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.
Thursday 5 April 2012
'habit and imagination... are far more powerful than logic and willpower will ever be'
-Paul McKenna
One small step at a time... a new habit starts with the first action
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Walker - Check-out April 5, 2012
Made a brilliant save: after blowing a couple hours on internet browsing and posting, I got on chat here and
. found my car registration sticker in my mountain of mail and stuck it on my license plate (only 5 days late!)
. called bank and got bank balance
. found my overdue utility bill and paid it over the phone, saving my service from being turned off next week
. listened to over 50 voice mail messages and cleaned out my voice mailbox; returned two important calls, including an RSVP to an event which fortunately hasn't yet occurred (it was the 42nd message!)
. went online and brought student loan payments up to date completely
. called B's family members and gave status update; one family member came to hospital and visited B with me; I asked him for help cleaning B's apartment on Saturday (3 weeks before deadline) - something I put off doing, thinking "I can do it myself!" - I hadn't done it for 4 months, so what were the chances, really?
. figured out how to add minutes to my prepaid phone, even though I am the most nontechnical person on the planet; after today, I would have lost my service, despite my buying a minutes card two days ago
. checked voicemail before bed - something I never do. Now I am creating a routine of checking voicemail EVERY TIME I enter my apartment after being away... plus first thing in the morning and last thing before bed.
I have never been good at routines. I want to establish a routine of emptying my snail mailbox every time I enter my building; and of immediately opening it and paying bills and tossing trash - instead of allowing the mail to become Mt. Trashmore before I tackle it.
Now it's 10:45; I wanted to get to bed by 9:30, but I got on the phone with someone who had left 3 messages on my phone today!
It was a spectacular day today, and I will sleep well, knowing that I have behaved more maturely and responsibly than I have in a long time; knowing that I have the power to control my emotions and actions by what I choose to visualize; knowing that I can make the pain go away(!) and knowing that I can do the things that help me because I WANT to do them, not because I "should," "have to" or "need to" do them.
Thank you all for keeping me company here. You didn't just keep me honest. You were fighting alongside me, and I appreciate it!
Love, peace and joy to all.
Walker
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result” -Mahatma Gandhi
Yay Walker!!
Yay Walker for a great productive day!!
Wish you good luck for the days to come.
haha Mt. Trashmore!
I used to have one of those too!
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett
Walker Check-In
. Open mail, sort, trash
. Add phone minutes if possible. Hope I didn't miss the deadline.
. Check phone messages
. Check bank statements, current balance
. Make realistic budget
. Call A, B, C to make payment agreements
. Write checks
. visit B at 7 pm
. bed at 9:30 pm
I honestly don't know what I'm so afraid of. I have this pervasive sense of dread, hopelessness, helplessness, and guilt. Feelings are not facts. I've been procrastinating getting a therapist; don't want one because I don't want to pay one and waste time. I know I have homework to do, and no therapist is going to wade through my tomes. hmm. I know I can't read other people's minds or predict the future, but still I believe this!
Today I set up my voicemail again, which had choked on too many unanswered messages. Yay me.
It's a gorgeous spring day; so many blossoms in bloom, and I enjoyed my walk. Yay me for getting out before the sun went down!
I could have worked overtime today, but deliberately gave up the opportunity in order to have a productive day today doing things that will keep me out of jail and help me get out of debt. Yay me for creating space to fulfill my responsibilities.
I set the timer for 10 minutes and promptly spent a couple hours frittering away my day reading and posting on my favorite internet forum. Yay me for stopping after only a couple hours and coming here to check in, even though I've not been here and not completed goals for days.
I don't have to start again. I want to start again. I commit to quitting this self-destructive pattern of behavior, which is hurting me terribly. I want a new life.
Baby steps, Walker.
Yay Walker! You Walk, baby!
I feel so alone. I don't know anyone here. Maybe someone hears me: My Higher Power. You all are my Higher Power, too. See you later. I intend to accomplish at least one goal today.
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result” -Mahatma Gandhi
Walker - I can so relate to your
Walker - I can so relate to your comment about feeling hopeless, helpless. I don't understand my self sabotage. I am so overwhelmed with what I have to do. Last night I remembered someone telling me about goal setting and making it about what i wanted to go toward. So I decided that rather than thinking about how much there was to do, I would pick the most important thing and focus on how it would be to have it done (or in my case, in process because the whole project is going to take a few days)
But so far, i have done a couple of smaller things, and wasted 3 hours. I guess i'll try different approaches until something starts clicking for me. I have to believe something will work.
You're right - baby steps.
