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.
Monday 7th January 2013
OMG where are all the Australia ppl?! I haven't started a thread in eons.
Promise 11. Living inside a structured life will no longer frighten or threaten us. Rather we will make friends with time. We will embrace structure and enjoy planning.
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EleanorBE's Monday list
Many thanks for starting Clement. Especially as today I had the opportunity, in my time zone, to start the thread and just couldn't.
Ok, was just using the fact that I'm in a rush and can't think of how to start the Monday thread to put off posting! SO I'll post monday here and then if I'm inspired in the night will start Monday's when I wake up!
Get up early and finish reading J's chapterGo to work - take laptopSee J re. deadlines for IPGo through docs for IP and make nec changesGo through plan for afternoon session.Plan short intros to H and Z's workMeet WDo copying for afternoon session- delegatedGo through work email, do short replies, note longer responses needed for laterWrite to Ta.s re. TuesWrite to Ma.sCheck out how you're getting first readings to Ma.sDo OHTeach long sessionGo and meet A.@movingalong nice checkmarks ... :)
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
ANNOUNCEMENT 9e 6p MTG STARTING IN CHAT meeting tab now
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
moving's monday
All in code. -- Hope I remember what it all means!
Well, I finished these four little tasks.
Many "unchecked" undone items remained.
Remaining items moved to Tuesday list.
WingArtist Check-in (1/7/2013)
Well, haven't been to this site in a long time (go figure). But since most of my classes are hands-on experience, my procrastination habit may change a bit depending on my momentum choices. But it's still hard to get around my habits as it is to those who are stuck like me.
Anyway, here's my agenda:
Get TextbooksCheck-in PA and Chatbox for adviceRead 7 Habits (Relationship Bank Account)Draw my 5th drawing for 2 hours (3-5 PM)Drawing Progress (3PM)
Finished my drawing for today! First time I sensed step by step timing! Now to do other side projects and relax for tonight!
Get TextbooksCheck-in PA and Chatbox for adviceRead 7 Habits (Relationship Bank Account)Draw my 5th drawing for 2 hours (3-5 PM)Eat DinnerContinue with 5th or Start drawing my 6th in 2 hours (6:40-8:40 PM)Innertruth's check-in
Haven't been to this site for more than two weeks.
Felt I didn't acomplish anything in that time except visit my family.
I'm accepted into a twelve week Cognitive Behavior Therapy program, starting in January 22.
Goals for day:
Update calendar with school scheduleCheck both emailsVic 1/7/13
Show up (done), just for today i will have a plan, i may not follow it perfectly but i will have a plan, exer
thanks clem both for the starter and psalm 91. Am feeling shame and hope to shift to acceptance and gratitude. Thanks.
tila- Mon
Struggling to stay awake, but otherwise fine. Plan for today:
Call preschool, RA, TA, post office, SF,receiptsDinner,pick-upread for 30 minsDreaded task - doneRisingUp To-Do List Mon. 1/7
Walk 45 minutesStretch 30 minutesBreakfastBiblePay phone billWork: 3
Lunch/Supps/Shower
Job app
Job inquiry email
Strength/Dinner/Grocery/Library card
Work: 3
Outreach call
God time/Read Anon lit, Bible, insp.
RisingUp Checkin Mon. 1/7
Thanks clement, apropos post!
Oh boy am I frustrated right now. I spent hours and hours yesterday organizing and planning every area of my life in an effort to stop time binging and being vague and time drunk most of the time.
Well, I did really well this morning, walked for 45 minutes, read Bible, made breakfast, did 30 minutes of stretching ... and then just when it was time for me to start WORKING, my demand sensitivity kicked in knowing I had a bill that was due today, so instead of waiting till lunchtime to pay it, I felt I should "get it out of the way" -- little did I know that there was a discrepancy in my zip code for 2 accounts that caused me to not be able to make the payment! Phone call after phone call ensued, now here I am 1.5 hours later, after 12 noon, and only just done with that stupid task to pay a crappy past due bill!!!!
What do we do when the UNEXPECTED happens and it throws us off our schedule? HELP! Now it may be too late for me to reach my earning goal for today unless I stay up way too late. I already started my morning 2 hours late today because I couldn't get to sleep till late.
I am under major pressure to earn a certain amount of money each day, and I was really motivated, and can't let this one snafu derail me.
I am open to replies here if anyone knows of a solution for situations like this, thanks!
