Need encouragement/suggestion

[zhuzhu]

I am overwhelmed by the amount of project/tasks I have left to do for the next 2 months . Any expert task manager here? Would you please share your tips on how to best combat procrastination and get the work done efficiently?

Thank you so much!

 

[lovegem]

i am not much help here, because I have been procrastinating forever already. You are not alone.

 

[packrat]

Work projects or projects at home?

Can you organize them into things that need to be done right away and those that can wait a while? Or do the ones you don''t really want to do-first, and get them out of the way? Or pass the ones you don''t want to do to someone else hehe?

 

[zhuzhu]

It is work related. I guess my mind plays trick on me: the more I need to do, the less I want to do!! Isn''t that funny how procrastination worsens with stress?

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/29/2009 4:52:49 PM
Author: zhuzhu
It is work related. I guess my mind plays trick on me: the more I need to do, the less I want to do!! Isn''t that funny how procrastination worsens with stress?

I am in the same boat! when I get presented with "too much" homework during my college days, I took a nap! i know totally another procrastination, but my naps consisted of thinking of what my next game plan was going to be, Once I woke up, I was refreshed and got my butt in gear. Can''t really just take a nap at the office though...lol Sometimes I''ll just take a short five -10 minutes around the building outside then get back in the office and full steam ahead. Write down what you need to do, no necessarily in order, I would write these things on post it notes, once I was done with a step, I tossed out my post it note and continue. Sometimes I have post it all over my screen.

 

[LilyKat]

Lists. Lists, lists, lists. Write them down, prioritise, and tick them off as you go. It gives you a great sense of achievement which encourages you to do more. Make sure your tasks are broken down into small portions - allowing yourself lots of little achievements is best.

Try and make it fun wherever possible. Think of the positives of doing each task, eg, what skills you are going to develop by doing it (however small). Set yourself realistic targets and treat yourself when you meet them (eg allowing yourself to read a trashy magazine or watch a fun programme).

Good luck!

 

[Aloros]

Prioritize, tackle them one at a time. Make a timeline. XYZ to be done by such-and-such time...all the way to finishing. Breaking things down really helps not feel overwhelmed.

Take scheduled breaks. Listening to music helps keep me focused. Give yourself rewards for finishing a certain amount of work.

 

[zhuzhu]

Thank you ladies for all your suggestions and support!
My key issue is having trouble estimating the actual time required for each project, so I start all of them simultaneously. Of course as a result they are all in the "middle of it". This made working on any of them so not satisfying!

 

[VRBeauty]

Zhuzhu: one of my "techniques" is to tackle the task or project that would give me the greatest mental relief if I get it out of the way.... at work, it's usually the one that has the immediate consequences if I don't get it done!

For me, the secret of making lists work is to identify the next step that needs to be done in any project. So at the end of the day, my list for the next day includes "send Harold Chapter 5 of comments on XYX report" rather than just "XYZ report." It will help identify exactly what I need to do when I sit down the next morning. (and often, getting to that level of detail convinces me to push through and get it done before I leave for the day, rather than putting it on the next day's list!)o

Speaking of which... I used to have the start menu on my computer at work open up to my daily calendar (NOT PS!). A few months ago my workplace switched to MS Outlook, and I haven't yet figured out how to make Outlook open to my calendar. I can make it open to my email but really, that isn't helpful at all.

If anyone knows how to set things up so my computer opens to Outlook calendar I'd appreciate it! I could even force myself to use the OL task list, if I could set up my computer to start there -- but starting at email is just does not work for this attention challenged person!

End rant/highjack.


Next steps!

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/30/2009 1:45:23 AM
Author: VRBeauty
Zhuzhu: one of my ''techniques'' is to tackle the task or project that would give me the greatest mental relief if I get it out of the way.... at work, it''s usually the one that has the immediate consequences if I don''t get it done!

For me, the secret of making lists work is to identify the next step that needs to be done in any project. So at the end of the day, my list for the next day includes ''send Harold Chapter 5 of comments on XYX report'' rather than just ''XYZ report.'' It will help identify exactly what I need to do when I sit down the next morning. (and often, getting to that level of detail convinces me to push through and get it done before I leave for the day, rather than putting it on the next day''s list!)o

Speaking of which... I used to have the start menu on my computer at work open up to my daily calendar (NOT PS!). A few months ago my workplace switched to MS Outlook, and I haven''t yet figured out how to make Outlook open to my calendar. I can make it open to my email but really, that isn''t helpful at all.

If anyone knows how to set things up so my computer opens to Outlook calendar I''d appreciate it! I could even force myself to use the OL task list, if I could set up my computer to start there -- but starting at email is just does not work for this attention challenged person!

End rant/highjack.


Next steps!

VR- Funny you should ask this, I''m in the middle of it right now, I want to open up three month calendar to pin up next to my email, however, haven''t found that. I did, however find what you are looking for.

on your outlook tool bar > TOOLS> OPTIONS> OTHER TAB> CLICK ON ADVANCE OPTIONS>CLICK ON BROWSE THEN FIND YOUR CALENDAR OPTION >OK then close out of outlook the next time you pull up outlook, it should automatically open up your calendar first.

threadjack over

 

[joelly]

Date: 6/29/2009 4:52:49 PM
Author: zhuzhu
It is work related. I guess my mind plays trick on me: the more I need to do, the less I want to do!! Isn''t that funny how procrastination worsens with stress?

Yeah, this has happen to me too. It makes me doubt myself that I''m gonna finish anything which in turn makes me depress. I have achieved so much to be here but why now this happen to me.

 

[chrono]

Make a list and break everything down on a calender. Once you do that, you will see that clearly not everything can be done at the same time. Maybe some on this date, and others on a different date due to other people's schedules. Once that is done, rearrange it so that the top priority stuff is at the top of the list.

 

[zhuzhu]

More great ideas! Thanks! BTW it also helps a great deal that some of you share the same "emotional aspect" of the procrastination problem as I do. I feel less alone now! HUGS!!!