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 August 20, 2010

19 August, 2010 - 9:27pm - lennon

Daily Check-ins

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!

Welcome to the end of the work week!!

Have a Happy Proactive Friday

Peace

Pyrotecher CI Fri 20 Aug 2010 - The Stress Inside

pyrotecher - 20 Aug 2010 - 7:33pm

CI @ 5:30 pm

Been awhile since I've checked in (last time was last April as far as I can tell).

Mostly I've been out trying to pull together the aspects of my life that have been falling apart. There has been some good news, too, to be fair. And procrastination has not been the cause of all the problems but hasn't helped any.

At this moment I'm marveling at my ability to stay in denial and avoidance of psychological task hurdles even as "last chances" come and pass.

I now have such a one looming over me. Even as I find other things that I allow to take false priority over it, or just plain avoid it, it looms in the back of my mind.

Sitting here at the computer, doing things other than what I am supposed to be doing, I suddenly realize that even goofing off is not relaxing. Inside an outwardly calm exterior, I feel like a giant rubber band is pulled tight thoughout me. I know that there is just one solution and that is to address what is on my mind, to do the job, or what I can still salvage of it, and move forward.

Don't know if I can be successful, but it helps to put it in writing.

Best luck to everyone else here in your own journey.

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

((Pyrotecher)) welcome back

MD - 21 Aug 2010 - 12:30am

IN A WORD--DITTO. You aint alone here!

Thank you, MD!

pyrotecher - 23 Aug 2010 - 1:59am

Thanks for the pat on the back. Knowing that others are facing the same challenges and feelings helps me to deal with them.

Best wishes to you and everyone here...

Fantastic news

4change - 20 Aug 2010 - 1:16pm

Congratulations on the new job, Hope! I wish you all the best. Sorry to hear that other challenges continue, and I wish you strength to persevere. Peace to you.

Ag feeling nappy

Agnus - 20 Aug 2010 - 1:14pm

Got up at 530am to get much-needed head start and yet more deadlines have poured in the door. I'm so sleepy! Going to set timer and take 20 minute nape. Back after with a plan mehopes.

Ag wakes up sorta

Agnus - 20 Aug 2010 - 1:57pm

man, I am drag-a** tired! Conference call in 5 then action items. J taking me to dinner tonight. Gotta work all weekend - today's client added another crazy deadline project so I'll be working all weekend then making up to myself with a 4-day weekend next week...:-)

hope4meandu checkin (1:40PM)

hope4meandu - 20 Aug 2010 - 12:56pm

Hi Fellow Travelers,

Thanks LENNON for the start!!

I got a job!!! If I have you guys with me, I might be good at it. It is paying a little better and I don't think these guys are screamers. I have a feeling this can be some place I can stay, that is my sincere hope anyway.

I also am depressed. I think my self-pity feeds into it, and I'm seeing this working the steps.

I worked at a friend's office yesterday, thankfully, that kind of through my cleaning plans off. No excuse today however. I keep going back to the way I used to be and what happened to me, a go-getter, a cleaner, making things look beautiful. How can I get that back in moderation, because at that point, I couldn't sit still or have down-time.

Don't want to go on chatbox, because I don't want help, don't want to burst, don't want to accomplish, want to wallow and watch tv.

To do:
-shower
-exercise for 10 mts
-brush girl & try to do nails
-sweep floors
-do 2 loads of laundry
-pick up laundry & wine
-organize Yoffee's bills
-could also go look at clothes at person's house who is givng away

Procrastinating about:
-cleaning in cabinets, spraying Raid & putting down shelf paper
-cleaning oven
-cleaning refrigerator
-making a chart of money spent & earned
-organizing apartment
-getting 2 new blinds from thrift store (hopefully) to take off old & dirty blinds from previous people.
-washing floors
-doing ML's project

It feels immensely better to put the things I'm not doing here, turning it over.

Wishing you all good things today as you accomplish baby steps.

♥Prayers & guidance needed & appreciated for my Yoffee's healing.♥

Sorry to be sorry

4change - 20 Aug 2010 - 12:45pm

12:30 PM: Am feeling somewhat derailed today. Got a later start than I intended, because I was taking care of a few items. Discovered a text on my cellphone from a client whose overdue report I was literally working on last night when I decided to stop for the evening. When I called back, the client was gone. That just sent me into a free fall. Despite the progress I feel I have been making, I remain behind, and it just makes me feel miserable. My response was to distract myself on the web for a couple of hours. I still feel down.

There was a popular movie when I was a kid, Love Story, with a famous quote, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Well, procrastination for me means *having* to say "I'm sorry" over and over and over again. It just dashes my self-esteem and pops my bubble of slowly regrowing self-confidence. Well, nothing I can do except shoulder the yoke and trudge on.

Goal 1: Nip this mental fog in the bud by getting some reports done. Yesterday was a good day, today still can be. So, 6 cases in 2 hours (12:45-2:45 PM), then reassess.

