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, 12th of September, 2006

Hello, all! Hey, BIG CHEER to pro for throwing off the monkey!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!

And welcome to scarlett, good to see new checkers-in (it is so a word!)

Hello All

Hi all. :) I am a big time procrastinator. I procrastinate and procrastinate mainly on things I don't want to do, like housework, phone calls, errands.I stay at home with my DD's (3 and 8mos.) and my most recent goal is to become a better homemaker. My husband (1Focus) recently started using this site and so I thought I would give it a try as well. I thought it would be benficial to have some accountablitly for the things I want to get done from a source besides just him and myself. I am trying to ease into a daily schedule that helps me get things done and also have some time to relax and do something I WANT to do w/o feeling guilty that there's so much else to be done.

It's been a good morning.
Allowed myself and the girls to sleep in a bit.
Unloaded/reloaded the Dishwasher
Cleaned up breakfast mess
Snuggle time on couch w/ DD3
Got myself and DD3 dressed

So, here's todays plan from 11:00 a.m. on

To do
-Fold Laundry and Put away
-Lunch for me and DD's
-Play w/ DD3- puzzle game or something interactive
-Relax time for 1 Hour while DD's nap
-Check into FlyLady.com again
-Ironing??? Depending on when DD's wake up
4:30 p.m. Get dinner started
5:30-5:45 dinner
6:30-7:00 grocery store
9:30 bedtime routine
10:00 lights out

Oh, how cool - a family!

Hi! I have the opposite DH - born organised and staunch anticrastinator - so you can imagine that he doens't know I frequent this site!!!!! It would be nice to feel I could share!

Welcome, and I hope you find this helps (it's helped everyone else here immensely!).

Lol

Hi milo. Well around here, We are both pretty bad procrastinators, and we really are praying our children won't be if we get our act straightened out now. It is very nice to be able to share. hehe. I like to think I'm organized, and sometimes, with somethings I am...
thanks for the welcome, the site is helping already! It's nice to be amog people of a like mind.

Hi!

I'm new, too. Welcome and good luck!

hi, gettin-it-done!

How cool that you are 1Focus's wife - now we have a family here! Welcome - I hope you find the site useful.

Thanks for the welcome!

Hi again; thanks for the warm welcome. Now that the DD's are sleeping- I can take a big deep breath and relax a little. I am excited to get some time to myself to explore this site a little more thoroughly. I am dreading the laundry task that lies ahead this afternoon. It's been piling up for three days now, clean and wrinkled in the basket. I know it's not such a hard thing and it won't take very long but thought of it is overwhleming. This seems to be my issue with everything I procrastinate on- that it seems insurmontable or like too much work so I say i'll do it later - then later comes and it never gets done.

I'll trade you...

I don't like doing laundry much either, and I'm only doing it for one person. I can imagine how much it must build up for four people!

But right now, I'd prefer root canal to what I have to do. Well, maybe not root canal. Okay - I'll stop whining and get started.

Lol

Thanks for the funny. I really need that this afternoon. I still haven't gotten up to do the laundry thing but I'm going going going as soon as i reply to this.

Later!

scarlett CI 11:10 am

Meeting went well - I'm glad I was prepared b/c I was called on to talk. Also found out that reports are generated on who's eating their frogs and who isn't, which ups the incentive to do it on time but also ups the anxiety about what I haven't done. ::sigh::

Okay, darn it. I will now work on the next two items on my to do list, frogalicious as they are. I will check back in around noon to report progress.

Last night: bedtime 11:30 pm (target 10:30 pm)

Already done:
Got up 7:20 (target 7 am)
Got to work and ate breakfast
Took vitamins
Checked work email for urgent stuff
Checked personal email for urgent stuff
Took vitamins
prep for update meeting
clean desk GTD style (10 min)
process emails 15 min

To do today:
update upcoming reviews
create plan for catching up on overdue reviews (FROG ALERT!)
PLAN SITE VISITS
call Rob
job description
review mgmt plan
demo review
fax stuff
clean desk 10 min more(GTD style)

Tonight:
Call C
Meet with S
Exercises
Make and eat dinner
DISHES OMG

To make the medicine go down

You probably don't have time or opportunity to do something nice for yourself in the midst of all this frog-tackling, but I'm sending you good vibes for the afternoon. Stick with it today, and it will be better when you're done!

