside time slots for the activities that I use to distract me. When I find myself wanting to put off and surf, I can say, "No, that's at 3 PM today!"

Have a good day, everyone.

 

~~

Want what you have. Be who you are. Do what you can. ~Forrest Church (1948-2009)

The Hero's Code: Show Up. Pay Attention. Speak the Truth. Let Go of the Outcome.

huma CI

Made a point to get a full night's sleep. I always work best that way. I feel rested and ready, albeit a little late getting up. Tongue out Good luck everyone! Smile

  • 6 new biz
  • email NY
  • auto proposals
  • financials/mail sorting
  • gym
  • call bank re charges

"It is never too late to be who you might have been" - George Eliot

"Fall seven times. Stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

Wednesday CI helen

Today I am taking the day off from battling procrastination. I will 

eat

read

watch a DVD

but I will not 'force myself' to do anything I don't want to do.

Tomorrow I return to the battle re-charged.

You deserve it Helen!

Everyone needs a day to recharge once in a while!

Thank you for your advice and links you sent me. I looked at all of them and may use 1 or 2. Smile

"It is never too late to be who you might have been" - George Eliot

"Fall seven times. Stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

Wednesday Check IN

Depression is cyclical, Cherry Picker.  I've been there before so I don't know what sort of advice to give you.  Maybe try to do something that will help you feel better then sleep on it and try again fresh in the morning.  All I can say is that I know how you feel.  I have to rush off to work now so I hope someone else can give you better advice.  Just know that you aren't alone!

 Work DONE

call courthouse DONE

exercise routine DONE

Tidy house 

Make chick peas DONE

Start resume

Gather all phone numbers for applications

write S 

SL - finish Collins

From yesterday (if time): one slab, hibiscus, G part 2

pack lunch, ready clothes, paperwork,  breakfast for tomorrow