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.
Evening to-do
Almost 11pm, late.. but I want to try to spend the next 1.5-2 hours just getting ready for Monday. I didn't actually complete many of the things I wanted/needed to this weekend, but I want to make sure that I at least clean up a bit and feel somewhat organized before beggining the week. I also MUST send an school/work related e-mail by tommorrow morning, but feel I need to clean up first before I can even think straight...not the most direct way...but I don't know...i'll do it in the morning when rested and clear minded (thats the hope anyway) in a clean enough space...
so plan:
pick up all over/ and throw stuff awaywash dishesmaybe laundryhave something light to eat...kind of hungrylight bathroom cleaningc.
Yay done!
Facing reality
6:38 PM: My supervisors here are more proactive about my slowness than my previous ones. I have been told to provide an audit of my workdays, in 15 minute increments, for an undefined period of time. On one hand, it is a positive exercise, making me very conscious of attempts to procrastinate, which always lurk just beneath the surface. It is fortunate that this conincides with Lent, for which i have decided to avoid non-work-related internet use at work, since that is my preferred procrastination tool/anxiety calmer. On the other hand, I have been working as hard as I can the last 10 days, and have come face to face with the reality (which I suspected): even without procrastination, I am very slow, much slower than my colleagues. That is disheartening. Blaming it on procrastination was somewhat of a relief, evne as it made the problem worse. Well, all I can do is all I can do. But I cannot keep bouncing, tree limb by tree limb, all the way down to earth. Well, back to it.
@4change
Keeping the time log will probably be a positive thing.!
I do that for myself for a couple of weeks here and there when I feel like I'm losing track of where my time is going. I usually find I'm spending waaaaay too much time 1) playing video games and 2) dithering, i.e., taking ages to make a decision. Tracking gets me back 'on track'. For a while anyway lol.
Jo
Self-improvement is the name of the game, and your primary objective is to strengthen yourself, not to destroy an opponent. Maxwell Maltz
Thanks, Jo!
I think it does help, but when I see looong blocks of time trying to get from point A to point B it is disheartening.
Slow poke
Hi 4change!
I too am very slow. I am very detail oriented, thorough, and accurate. Over the years I got flack for it, but ended up always being their best worker so I was always thanked, lauded, and rewarded. My first job, the supervisor told me I was slow. I said "What do you want... speed or accuracy?" She said "Both!" Well, I was the one they came to for a special job for the White House. They brought me to another building and locked me in an office to work on proofreading it. Only me!
My current position, I have been given many out-of-cycle raises and bonuses. Always a glowing performance review. So I have come to embrace my slowness. It has always paid off for me...
Thanks, 11th hour!
There is truth in what you say. Some of our customers do say positive things about my work. Internally, though, I am constantly on edge. Just have to keep at it.
It's great that you've been
It's great that you've been working so diligently for the last 10 days. I 've had similar situations in which when I finally start working or return to a task I realize I'm pretty slow. I think sometimes is like Cooncat mentioned that we tend to procrastinate on things that are challenging for us. And based on my experience, I think that sometimes we might be slower than our peers on a particular task because we’ve spent so much time avoiding it and hence haven’t practiced the skill as much as they have and also haven’t gained the confidence that comes with consistent practice…which also reduces anxiety and helps our speed. As long as we continue to chip away…we’ll be at least somewhat faster than we were.
Thanks Claire77!
Unfortunately, I have always been slow at everything. I was usually able to compensate by doing a very careful and complete job, or by standing out in some other way. But tossed in with racehorses, in a job where productivity is measured by TAT, I am not even on the lead lap. I will keep chipping away, though.
Don't get discouraged-- when
Don't get discouraged-- when you haven;t let yourself get into the habit of getting things done quickly, it is hard. It's a skill like anything else-- with practice, if you can avoid the procrastination, you'll get better.
Also, since we usually procrastinate worst about things that we feel inadequate about, is there anything about your job that you feel you need more training for? Maybe you could proactively request some extra training?
Thanks Cooncat
I tend to suffer from a lack of confidence in most areas. I am actually well trained...on paper. But I recognize that my slowness keeps me from taking advantage of excellent additional learning experiences that are available to me. I realize that may also give the impression that I am not interested in furthering my skills. Maybe that will be my goal for now, to get on top of things just enough to be able to partake of continuing education. Maybe I can set up a positive, self-reinforrcing cycle to replace the negative one I have been on. Thanks!
