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.
I'm thrilled to have discovered Sticky Notes on Windows 7. Now I can get rid of the sticky pads laying around with various action lists, and keep them organized on my desktop instead, stacked by priority. I made one big sticky to cover all the others, for entering the single task I am working on right now. When that task is complete, I can update the appropriate sticky hiding underneath it. I've only used this for one day, but it seems like an easy, highly visual way to keep my action items prioritized and my focus on one thing at a time.
Running a bit late this morning and then back to back meetings all morning! This one project is having THREE MANDATORY MEETINGS a week. Are they nuts? I've been in reactive rather than proactive mode all week, feeling tired and stressed after a difficult weekend. I'm hoping to turn that around today, I'm feeling rested and rather inspired this morning .
My daughter's best friend gave us a sewing machine yesterday! I have an old old singer that works but it's cranky. This one is a fancy electronic one, she said she's had it in storage for several years and never plans to use it. I told her we would only borrow it, so she can take it back any time but I'm really excited. It was funny because she said 'this one is electric'. I said 'yeah, we actually did have electricity in the 70s when I bought this machine'. Now I'm sewing a pair of pants fo rmy daughter. I bought the material like two years ago but never got around to actually making them lol.
Anyway, I'm rambling, listening to this conference call with only half an ear. Off to make my todo list for the rest of the day.
UPDATE 2:30 All right, all the crises are under control, the meetings are done, and now is the time to be proactive and get some work done. So I'm doing . . nothing! Checking in to get back on track. The first thing I will do is update the project plan for Project Z.
Update 3:00 that's done, now I need to go thru some emails and document some testing. Boring stuff.
Update 4:30 Documentation done. It was indeed boring. Now follow up on two oustanding issues from testing.
Update 5:15 Testing stuff done, all I had to do was send emails to get statuses. Then I reactivated my 2nd priority project which has been languishing for a week due to the other crazy stuff going on.
I completed my work todo list and I feel like I have things back in some semblance of control. A successful day if I do say so myself (pats self on back)
Thanks for being here, y'all!
Jo
'You become what you think about most of the time.' - Brian Tracy
4. gratitude - I am a grateful recovering procrastinator and adult child. I am grateful for my friends, my own health, my own mental abilities, and my family.
Reading today was called "controlling versus trust." Interesting thoughts on how I'd like to control my whole day and write out a detailed plan because I find it overwhelming and want to feel like I am in control. And of course things will come up that are not in the plan :)
"Today I will trust that I will receive all I need to get me through today. I will trust that the same will happen tomorrow."
Yesterday, with the passing of my old dog Lenore, became a day or mourning and reflexion on how life is flying by. She gave 100% of herself to whom she loved and to whatever she was doing without holding back, with no regret and no fear. Anyhow, the best way to honor her is to put into practice all that she taught me over the years and make the best of this day.
Thanks to both for the kind words. She has been a blessing and I am glad HP put her on my path.
Its good to have a daily plan to get you through the motion of living when you just feel to stay in bed. I am grateful to have find this group because it will be easier to keep going. Yesterday night, even if it all felt awful, I still managed to drag my a** to the barn and clean up.
Yesterday a short tasklist seemed to help, so I'll try that again today.
Talk to MC and finish Southern strategy (working on this now)
Deal w/ email (inc. email DC, email CE, and email about sql)
Check on expt (started), come up w/ strategy
Start motif comparison (will do this soon)
OK, will start with checking on expt, then will talk w/ MC as soon as she gets in.
BIG THREE STILL TO DO TODAY:
(1) Park Towers mailing printed, stuffed, licked, stamped, sticked, and ready to be dropped tomorrow
(2) Swim laps 1/2 hour by 3pm
(3) Apply for passport
LITTLE STUFF TO DO:
Outside, stretch, close door, audio
Email draft of Park Towers letter to Harvey's Printing
Email blog to Gmail addies
Clear Desk
Pay bills
STATS:
Phone calls to "civilians" so far: 0
Pieces mailed to "civilians" so far: 3
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
5:58am
--Showing up
7:18am
--Had my morning call with Mike - rarin' to go!!!!