Back to report.

(((4change))) I so, so relate (see above)

hope4meandu - 20 Aug 2010 - 12:56pm

If I could make a t-shirt it would say "whatever" and "I'm sorry. Why does my progress never seem to be enough? Cause it looks like so little to me?

Prayers and more prayers to you ((4))!!

♥Prayers & guidance needed & appreciated for my Yoffee's healing.♥

Thanks Hope

4change - 20 Aug 2010 - 1:18pm

I appreciate your comments and support. I sent you a separate note above.

clement ci

clement - 20 Aug 2010 - 12:02pm

late start. but a start.
:) ci
1pm mtg
dailies

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

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

Friday with the Scribbler

Scribbler - 20 Aug 2010 - 2:51pm

Prep

~~Get up at7~~
~~Coffee, paper, water plants~~
~~calisthenics, make bed~~
~~healthy breakfast~~
~~checkins~~

Morning

~~Cut grass~~
Healthy lunch

Afternoon

~~Meet appraiser~~
Finish CIO pak
Send topics to BN editor

Evening

Pickup kids at 5
Fun w/Kids
Healthy dinner
Read, relax
Bed by 11 p.m.

Journey 9:30 &

journey - 20 Aug 2010 - 9:38am

Good morning! I am done with my class so I slept in a little bit this morning. It's interesting that when I had to be here at 8 I had no problem getting to the gym by 5:45. Today I got there at 6:15, even though I got up on time. I was still here before 9 - However, I've been socializing in the break room for half an hour . I actually don't socialize enough with my coworkers, so I'll consider that networking instead of goofing off.

First thing I need to do is catch up my email, there are some important todos in there and I have to slog through all that stuff before I can even make a good todo list!

Back after email . . .

UPDATE 10:30 email inbox has been reduced from 400 items to 48. The bad news is all 48 of those items need some kind of follow up! Now for todo list.

'You become what you think about most of the time.' - Brian Tracy

kromer 9:40 CI

kromer - 20 Aug 2010 - 11:46pm

Late today (slept in a bit, then had a bunch of chores to take care of at home)

Today my *big* task is that I need to email a document to my adviser by the end of the day. Revisions I still need to make are:
*~~Make rough figure (intro to sp.)~~
*~~Brainstorm how to make better connections~~
*A~~dd better connections~~
*~~Write conclusions~~
*Make sure specific aims don't require bg
*Make small changes, proofread and send(to tired to do this accurately tonight, so will do tomorrow)

I'd also like to do a couple of other small things:
*~~phone calls re: bbq~~
*~~check on WM~~
*~~Make VAD fig.~~
*Do hand laundry

OK, that's a lot! it might be a bit of a late night...I'll try to avoid that, but it's OK if it happens. I'll start w/ checking on WM, then I'll brainstorm how to make better connections, then I'll make bbq phone calls, then I'll add better connections and write conclusion, then I'll make rough figure.

Busy Friday

lennon - 20 Aug 2010 - 3:06pm

The things I have done

~~1. Took shower~~

~~2. Fixed and ate breakfast~~

~~3. Put suntan lotion~~

~~4. Got dressed~~

~~5. Brushed my teeth~~

~~6. Went to the 7 a.m. telephone DA meetng~~

Things I plan to do today

~~1. Go to part of the 8:30 telephone CLA meeting~~

~~2. Get my mail~~

~~3. Go to class~~

~~4. Print out some of my textbook~~

~~5. Fix and eat dinner~~

6. Prayer and meditation

7. Read some 12-Step literature

~~8. Go to work~~

9. Go to the 10:00 p.m. DA meeting

10. Do my numbers

That's all I have

Reading a scary email

bugsy - 20 Aug 2010 - 6:25am

Hello everyone.. this is very scary for me. I compulsively avoid reading emails that I feel the slightest bit uncomfortable about . this one is from a person whom I've asked to provide me with a recommendation. I feel scared and guilty for even asking.... I feel scared that he will think I am just using him... so I'm scared to read it. But I want and need to... so... here goes... I'm going to do it ...

I did it and it was totally

bugsy - 20 Aug 2010 - 6:26am

I did it and it was totally fine and he said yes !!!

(bugsy)

vic - 20 Aug 2010 - 6:32am

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do that to.

better luck next time, vic

bugsy - 20 Aug 2010 - 6:44am

better luck next time, vic :)

vic 8/20

vic - 20 Aug 2010 - 1:29pm

Show up (done) Try to be mindful

Think it through. I decided to toss my "prize idea" because I forgot, they don't work, not for me because I am an addict. Then I remembered- think it through. That really helped me in AA. I would tell myself, ok what would happen after the 1st drink, and then what, and then what, etc. and in the end it just was not worth it. I did it with my walk yesterday.