RisingUp
@RisingUp difficult bill
I can only speak from my own experience. Take what you like, leave the rest. That's the AA / 12 Step wisdom.
I have done exactly what you have reported. If it were me, what i believe would be true based on my current understanding of all this is...
1. the bill really does need to get paid.
2. the urge to do it RIGHT NOW is one thing and one thing only : the addiction talking. I quoted this in last night's post, but it bears repeating for myself right now ( because the voice of the addiction is SO STRONG in my head ) :
This is from "15 points for an alcoholic to consider when confronted with the urge to take a drink"
It says not to reproduce it, but here's the link online http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/images/dynamicImages/documents/documents_4_834303.pdf
So when i feel what you describe--the sudden urge to do something off my plan--i am attributing it to this addiction phenomena.
3. the process with the bill is more complex because of past procrastination. This happens to me frequently. Less now, thank GOD!
4. "normal" people ( eg people who can easily make and follow a plan ) run into administrative snafu's with bills and such. It happens. Sometimes it is NOT a result of our procrastination, and could have happened to anyone. Your situation sounds like such an example ( not knowing full details, of course ).
I pray God strength and vision for your recovery, RisingUp!
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
RisingUp's cry for help
Hi RisingUp
i don't know whether this might work for you in the future - it often does for me. When I've decided to do something (a project/writing, etc) for a given number of hours, I use the pomodoro technique - which is basically 25 mins off, 5 mins break, 25 mins on. They are very firm about not doing anything but the stated intention in the 25 mins on, and not doing anything that would potentially become involving in the 5 min breaks ( make a coffee, do a couple of exercises, feed the cat kind of activities are fine) AND when your mind wanders off to other things you feel should be done and suddenly become urgent in your head during the 25 min stints, you write down what it is (pay bill in this case) and then get back to what you are doing until the 25 mins are up. I always use a timer. Then you look at and have to decide whether really is life threatening not to do it until the time you have dedicated to your project is up. Somehow the space between the first impulse and acting upon it can stop reactive doing.
good luck
Mole
@RisingUp @Mole delaying the impulse
i totally totally can vouch for the writing it down instead of impulsively doing it. For me at least, the impulse is simply an addictive urge, just like needing to drink. I can personally vouch for
1. most of the time, what i thot was urgent, i gotta do this right now, and hour later, is, i could do it or not, or wait.
2. sometimes ( a minority of the time ), an hour later, i still feel like, yeah, this has gotta get done now.
3. there has never been harm in waiting for an hour. For me at least, the sense that there will be harm is simply a deception. I need to use that strong a word for myself to counteract the power of the feeling in me.
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
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 clement for starting this trend.
Things I have done today
1. Went to the 5:45 a.m. telephone ACA meeting2. Went to part of the 7 a.m. telephone DA meeting3. Ate breakfast4. Went to see the nurse at 9 a.m.5. Went to the grocery store6. Went to the library7. Did numbersThings I will do today
1. Cook and eat lunch
2. Take shower
3. Get dressed
4. Go to work at 5:30 p.m.
Thanks for letting me share
gotmusikk's Monday
Progress, not perfection.
Consistency over emergencies.
Do the thing that feels healthy, not "shouldy" or escapist.
____________________
Check-in @ P.A.Process my inbox completelyjournalmeditate 15 mins.shower/dressComplete 1 cycle of 15 minutes each of:-- dishes-- clean-- back exercise/practice
-- massageAppointments:
4pm - Dunk8pm - RUN
If there’s time after I complete what’s listed above, I will select 2 activities and cycle them in 15 minute bursts.
Things I did well today:
-- When an email came in that freaked me out, I didn't let it throw me off schedule (in a spastic effort to make them happy) and I answered in such a way that allowed me to stay on schedule without puting them off.
Things I can improve on:
-- I still don't quite follow my timer when it beeps. I did better at it today than some other days, but as the BF pointed out to me, even when I don't have something concrete to do afterwards, I should still stop to honor the "firm line" that is the beep.
-- I got crabby when he pointed this out to me, even though I know he's trying to help me get better.
3 things I’m grateful for:
1)
2)
3)
__________________________
"Do I prefer to grow up and relate to life directly, or do I choose to live and die in fear?"