10:57am
--Posted on new real estate blog! 8)
--Emailed link to my whole email list!
--Posted link on facebook!
HURRAY!!!!!!!!! :grin:
I don't have anything screaming and overdue...so I am not sure what to do with myself...
I do have things that will soon be-and I actually have some things that I need to deal with so that they stop holding me up...oh, and I could organize-that would help. OK, now I have an idea of what I "should" be doing. I am going to commit to at least 10-15 min. focused work blocks today.
1. sort piles 2. update comp. wp 3. figure out bill error 4. finish l.d. 5. check on spec. crit. for a. b. at cc.
Show up (done) think it through, more action items
Grateful I could enjoy the magnificent autumn day yesterday in my walk. Had a remarkable growth in "substance (which T-la wrote about yesterday in substance vs form) of my relationship" with my teen. By practising "detachment with love"- physical detachment, venting to others, taking care of myself, praying, reading, writing, I got through yesterday without saying anything I needed to make an amend for, my buttons were not pushed, I set boundaries, I remained an adult, I remained kind, I did not revert to the angry, crazy ACA parenting style I was brought up with, I did not blame, I accepted and surrendered and trusted HP's plan. What a miracle. It took so much energy to do this. I was emotionally drained. Not part of my "to do" list, in fact I could not do much more than my basics , yet on my death bed, probably will be one of my most important accomplishments when I look back on my life. (Even though it does not "feel" important, I need to tell myself it is).
What a wonderful post. It sounds like you made a giant emotional leap that's worth more than any old "to do" list. Congratulations. Learn from it an keep practicing.
Sending a prayer for you today if you don't mind. :)
When I woke up today and was my teen came downstairs, it was ok. I did not feel like I needed to do all that work again, at least not in the morning and am getting other things done.
Sticky Notes for Action Items
I'm thrilled to have discovered Sticky Notes on Windows 7. Now I can get rid of the sticky pads laying around with various action lists, and keep them organized on my desktop instead, stacked by priority. I made one big sticky to cover all the others, for entering the single task I am working on right now. When that task is complete, I can update the appropriate sticky hiding underneath it. I've only used this for one day, but it seems like an easy, highly visual way to keep my action items prioritized and my focus on one thing at a time.
Gwen D CI 11am / 1pm
I have a cold and I'm on vacation.
That alone should be enough to allow me to stare at the boob tube and eat bon bons and chicken soup all day.
Unfortunately, it's beautiful outside. And my house is a disaster area. And I haven't done the basics of getting dressed or eating yet.
So--- 10-15 minute blocks
X shower and get dressed to shoes
X coffee and eggs and fruit
X vacuum rugs
X wash dishes mostly
X interviewed T.F. for lab project
change sheets
do a little laundry and put away clothes
Check back in at 1 pm (did it, but none of my progress got posted! grr)
I'll try back in a bit. After the ibuprofen and the nap. Maybe I'll have another round finished up. Maybe another couple things to do.
Gnothi Seauton ~ Know Thyself
Journey 11 am &
Running a bit late this morning and then back to back meetings all morning! This one project is having THREE MANDATORY MEETINGS a week. Are they nuts? I've been in reactive rather than proactive mode all week, feeling tired and stressed after a difficult weekend. I'm hoping to turn that around today, I'm feeling rested and rather inspired this morning .
My daughter's best friend gave us a sewing machine yesterday! I have an old old singer that works but it's cranky. This one is a fancy electronic one, she said she's had it in storage for several years and never plans to use it. I told her we would only borrow it, so she can take it back any time but I'm really excited. It was funny because she said 'this one is electric'. I said 'yeah, we actually did have electricity in the 70s when I bought this machine'. Now I'm sewing a pair of pants fo rmy daughter. I bought the material like two years ago but never got around to actually making them lol.
Anyway, I'm rambling, listening to this conference call with only half an ear. Off to make my todo list for the rest of the day.