So today, I plan to try that with the procrastination. What would happen if you do not start ........? and then what, and then what, and then what.....and ask myself is it worth it. check in later.

2pm check in. I think I found what I needed, I did the "and then what" self talk as I did with my other addictions. Procrasination feels alot like my other stuff. The more I do it, the more I crave it and the less it satisfies.l Yes, like food or alcohol, it feels good not to have to do/deal with any discomforts, but then I end up not dealing with anything and I am sinking in the quicksand of unfinished business, confusion of where/what to start, etc. The clutter/codependency/procrastination have a symbiotic relationship in my life. My old sponsor would say she was a "comfort junkie", I see what she means now.

The say when the pain of change is less than the pain of staying the same, that is when some of us hard headed ones start to change. That was how I changed in the other stuff, always on my knees. Well, I guess my HP is getting me back on my knees, because I need an act of God to show me what to do. However, today when I was being pulled to procratinate and time bindge, I said "And then what" and I would see that I would not be any more resested, clear headed, willing, capable, willing, courageous, if I took more time than my body needs for comfort. I noticed when I make my kids cookies, if I take them out "before" they look done, they cool and taste great (I do not eat them for any oa fellows) and when I leave them in until they look done in the oven, I take them out and by the time they cool, they are burnt, and I end up throwing them out. That is me. Thanks for being here, a discomfort doger willing to give up the comfort.

tuffl CI

tuffl - 20 Aug 2010 - 7:03am

trying out the check in again. beginning today's tdl with

DONE shower
DONE call U b/c of exm (+ got the print out i needed)
DONE call R
DONE call A (good progress today, yay)
breakfast
sa

Rexroth Check In

Rexroth - 20 Aug 2010 - 5:07am

Thanks for starting the thread lennon.

Woke refreshed after a good night's sleep and am grateful I went to bed and to sleep in reasonable time last night.

Done:
Up prayer and reflection
Checked emails
Bits of tidying and packing

Todo:
More tidying, packing and preparation for going away
Bath wash hair and personal care
Put washing machine on etc
Deal with post if any
Phone friend to wish her well in her journey and to say goodby for two months
Check food as I don't want to leave any or waste any
List shopping for tomorrow - mainly odd bits for travel

That will do for now

Regards Rexroth

Rexroth Check Out

Rexroth - 20 Aug 2010 - 3:46pm

Done:
Above and replied to email from friend whom I'm meeting tomorrow

Todo:
Prayer and reflection
Bed and sleep

Night folks

Rexroth

All I do is look in here

Julian - 20 Aug 2010 - 2:30am

All I do is look in here once a day but it is enormously helpful. I have been sober in AA for eighteen years and familiar with the original 12 step program which is very helpful. Preocrastination is a big problem for me. I know what I ough to do. Coming here every day reminds me to do it. Thanks everyone for being here.

- Julian

Welcome Julian

Rexroth - 20 Aug 2010 - 6:57am

Welcome Julian

I've been in another programme for over 20 years and when I first went to meetings I sat there for 18 months resenting everything and knowing I needed to be there. Then circumstances altered and I started working the progamme.

I'm not suggesting you are resenting being here that was me.

What I've found wonderful about programmes is that they have been there for me whan I wasn't there for myself.

Your posts will be welcome when and if you wish to post.

Yours in recovery

Rexroth

Sorry, Mr Newton

MD - 20 Aug 2010 - 9:48am

With great apologies to John Newton (English author/poet, 1725–1807, of the original hymn) on my not denying the dread and knowing it is -- and will remain -- an integral part of me

AMAZING GRACE - Am deaf - to the sound,
Will it save - a wretch - like me?
I am - so lost - will I ever - be found?
Am blind - can I ever - begin-to-see?

(MD)

vic - 20 Aug 2010 - 7:19pm

Thank you for sharing your honesty. I know that place all too well.

I first had to believe in a God that "wanted" to give me his grace, (the wreched of wretches that I was/am), why would he want to waste his time on me?....... Then I had a thought ---only the "top God" would be powerful enough to "want to"give me grace- only a lesser one or less powerful one would not have the power (because I was the worst of the worst wretches ,of course)or want to, when I started believing in the top one, the one who would want to , and who had enough power, as Mr. Newton said and felt:

"How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed."(the hour I first believed in the one who would "want to")

I could "see" and and pray you can "see"

"Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home."

((MD))

hope4meandu - 20 Aug 2010 - 12:38pm

♥Prayers & guidance needed & appreciated for my Yoffee's healing.♥

Edge's CI - 9:08am

Edge - 20 Aug 2010 - 3:28am

Morning ^_^

Thanks for the early threadstarter, Lennon :)
Feeling motivated and loving the world today ^_^

x Email Seik
- create financial roadmap
- clean room
- bh:a
- visit Guss?
- get info for H from Sh
- get recipes from M for H

Unplanned to-dos:
x get groceries
x clean cat plate