Finding a way check in
9.15 am Monday
Thanks for the starter Fudo_shin, it made me smile, and for sharing your motivational thoughts.
Off to a good start, have attended online PA meeting and sent an email that had to be done first thing.
Still to do (work):
check lists for any immediate tasks that need attentionre-organise worklists for this weekdo more planning and prioritisation if neededfollow plan for priority tasksHome:
doctor's apptF & VThank you all for this forum!
8.15 pm I worked pretty hard today, but it has been time blow outs plus! Maybe I am trying to do to much? but not getting many billable hours done. Have been trying to deal with an increasingly large but unpaid job - will be glad when that's over. Will do dishes and exercises now, but not much else.
New and checking in (rather
New and checking in (rather late)-- please tell me if I'm doing this wrong.
To do today:
1) 2 hrs writing!!!!
2) 1.5 hrs class prep!!
3) vacuum & put clothes away
4) post online assignment
5) exercise!!!!
NOT to do today:
1) no computer games
2) no blogs
3) no tv until all the rest is done
Anyone know how to turn the double-spacing off?
Sunday with the Scribbler 11:36 a.m
Nice starter, Fudoshin. I'm no 12-stepper, and have no use for higher powers either. But I am grateful for the daily check-in at Procrastinators Anonymous. It's really helped me over the past year or so to be more productive. The problem is that it's not really fixing my problems that well. I'm still deeply in debt and, in fact, getting more deeply in debt on a pretty steady basis. What to do? I'm not sure. Cut costs further? I see some optional expenses that could go. Work harder to earn money? I could do that. Come up with some brilliant way to make a bunch of money and pay off my debts without having to work 60-hour weeks and eat boiled potatos breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next three or four years? As if.
In the absence of an epiphany, I guess I'll keep on the way I have for the last year or so. It could be worse. Thanks to all for reading and posting.
Vic 3/20/11
show up (done)
Ask and you shall receive,
Seek and ye shall find,
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7
I think my HP is telling me I need to do the steps.
tracy-la sunday march 20 check in
READING
Peeling Off Layers
As we work our program, we peel off layers of old, worn out thoughts and
habits. PA gives us a place to share old hurts and fears so that we are
able to get rid of them. Our PA friends accept us and give us the
benefit of their experience. With their help, we are able to leave the
old layers behind and move ahead.
We never stop learning and growing. When we are ready to accept it, our
Higher Power reveals just as much truth to us as we can assimilate. He
directs our progress through the Steps of this program as we are
prepared to take them.
If we are
sincere in our efforts, the right help will come when we need it. It
may come through another member, a piece of literature, a new insight,
or even a difficult experience. Peeling off and discarding worn out
layers of ourselves is hard work and is often painful. But when we look
back and see how we have grown, the satisfaction more than outweighs the
pain.
Guide me as I peel away and leave behind the useless thoughts and habits I have accumulated.
Adapted From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations
MY BASICS:
checking in;support calls(1x);affirmations;gratitudes;reading;check calendar AM; check calendar PM; listen to positive recording for 20 minutes;write down my 6 most important tasks;voicemail;exercise; manage A; manage D; use master list; use timer; track time on sheet and/or iPhone applicationAffirmations (said aloud as well):
I choose to show up and start my top 6 tasks, 15 to 30 minutes at a time.
I set my mind to my top 6 tasks and I complete them -- in 15 to 30 minute periods.
And remember . . . if I am feeling
resistance or "shame" or "screwed up" or procrastinated at something lately, it's
probably just the Dynamics of Human Change doing its checks &
balances . . . keep going!
It's raining here in L.A. and will be a soggy Sunday but it's good to get some tasks done. Have kid book report and some other work tasks to do today.
tracy-la
12step mtg: "meeting chatbox" today 3:30PM NewYork DaylightTime
All are welcome to the 12step Procrastinators Anonymous meeting.
This meeting is in traditional 12step format.