UPDATE 2:30 All right, all the crises are under control, the meetings are done, and now is the time to be proactive and get some work done. So I'm doing . . nothing! Checking in to get back on track. The first thing I will do is update the project plan for Project Z.
Update 3:00 that's done, now I need to go thru some emails and document some testing. Boring stuff.
Update 4:30 Documentation done. It was indeed boring. Now follow up on two oustanding issues from testing.
Update 5:15 Testing stuff done, all I had to do was send emails to get statuses. Then I reactivated my 2nd priority project which has been languishing for a week due to the other crazy stuff going on.
I completed my work todo list and I feel like I have things back in some semblance of control. A successful day if I do say so myself (pats self on back)
Thanks for being here, y'all!
Jo
'You become what you think about most of the time.' - Brian Tracy
tracy's check in on thursday
Hi Everyone,
Very interesting book review on a series of essays on procrastination called "A Thief In Time" in this week's New Yorker. Others may be interested
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/10/11/101011crbo_books_...
1. checking in - showing up - Done
2. check calendar for day and rest of week - Done
3. plan to plan - Done
4. gratitude - I am a grateful recovering procrastinator and adult child. I am grateful for my friends, my own health, my own mental abilities, and my family.
Reading today was called "controlling versus trust." Interesting thoughts on how I'd like to control my whole day and write out a detailed plan because I find it overwhelming and want to feel like I am in control. And of course things will come up that are not in the plan :)
"Today I will trust that I will receive all I need to get me through today. I will trust that the same will happen tomorrow."
Have a wonderful day everyone~
tracy-la
BC 10/14
lennon, thanks for starting the thread!
Work 8AM-5PM:
-Go to meeting [DONE]
-Check with MP about project 3
-Check with GP about project 3 [DONE]
-Review old EIEC setup
-Find EIEC requirements
-Run project 3 changes by J, OK [DONE]
-Run project 3 changes by M
-Run project 3 changes by S
-Run project 3 changes by D
After Work 5PM-Sleep:
-Exercise
-Buy supplies for present
-Finish inventory
-Figure out/call about how to pay new CC
Yesterday, with the
Yesterday, with the passing of my old dog Lenore, became a day or mourning and reflexion on how life is flying by. She gave 100% of herself to whom she loved and to whatever she was doing without holding back, with no regret and no fear. Anyhow, the best way to honor her is to put into practice all that she taught me over the years and make the best of this day.
9h00
wake upcoffee10h30--->checkin
plan daydress
barn chores
breakfast/lunch
commute
12h00-16h00
checkin
finish outline report
write activity sections of report
check work email
16h00-20h00
filing
fill timesheet
commute back home
barn chores
supper
20h00
checkin
shower
bedtime
Carpe Diem
dress barn
dress
barn chores
breakfast/lunch
commute
12h00-16h00
checkin--->13h30
finish outline report
write activity sections of report
check work email
16h00-20h00
filing
fill timesheet
commute back home
barn chores
supper
20h00
checkin
shower
bedtime
Carpe Diem
Thanks
Thanks to both for the kind words. She has been a blessing and I am glad HP put her on my path.
Its good to have a daily plan to get you through the motion of living when you just feel to stay in bed. I am grateful to have find this group because it will be easier to keep going. Yesterday night, even if it all felt awful, I still managed to drag my a** to the barn and clean up.
Carpe Diem
(Marie)
So sorry for your loss.
I love this poem and hope it gives you comfort:
"Death leaves a heartache
No one can heal;
Love leaves a memory
No one can steal."
I can still feel the love of my departed pet.
Sympathy for Marie
So sorry to hear about your doggy.
Jo
'You become what you think about most of the time.' - Brian Tracy
kromer 9:40 CI
Yesterday a short tasklist seemed to help, so I'll try that again today.
Talk to MCand finish Southern strategy (working on this now)Deal w/ email (inc. email DC, email CE, and
email about sql)Check on expt (started), come up w/ strategy
Start motif comparison (will do this soon)
OK, will start with checking on expt, then will talk w/ MC as soon as she gets in.