slider's 9:30 am CI

Wow, with so many posts already it feels like I'm WAY behind! Welcome to all the new folks. I'm new, too, though I've been active here a few weeks. Gotta clear my table and find out what's in the stacks of paper, and I also need to drive to the city and pick up my laptop, so I'll see if I can set up a plan. OMG! Almost forgot it is DD's 12th birthday. We don't have any plans yet...she hasn't said what she wants to do with her friends. Well, I'm stumped. When I was just thinking about me, I was going to use the trip as my big reward, after working for 15 or 20 or 30 minute intervals (eating frog in small bites). I'm working really hard, now, though, with the birthday, not to should myself into something that will lead to resistance and irritability. What's throwing me for a loop is the thought that if I fail at my tasks today, I still "should" (or worse, "must") do something nice for DD. I am trying not to think "I must succeed for her sake," because THAT will mess me up! Ok. I know. I need to pull out that nice, gentle, wise, understanding Inner Parent (she's so hard to find) and give myself a good pep talk. And use the critical response mode (was it Normy's method?). So here's the plan:
--morning routine
--journal
--work on table-clearing 15 minutes (use timer today!)
--do something neutral 15 minutes
--do somethng fun 15 minutes
--repeat till lunch
--eat
--re-evaluate today's needs
--ALL DAY: Don't stress, maintain pleasant and encouraging self-talk. Go!
*poof!*

Hello, slider!

Nice to meet you. Good luck today.

No shoulding zone

I want to do something nice for DD

Yeah

Thanks.

right - keep catching us on this!

1Focus - it's great that you keep catching us on the "shoulds. It's very helpful. I convert "want" to "should" so automatically I hardly notice it. So thanks! :)

When I was walking to the gym this morning, I consciously prevented myself from doing it - kept repeating to myself that this was something I was doing because I wanted to do it - it was my choice. It's not something I have to do. This makes all the difference in the world as to whether I keep going or not. If I think of it as something I "should" do, I don't want to do it. If I recognize that it's something I "want" to do, then I'm happy to do it.

Forgot to say

I will check in at noon before I eat lunch. And hi, 1Focus!

Oh, Sliiiiider.

Haven't heard from you in a day. What's up?

1Focus 10:25

Ack, this is one of those go-with-the-flow days. Nothing's going according to plan. I guess I'll just stick to my scheduled meetings, and work on my inbox in the meantime.

1Focus 10:44

Morning Routine
• Out of bed 7:00, (target 6:00)
• Ready for anything
• didn't Feed DD0, DW let the girls sleep in
• Breakfast
• Head to work
Work Routine
• Meet with staff/general plan
• CUOP
• Time Sheets


Work Routine
• Specific plan for the day
• Clear my head
Work Plan
• 8:30 meeting with boss
• 11:15 drive bus to the barn
• 1:00 train someone else to drive the bus
• 2:00 Department meeting
• Process inbox


One big focus:
Clean up financial responsibilities
• Stay on top of things to keep current
• Process that tax bill

pro's CI - 10:20am

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:30am (target: 6:30am - but I should have gone to bed earlier instead of staying up to watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert).
  • Morning routine.
  • Gym workout.
  • Rinse out gym clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Reflection.
  • Make plan for day.
  • Check email.
  • Clear spam folder.
  • Write report to client #1.
  • Write report to client #2.
  • Get salad for lunch.
  • Take midday pills.
  • Work on business conversion.
  • Mail and groceries.
  • Handle mail, bills, filing.

pro's CI - 9:50am

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ta Da~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Wake up: 6:30am (target: 6:30am - but I should have gone to bed earlier instead of staying up to watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert).
  • Morning routine.
  • Gym workout.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~To Do~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  • Rinse out gym clothes.
  • Make post-workout protein shake.
  • Reflection.
  • Make plan for day.
  • Check email.
  • Clear spam folder.
  • Write report to client #1.
  • Write report to client #2.
  • Get salad for lunch.
  • Take midday pills.
  • Work on business conversion.
  • Mail and groceries.
  • Handle mail, bills, filing.

There's that word

Quit shoulding on yourself.

Right!