Getting It Done - Baby Steps
I agree. Sometimes we just don't look far enough ahead: we're so focused on how daunting the whole journey is and how many pain-in-the-you-know-what zillion steps are in our way that we forget how
free and clear and powerful and victorious
we will feel when we meet our goal.
Funny how easy it is to make negative predictions about our weakness and how much more effort it takes to make positive predictions about our abilities to master the tasks. Both types of predictions are creative processes and require the same kind of brain work, the ability to visualize.
I bet that with enough practice we can hone our ability to visualize desirable outcomes, rather than undesirable experiences along the way - like muscles get stronger with use.
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result” -Mahatma Gandhi
katia 4.5
attempting another check in. Although lately the check ins haven't been working for me, I have been getting more done in chat or with my list in my head.
I have good news! No more tests until finals next month! So I can relax a little (though I do have hw) and spend more time with Connor. My test at at 8 am and my school is 1.25 hours away so I am proud I made it on time.
Things to do:
-Optics class
-Email EE guy
-Decide about tomorrow
-Writing class
-Email librarian
-A valiant stab at optics hw
-A valiant stab at fleshing out my paper
-spend time with Connor! :)
Good on you, Valiant Katia!
Check-ins haven't worked for me either. I have wonderful plans and dreadful follow-through. Then I run away and don't resurface for days. I just started here. Maybe this will change.
Hope the chat and list in your head works for you today, as well as this list. Enjoy your time with Connor!
Walker
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result” -Mahatma Gandhi
Thanks Walker!
I think it is great you have just joined and are already inspiring people- I saw your "check out" post and was very excited for you :)
I didn't do the valiant stabs, but did get all the e-mailing things done. We ended up out very late on Thursday.
Thanks for the encouragement!
double post :(
meh
Journey 9:30
In the office today. I've been to the gym and I was on time for work. I am in the first and only meeting of the day although there is an ice cream social this afternoon which I might go to although I will try not to eat ice cream :)
Making todo list as soon as this meeting is over and I will check back if I get stuck, won't post todo list and check stuff off today since I'm in the office. I'm allowed to work from home two days a week but I am seriously thinking about cutting back to one day a week because I get more done when I'm in the office.
Jo
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett
yay jo!
I know one of your goals is to get to the gym AND get to work on time so yay!!!
(even if you have accomplished it before, encouragement can be sent anytime :) )
Thanks Katia!
I'm not always successful but I'm workin on it!
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett
kromer 9:10 CI
Today I need to:
*Email MK, JW,
JS*
Check on/manage expts*Plan out stainings (started),
ask about antibodies*Make long-term plan for mei. project
*Start one staining
*Finish cleaning bench (almost finished this)
*
Make a nice table*R/o probes,
order m(will do this soon)*
Email about easter plans*
Go to Maundy thurs. servicesLucky's playlist
try and use online time at work to get and do some writing/proofing work :)
Call gas people :)
Finalise carpet clean after ppl get back to me - narrowed it down but still not finalised owing to ppl being out
Email C :)
bag/box stuff and take to attic, throw out rubbish and recycling, second round
find all curtain parts
find & pack passport
--
Metaphor Mouse! Because playlists are better than tasklists.
moving through mud
Pushing through the resistance.
Finding a way CI
Thursday 9.50 am
Thanks for another beautiful starter, chickadee.
Finding it hard to get started today, anxiety creeping in again. Yesterday at client's office struggled to keep on track, achieved a reasonable amount. I am nearly there with the budgets, need to stop thinking perfection, finish it, send it off and make time for everything else.
Noticing I am procrastinating a lot on ringing friends that I haven't seen in a while, and feeling bad about it. More anxiety is the problem, hope I can move on with this part of my life.
Thank you all for being here.
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 chickadee for starting this trend
Things I will do today
1. Go to the 5:45 a.m. telepone ACA meeting2. Go to the 7 a.m. telephone DA meeting3. Go to the 7:30 a.m. telephone PA meeting4. Go to the 8:30 a.m. telephone PA meeting5. Go to the 9:30 a.m. telephone PA check-in6. Go to the 9:45 a.m. telephone CLA activity line7. Test blood sugar after fasting8. Cook and eat breakfast9. Declutter 1,000 e-mail
10. Go to the 12 noon telephone ACA meeting11. Go to the 1 p.m. telephone CLA activity line12. Take shower13. Get dressed14. Go to the grocery store15. Do numbers16. Test blood sugar two hours after lunch17. Go to the 7 p.m. telephone DA meeting18. Go to the 8 p.m. telephone CLA meeting19. Go to the 9 p.m. online EA meeting20. Eat dinner21. Test blood sugar at bedtime
22. Inject insullin
23. Wash dishes
Thanks for letting me share