The Scribbler's Thursday
Prep
get up at 6make bedexercise
coffee, paperbreakfastcheckins
MorningAdd 5 to music dbBuy new laptop (?)Afternoon
Evening
Jester - 11:14am update
BIG THREE DONE TODAY:
(none yet) :blush:
BIG THREE STILL TO DO TODAY:
(1) Park Towers mailing printed, stuffed, licked, stamped, sticked, and ready to be dropped tomorrow
(2) Swim laps 1/2 hour by 3pm
(3) Apply for passport
LITTLE STUFF TO DO:
Outside, stretch, close door, audio
Email draft of Park Towers letter to Harvey's Printing
Email blog to Gmail addies
Clear Desk
Pay bills
STATS:
Phone calls to "civilians" so far: 0
Pieces mailed to "civilians" so far: 3
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
5:58am
--Showing up
7:18am
--Had my morning call with Mike - rarin' to go!!!!
10:57am
--Posted on new real estate blog! 8)
--Emailed link to my whole email list!
--Posted link on facebook!
HURRAY!!!!!!!!! :grin:
TODAY'S INSPIRATIONS:
--Chilean miners
--Lenore
potential energy 830
Hello,
I don't have anything screaming and overdue...so I am not sure what to do with myself...
I do have things that will soon be-and I actually have some things that I need to deal with so that they stop holding me up...oh, and I could organize-that would help. OK, now I have an idea of what I "should" be doing. I am going to commit to at least 10-15 min. focused work blocks today.
1. sort piles 2. update comp. wp 3. figure out bill error 4. finish l.d. 5. check on spec. crit. for a. b. at cc.
nothing screaming
(Excellent name!)
I know what you mean about how it's hard to get motivated if there's not a crisis in the background.
Good work narrowing it down to those tasks! Good luck with the focused timed blocks. You have inspired me.
-Gwen
Gnothi Seauton ~ Know Thyself
Vic 10/14
Show up (done) think it through, more action items
Grateful I could enjoy the magnificent autumn day yesterday in my walk. Had a remarkable growth in "substance (which T-la wrote about yesterday in substance vs form) of my relationship" with my teen. By practising "detachment with love"- physical detachment, venting to others, taking care of myself, praying, reading, writing, I got through yesterday without saying anything I needed to make an amend for, my buttons were not pushed, I set boundaries, I remained an adult, I remained kind, I did not revert to the angry, crazy ACA parenting style I was brought up with, I did not blame, I accepted and surrendered and trusted HP's plan. What a miracle. It took so much energy to do this. I was emotionally drained. Not part of my "to do" list, in fact I could not do much more than my basics , yet on my death bed, probably will be one of my most important accomplishments when I look back on my life. (Even though it does not "feel" important, I need to tell myself it is).
Thanks for being here and letting me share.
super vic!
What a wonderful post. It sounds like you made a giant emotional leap that's worth more than any old "to do" list. Congratulations. Learn from it an keep practicing.
Sending a prayer for you today if you don't mind. :)
(Crazybug)
Thank you for your support and prayer.
When I woke up today and was my teen came downstairs, it was ok. I did not feel like I needed to do all that work again, at least not in the morning and am getting other things done.
My Day Today
I want to thank my Higher Power for this program, this website, the telephone and online meetings, and my life.
Thing I did today
Went to the telephone DA meetingThings I will do today
1. Prayerand meditation morning andevening2. Mail the form to get my previous tax returns3. Make bed4. Wash dishes5. Take shower6. Get dressed7. Bring library books back8. Go to the State place to get state tax returns9. Go see my therapist10. Make copies of my tax returns11. Give my tax returns to the person at Voc Alternatives12. Eat breakfast13. Eat dinner14. Go to a religious meeting at 6:3015. Go to Voc Alternatives group
16. Send out Al-Anon e-mail for today17. Get my medicine ready for the next two weeks.
Thanks for letting me share