I meant to say that I want to go to bed earlier, but then I'll get more sleep and my day will be easier. :)

scarlett CI 8:48 am

Morning! Thanks to all for the welcome. Feels good to look at yesterday's list and see a bunch of check marks, here's hoping today goes well, too. 8)

Last night: bedtime 11:30 pm (target 10:30 pm)

Already done:
Got up 7:20 (target 7 am)
Got to work and ate breakfast
Took vitamins
Checked work email for urgent stuff
Checked personal email for urgent stuff
Took vitamins

To do today:
prep for update meeting
PLAN SITE VISITS
call Rob
job description
update upcoming reviews
create plan for catching up on overdue reviews (FROG ALERT!)
review mgmt plan
demo review
fax stuff
clean desk 20 min (GTD style)

Tonight:
Call C
Meet with S
Exercises
Make and eat dinner
DISHES OMG

pro's CI - 8am

Morning routine done - heading to gym!

Goodnight all

My calves are now cramping a bit, so I have decided to sign off and have a bath before bed so I can maybe get a decent sleep.

Goodnight, and have a good day, pro (it's not fair, I have to go to bed just as you're all getting up and I miss out AGAIN!!!!).

Bye!

Guess you won't see this 'till tomorrow...

But I hope you slept well. Good luck starting the new day right! You can do it!

good night, Milo!

Don't procrastinate on sleep, as so many of us here do.

Milo 8:30pm

Well, today is a write-off. And I won't call myself anything else horrid, I promise :).

But I really didn't achieve anything. Tonight I have horrible pains in my legs that are so bad they are making me squirm, even after taking painkillers. So I have been on the couch since getting home and DH has had to do everything.

Ta Da:
- out of house and kids to care and to work (15 minutes early and I even had breakfast!)
- CUOP
- started job A
- finished job A
- Had meeting with boss and talked about the frogs and lots of girly talk about such things as fat arms and haircuts
- Wasted an hour or more updating my calendar with my new work days
- did a little bit of job B and got annoyed with the requestor so stopped (it's a stupid job...)
- and the most important thing, of course, planned lunch ;)
- talked to DH on phone about buying new office furniture
- talked to American work colleague about our trip to the US (he's new)
- checked business email (hmmm...gee, I wonder if there are frogs I'm avoiding?????)
- got some info on job B and finished it (wasn't so stupid when she explained it to me ;))
- pub lunch with DWCs
- checked business email another 4 or 5 or 20 times...I wish you were all here to tell me off for this......
- ate dinner

To Do:
- lay out clothes (I'm going to see if I can find something that won't need ironing so I don't have to do ANYTHING)
- wash face/brush teeth
- go to bed by 10 for 6:15am wake-up

Blown off (or delegated):
Work
- Frog One (1/2hr)
- Frog Two (1/2hr)
- Frog Three (1/2hr)
- Jobs C & D
Evening
- kids fed, bathed, read to and in bed
- Email client to confirm appointment
- Research for client A
- File everything in 'to file' folder
- Manicure
- Pack bag for run tomorrow (I'm not running anywhere feeling like this)
- tidy desk & floor around it (I have no shelving at the moment and a teeny tiny desk...things are getting scattered on the floor. Need hooks and shelves installed...)
Evening routine
- pack kids bags
- pack my work stuff
- shine sink

Going to bed. Tomorrow is a new day :) .....(I hope!).

pain in legs?

What's causing your legs to hurt? That doesn't sound fun.

I used to have a friend who'd say (when I was procrastinating), "If you can't move your mind, move your body.". I.e. go take a walk, do something physical. I'm not sure this helps you to "move your mind", but it makes you feel better. :)

Not sure...

I get sciatica, but this is a bit different. It's almost like the growing pains I had as a kid.

I have had a very sore back and neck for weeks (maybe months) now and this is just an extension, I suppose. Might be due for another massage.

I have been waking up sore, stiff and feeling like my feet are swollen. And my back kills.

I am going to call my physio friend tomorrow and see if she's still running pilates - I think I'm just weak and tired.

Dr

Yeah, I should see a doctor. I will try the physio and massage first and see how I go.

Ha ha - it COULD be those frogs. Maybe if I eat them I will feel better physically, as well!!!

procrastinating on medical stuff

Lots of people procrastinate on seeing doctors for medical problems (or on taking prescribed pills - my particular issue). Procrastinating on seeing a doctor can be dangerous. I see no reason to put it off. I'd make an appointment right away if I were you.

doctor?

Sounds to me like you need to see a doctor. That much pain isn't normal. If I were you, I'd want to find out what was causing it. Also, I don't remember physical pain from growing when I was a child.

The frogs are poisonous if you don't eat them

They do strange things to your body.

pro's CI - 6:45am

Was up at 6:30am as planned, but TIRED because I stayed up too late watching Jon Stewart's Daily Show and then the Stephen Colbert Report. I love shows (on Comedy Central), but then I go to bed at midnight and I only get 6.5 hours sleep and really I need 8.

I can record these. Of course, then I don't know when I'd watch them. Eh - who needs sleep?

Norm 9.46 am BE

Milo! Just you stop calling yourself names - NOW!

And this is for obsessively checking your work Email:

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Tomorrow, you will decide ~in advance~ when you are going to check your mail, e.g. after first three frogs, then again after next two (or whatever), and you are going to STICK TO IT!!!

This morning I've:

*Bunked off exercise class
*Morning Routine
*CUOP
*Realised my lovely routines don't fit my new schedule, so I've scheduled in a time to revise them

Not made lunch, got client in 10 mins - gotta fly!

**WHOOSH**

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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Yes ma'am!

Will do better tomorrow, I promise! My frogs are big, so I might check it after I've spent half an hour on each one (ie, every hour and a half). I can do better than that - I'll make it every 3 hours (after each check-in). Thanks for the butt-kick :)

Milo 5pm

God I am a slack-arse. Pathetic. So much for "Eat Frog Day".

Ta Da:
- out of house and kids to care and to work (15 minutes early and I even had breakfast!)
- CUOP
- started job A
- finished job A
- Had meeting with boss and talked about the frogs and lots of girly talk about such things as fat arms and haircuts
- Wasted an hour or more updating my calendar with my new work days
- did a little bit of job B and got annoyed with the requestor so stopped (it's a stupid job...)
- and the most important thing, of course, planned lunch ;)
- talked to DH on phone about buying new office furniture
- talked to American work colleague about our trip to the US (he's new)
- checked business email (hmmm...gee, I wonder if there are frogs I'm avoiding?????)
- got some info on job B and finished it (wasn't so stupid when she explained it to me ;))
- pub lunch with DWCs
- checked business email another 4 or 5 or 20 times...I wish you were all here to tell me off for this......
- Job C
- udpated timesheet

To Do:
Evening
- kids fed, bathed, read to and in bed
- eat dinner (try to include veges tonight }:))
- Email client to confirm appointment
- Research for client A
- File everything in 'to file' folder
- Manicure
- Pack bag for run tomorrow
- tidy desk & floor around it (I have no shelving at the moment and a teeny tiny desk...things are getting scattered on the floor. Need hooks and shelves installed...)
- load of washing
Evening routine
- pack kids bags
- pack my work stuff
- lay out clothes
- shine sink
- wash face/brush teeth
- go to bed by 10 for 6:15am wake-up

Blown off:
Work
- Frog One (1/2hr)
- Frog Two (1/2hr)
- Frog Three (1/2hr)
- Job D

no name calling!

>God I am a slack-arse. Pathetic. So much for "Eat Frog Day".

Some days you just can't do it. Don't beat yourself up about it - that just makes you procrastinate more.

Sorry you have to be here by yourself so often while the rest of us sleep. Maybe some more people will show up from Australia or New Zealand. Try sending an anonymous letter to the newspaper. 8)

Milo 3pm

Hmm..still no frogs have been consumed...

Ta Da:
- out of house and kids to care and to work (15 minutes early and I even had breakfast!)
- CUOP
- started job A
- finished job A
- Had meeting with boss and talked about the frogs and lots of girly talk about such things as fat arms and haircuts
- Wasted an hour or more updating my calendar with my new work days
- did a little bit of job B and got annoyed with the requestor so stopped (it's a stupid job...)
- and the most important thing, of course, planned lunch ;)
- talked to DH on phone about buying new office furniture
- talked to American work colleague about our trip to the US (he's new)
- checked business email (hmmm...gee, I wonder if there are frogs I'm avoiding?????)
- got some info on job B and finished it (wasn't so stupid when she explained it to me ;))
- pub lunch with DWCs
- checked business email another 4 or 5 or 20 times...I wish you were all here to tell me off for this......

To Do:
Work
- Frog One (1/2hr)
- Frog Two (1/2hr)
- Frog Three (1/2hr)
- Jobs C & D
Evening
- kids fed, bathed, read to and in bed
- eat dinner (try to include veges tonight }:))
- Email client to confirm appointment
- Research for client A
- File everything in 'to file' folder
- Manicure
- Pack bag for run tomorrow
- tidy desk & floor around it (I have no shelving at the moment and a teeny tiny desk...things are getting scattered on the floor. Need hooks and shelves installed...)
Evening routine
- pack kids bags
- pack my work stuff
- lay out clothes
- shine sink
- wash face/brush teeth
- go to bed by 10 for 6:15am wake-up

Milo 12pm

I have gotten bugger-all done. I haven't even SNIFFED a frog, let alone eaten one. Sigh!

Ta Da:
- out of house and kids to care and to work (15 minutes early and I even had breakfast!)
- CUOP
- started job A
- finished job A
- Had meeting with boss and talked about the frogs and lots of girly talk about such things as fat arms and haircuts
- Wasted an hour or more updating my calendar with my new work days and pretending to be all organised for people (I will be working irregular days so published the next 2 months calendars with my days on them. Not exactly urgent...)
- did a little bit of job B and got annoyed with the requestor so stopped (it's a stupid job...)
- and the most important thing, of course, planned lunch ;)
- talked to DH on phone about buying new office furniture
- talked to American work colleague about our trip to the US (he's new)
- checked business email (hmmm...gee, I wonder if there are frogs I'm avoiding?????)

To Do:
Work
- Frog One (1/2hr)
- Frog Two (1/2hr)
- Frog Three (1/2hr)
- Jobs B, C & D
- pub lunch with DWCs
Evening
- kids fed, bathed, read to and in bed
- eat dinner (try to include veges tonight }:))
- Email client to confirm appointment
- Research for client A
- File everything in 'to file' folder
- Manicure
- Pack bag for run tomorrow
- tidy desk & floor around it (I have no shelving at the moment and a teeny tiny desk...things are getting scattered on the floor. Need hooks and shelves installed...)
Evening routine
- pack kids bags
- pack my work stuff
- lay out clothes
- shine sink
- wash face/brush teeth
- go to bed by 10 for 6:15am wake-up

Milo 9am

Hello!

I have lots to do to wrap up my job before it ends next week.

Today shall be hereafter be called *takes deep breath*........Eating Frogs Day!

Ta Da:
- out of house and kids to care and to work (15 minutes early and I even had breakfast!)
- CUOP
- started job A

To Do:
Work
- Finish job A
- Frog One
- Frog Two
- Frog Three
- Jobs B, C & D
- pub lunch with DWCs
Evening
- kids fed, bathed, read to and in bed
- eat dinner (try to include veges tonight }:))
- Email client to confirm appointment
- Research for client A
- File everything in 'to file' folder
- Manicure
- Pack bag for run tomorrow
- tidy desk & floor around it (I have no shelving at the moment and a teeny tiny desk...things are getting scattered on the floor. Need hooks and shelves installed...)
Evening routine
- pack kids bags
- pack my work stuff
- lay out clothes
- shine sink
- wash face/brush teeth
- go to bed by 10 for 6:15am wake-up

congratulations on quitting your job

That's pretty big (speaking of monkeys). Did you start a new job yet?

Yes, I have a job to do

My boss (who's very good to my under-performing self) offered me a contract doing easier stuff (she knows I'm less likely to procrasitnate on this stuff because I don't mind doing it) for 6 months. And it's less hours per week so I can do more organising, too (which is picking up pace - I am already booked out for my first full organising day).

So, I have a job for at least 6 months, more if I do well and they still need me.

it feels great - I recommend it!!

Thanks, Milo! I like how the wave smileys match the "good morning". Very pretty! :)

And yes, welcome Scarlett, and also Neuway. I've been so busy today I didn't say hello.