Meeting is at the following time:
New York: Sunday, 20th March, 3:30 PM Daylight Time
London England: Sunday, 21st March, 7:30 PM Standard Time
Paris France: Sunday, 21st March, 8:30 PM Standard Time
New Zealand: Monday, 21st March, 8:30 AM Daylight Time
Sydney Australia: Monday, 21st March, 6:30 AM Daylight Time
To enter meeting, click on "chatbox" tab at top of this screen, and then, once INSIDE the chatbox, click on the "meeting" tab at the top of the little chatbox.
If you need help entering chatbox, see this note:
http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/2473
------------
Please note that in the coming weeks, in Europe, Australia, and other timezones, the meeting time may appear to change.
See the following link for info:
http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/3414
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My Day Today
I want to thank my Higher Power for this program, this website, the telephone and online meetings and my life.
I want to thank fudo_shin for starting this trend.
Things I have done today
1. Went to the 7 a.m. telephone DA meeting2. Went to the 9:45 a.m. telephone CLA meetingThings I will do today
1. Prayer and meditation morning and evening
2. Send out Al-Anon literature for today3. Post Al-Anon literature for the coming week4. Get clothes ready to wash5. Go to the 11 a.m. telephone NA meeting6. Go to the 1 p.m. telephone CLA meeting7. Wash clothes
8. Put clothes away
9. Take shower
10. Get dressed
11. Call my DA Sponsor
12. Complete Chapters 9-10
13. Write my Introduction
14. Start Research paper
15. Pay bills
16. Do numbers
17. Write questions for tonight's meeting
18. Finish my Second Step in EA
19. Start my Third Step in NA
20. Go to the 7 p.m. online EA meeting
21. Go to the 8 p.m. telephone CLA meeting
22. Make bed
23. Wash dishes
24. Put medicine away
25. Declutter tables near and on the computer
26. Test blood sugar twice
27. Eat brunch28. Eat dinner
29. Go to the 3:30 online PA meetingThanks for letting me share
11th_hour CI final
GOOD MORNING to all on this glorious Sunday, as we "get our praise on"
Thank you fudo_shin for starting this thread.
I have ONE objective today, which is to go to mass. NO work or worries today. Just a day to rest, relax, and rejuvenate.
Have a blessed day!
Jumped out of bed at 8:07 am
Made the bed
Called J&D on anniverary ♥
Ate breakfast (pancakes and coffee)
Took multivitamin and fish oil tabs
Went to 10:30 mass
Went grocery shopping
Ate healthy lunch
Attended and participated in online PA meeting
Drank lots of water today
Cooked sirloin & baked potato for dinner
Viewed alot of posts on PA website
Called J tonite
Watched some shows on Hulu
Read from "The WORD among us"
"All praise and honor to you, Jesus! Come fill me with your presence. I want to see your face."
Hypatia 12.20pm
trying again to see if I can do better than yesterday
23.30h didn't get any of the rest done, but I did some ironing so we actually have clean shirts for this week, and I sorted out my husband's textphone, both of which I consider achievements
fudoshin: motivation for myself : 4:41am
Please do not leave advice or feedback. Thank you. Prayers welcome.
Some of the adapted tools of this program that I'm thinking about, and tidbits I've heard from people who discuss procrastination at length:
fudoshin: day 62 : 4:30am
Please do not leave advice or feedback. Thank you. Prayers welcome.
This is the 62nd day that I have followed through with the following:
I'm making a pledge to quit using the dating site(s) and Facebook for 90 days. I had written this on my 43things account, but I wrote that I wanted to avoid dating sites for a full six months, so I think 90 days is reasonable for a dating site. I also have a penchant for looking at and stalking certain people repeatedly on the dating website and online, which has prevented me from sanity. Just all out stalking certain people has been all out crazy; if I'm not stalking one person, it's another person. During times I've tried to quit the dating site before, I have visited people's dating profiles, even while not registered on the dating site. So part of my whole thing with quitting dating sites is also quitting stalking people's profiles that I've tried to date in the past. If I accidentally load a dating site, b/c I accidentally clicked on something obviously that doesn't count. You can hardly hang a cat on the Internet without hitting a dating site ad. Intention is everything.
In other words:
the past. (I am now back on day 25 for this).
of this, b/c I used AIM to stalk someone. Granted none of them were online, but it did not make me feel better in any way, it only made me feel more loathed, and lonely that I have no other form of communication but online chat But that's not true, I have various people in program, if i would only show up for them and myself by being at meetings and making outreach calls.)