-- Pema Chodron
kromer 10:20 CI
Today I need to:
Do sequencing
Move data off microscope computer, organize blocksCome up with nomenclature proposal, email to adviser
Finish updating refs (I'm probably not going to be able to do more than microburst this, but I'll try to at least do that soon)
Lists of next action steps
15 min work on galaxy
Add career events to calendarCheck/weigh/doseFinish repairing zipper
Do a load of laundry
Make soup
Order bday present for brother
Call parents
Finish cleaning TBE jug
@Journey lol
would you believe i just cut-n-pasted from yesterday's thread, "Sunday 6th December 2013"
lol
:P
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Journey 9:30 and hey it's January not December lol
Happy Monday! In the office today, feeling a bit grumpy and fuzzy this morning. I kept one of the grandkids yesterday and although I enjoyed spending time with her, a three year old can really wear you out. So I'm starting the week happy but tired.
Busy time at work starts TODAY and will go for the next 6 weeks or so. Time to buckle down, suck it up, face the music. I will get my work done but also plan some down time so I don't get overtired. I ain't that young anymore after all lol.
I have been to the gym, checked email/calendar and I am going to grab a cuppa and get the todo list done now. I'll check back if I get stuck.
Have a productive and enjoyable day everyone.
Jo
Let your purpose rule your day - Steve Chandler
Monday
Thanks for great starter clement. I loook forward getting to that point of enjoying planning and structure and making friends with time as detailed in this step.
readingstidylaundryHIOring d and dring hairdresserbankingget present Lgo to meetingmeet L coffeejournal writingHIOreturn emails M, B, Kask c, n, L student cardgrocerieswritecardsdinnerMole's check-in
Thank you Clement. Here's one australian who didn't get their act together earlier! I did come to the site but I was out and about and it was hard to start a thread - so I lurked, and am very grateful that you have opened this up.
now it is a quite satisfying have done as well as will do.
i am putting some effort on planning rather than doing or perhaps I should say on doing a plan.
morning spent planning, doing washing, adding to memoir,
Afternoon
writing to FF
organising green waste to be picked up
writing to K re paper
applying to Cy
finding blood group for S ,books for C
now
tranf for int prot
memory eexercise
tidy for T
practice pbm
eat healthily
walk to town
take Rs card to ringing
meet up with band
bed at 11
Good
clean
dress
walk
prepare home
shop
work computer
get daughter
airport
clement ci - day 60 attempting abstinence
1:30am late sun night / early mon morn : pre-planning. big day. financial appt. prep for client wed. Thank you god for this client!!!
:) ci
:) quiet time
:) r task
:) s task (car)
:) elder deacon
:) pj task
:) v task
client prep
:) 11am pa phone mtg
:) 1pm - 4 mtg
:) shv icec
:) po,c task
client prep
:) fix pp
9:47am : it's been 5 min since i last went off plan. i started to consider whether i should "play" with my thread starter. Then i realized, that's no on my plan. nor is it close to the most important thing for me today.
this document saved me from a bender last night. kept me on plan.
now for my quiet time. Ray Lewis is an American Football Player, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He is in his 17th season and is a 12-time pro bowler. He is an incredibly enthusiastic human being and the heart of the Baltimore Ravens defense, a first-ballot hall-of-fame'r and one of the best defensive players to ever play the game. He is a warrior, brother, and widely considered one of the best role models in the NFL. He announced his retirement on Wed before the playoffs began. However far his team gets in the playoffs this year will be his last year. The ravens won yesterday. Next week they will play currently the best team in football, the Denver Broncos. After yesterday's game, during interviews, Ray removed his shirt and had "Psalms 91" printed on his Under Armor. I share Psalm 91 with you here:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence
He will cover you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge
his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler
You will not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked
Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place--
the Most High, who is my refuge--
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble
I will rescue him and honor him
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.
- Psalm 91
11:26am : it's been 1 min since i last went off plan. I was off plan for just 2 min. Something caught my eye and i read it. back to plan, with god's help.
10:18pm : it's been 20 min since i last went off plan. I have to now make some decision about what to do... sort tasks... dont want to, but it is the right thing to do. Is it? God, what do you think? Make me open to your still small voice, please.
10:42pm : It's been 44min since i last went off plan. i'm running out of time. I did not sort my tasks, cuz i remembered an urgent one i might not have time for if i sort. Hmmmm is that on plan? God grant me wisdom to know the difference
2:02am : I read 12-15 of "15 points for an alcoholic to consider when confronted with the urge to take a drink" and it helped, because i was this close to not going to bed and stying up for hours sufing, or tv or something. Tx God.
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb