Have you ever had a task that you must get done, but you find yourself doing
By juls2me2
@juls2me2 (2150)
United States
January 22, 2007 3:11pm CST
everything else but that task? That happens to me when it comes to taxes, the budget, and paying bills. I really intend on staying focused and just opening my computer program and logging my information, but all of a sudden I’m checking email, doing myLot, checking Blogitive for offers and doing those posts, doing the dreaded laundry, cleaning areas of the house that I wouldn’t dream of doing, and then to my horror I catch myself not doing what I started out to do.
Why is it so difficult? How do you stay focused?
8 people like this
49 responses
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
22 Jan 07
I don't think I ever do what I am supposed to be doing. To-day, I went to the press to get the telephone directory and I found the Argos catalogue, so I ended up browsing through it looking at things I did not need. When the postman called this morning with the mail, there was a gradening catalogue, so I left the mail and browsed through the catalogue, knowing full well, that I had no intention of buying anything. If only I could be more organised!
@Jude68 (34)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I have experienced this many times. I even remember dreams where things are still not done long after they're supposed to be done.
I use to have a phobia about paying my bills. I guess I was afraid to find out that there wasn't enough money. There always was, but I would put it off and put it off until I got late charges. Maybe you aren't as bad as all that. Maybe you'll just worry about it until it's the last minute and then do your taxes.
I learned to write down the tasks that I did not want to do on a list. And keep the list before me (or the box of receipts in the middle of the table). Then I don't worry about it. I no longer let things bother me (95% of the time). I reason to myself . . look at all the things you use to worry about. Here you are somehow managed to get your bills paid, your car worked on, your taxes done, your children raised, year after year, with a good credit rating and lots of "stuff" around the house!!!
It all works out if you stop worrying. It takes all your attention and energy and you're not in an efficient state of mind to face any little fear. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@juls2me2 (2150)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I never looked at it before as worrying about it really, suppose that maybe why I put it off. I keep myself busy with other things that need to be done too, but just aren't the major priority. Too funny.....suppose that fits. Time to pray to stay focused on what's important.
@Jude68 (34)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I suppose that worrying is a questionable choice of words. It means different things to different people. but one thing I know. If we find ourself putting things off that need to be done, we can be sure that somewhere below the surface of our conscious thoughts, we are resistant to the activity. And basically the only reason we are resistant, is because of some fear.
We can research ourself and find the fear. Or we can just decide to believe that there is nothing to be feared and find the peaceful place within. Then just sit down and move forward with the task.
I use to hate flying. I was terrified at times. Then I read the book You can be happy no matter what and I learned to direct my own thoughts and emotions and not to just automatically believe the thoughts that came into my head. So, when I flew, I started imagining the plane as a car and the pilot as me driving my car and how safe I felt when I drive my own car. Then I turned the adrenaline feeling on take off and landing into the feeling I get when I'm on Space Mountain at Disneyland. It's the same feeling but in a different context. And now, I look forward to flying. This works with anything you worry about, fear or just put off for unknown reasons.
Try it out, or get the book, Richard Carlson. Have fun conquering!
1 person likes this
@juls2me2 (2150)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Good idea! :) Treats!.... Funny thing is I never used to be that way until the past 2 years....must be an age thing. When I get distracted so easily its because I really don't want to do that task. Once I get on a roll with the taxes or budget...things do flow and I get done with it. Maybe its just a money thing, you know....don't want to face whether we are going to have or not.
@vampirestonez (1181)
• Pakistan
23 Jan 07
Hmm sounds like just the thing that I do however I do manage to get the tasks done on time, maybe you should learn to multi task. It really helps out a lot and it sure has helped me or I wouldn't be in the office at the moment responding to discussions. If you feel that you are not good on multi tasking then you have to learn to set a goal in your mind i.e I'm going to answer 5 mylot discussions and then its back to work and I'll get back to mylot after I complete the following tasks, you can even monitor the time it takes you and act accordingly. hope this helps.
1 person likes this
@juls2me2 (2150)
• United States
23 Jan 07
You know...now that I look at it. I do ultimately get the tasks done on time. I'm never late doing the bills or taxes, just seem to delay for awhile until I get into the groove of it. Making a list is always good, setting time limits is good...heeheeehee, now just doing it right! I suppose I delay because I can and don't really have much else to do. It just amazes me how subconciously I must really dread anything to do with bills & taxes and find unrelated low priority things to waste my time on....just because I can. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. It's one of those things that you know.....and just need to do.
@patrice7 (1191)
• United States
23 Jan 07
LOLS, your funny. i guess we tend to procastinate and not do the things we intend to do. well as for me everytime i tell myself to make this assignment and make researches about it. so here i go in the computer but i fing myself automatically loggind on to mylot and posting responses, checking out my discussions and posting more responses.. then after like 2 hours or so i realize that i still have something to do but still i wont do it.. i will log off from the computer and go down and eat and like write poems or write entries in my diary or just watch tv. and still i didnt do my homework. im not focused on the job that i really have to do and instead do anything and everything that will lead me to neglect my assignment.. i think i should really stick to my schedule..
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
I used to be like that, then I figured out that if I get the task done, it's out of the way. How about setting a time to do it and say, "from such a such a time (I have no idea whether you're working out of the home, on day shift, afternoon shift, or night shift) to such a such a time", I will work on that horrible taxes/bills//budget," and once it's over, you can back to what you want to do.
@hitzphillygirl (1235)
• United States
22 Jan 07
All the time.
Procrastinators unite! ...tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@WebMann (4731)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
I have a real problem with calling people on the phone if it's work related and if it's a cold call, well you can just about forget it.
Before I became my own boss I worked for Manpower Temporary Services as their computer geek and troubleshooter. I went from one MTS office to another setting up and updating computers.
One day my boss gave me a phone number to call. I forget what it was about but this was the day he was leaving for two weeks vacation. I hummed and haa-ed about it for the full two weeks and just 15 minutes before my boss was due back in the office I made the phone call.
It was actually a very easy phone call and only took a minute but my mind just does something to me when it comes to cold calls.
1 person likes this
@rahuldmhatre (736)
• India
23 Jan 07
it keeps on happening all the time, i open my laptop for browsing, sending e-mails and i find myself watching movies, listening to music or playing games, guess we should keep on reminding ourselves again and again what we have to do...
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
23 Jan 07
That happens to me all the time. Sometimes it's so hard for me to stay on task, no matter how hard I try and I try pretty darn hard. Sometimes at least. That's why I think you should allow yourself so much time a day to do those things you want and then set aside the time for you to be able to do the other things that you have to do that way you aren't so tempted to not do what you need too later.
1 person likes this
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
22 Jan 07
that happens to me when I'm cleaning-
I'll find something that doesn't belong there and will go off to the other room to put it in the closet -
I will then start cleaning that closet because that one shelf was cluttered and then I find something that belongs in the drawer upstairs -
so I will take that up along with the laundry I just did and will start putting laundry away and realize I needed to put that thing in the draw and then realize that this particular drawer is very unorganized and start cleaning that.............
and I wonder why nothing gets done?!?!?
1 person likes this
@XxAngelxX (2830)
• Canada
22 Jan 07
Haha, that sounds just like me. I have been trying all day to get started on cleaning out my attic. I will admit, I have made a bit of a dent in all the stuff up there, but I'm finding it very hard to stay focused on doing it until it is done. I keep finding that I need a "break" and then my mother wanted to go to Walmart, well I decided I needed to have some bins to put all the stuff in the attic so it would be better organized, so I went to Walmart, but now here I am again sitting in front of the computer answering your post...hmmm....think I should get back at it...well maybe I'll just read a few more discussions...lol
1 person likes this
@juls2me2 (2150)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Me too, I've been sitting here with all my tax receipts and paperwork and find myself doing laundry, answering mylot questions, and get this I even scrubbed a vent that had a little dust on it....all to subconsiously avoided doing the taxes. Arghhhh.... oh well, it'll get done when it gets done. lol
@momus8 (92)
•
23 Jan 07
That has happened to be alot of times recentlt, specially when I have to do my english coursework, i open the document, but then ending up watching tv playing a game or posting here or on Gamefaqs, even if i am bored out of my mind by doing everything elsei would not do my coursework, well thank god that's over
1 person likes this
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
Ha! Procrastination is my middle name.
Mind you, I always have more stuff to do than I have time to do it. So things like sewing and doing my taxes always fall to the bottom of the pile.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh, i have so many thing I try to get done in a days time nut there is never enough time in the day it seems. I get up in the morning and write myself a list that I want to accomplish and I do try to get as much done in a days time as I possibly can, but trying to eanr online, do laundry, bills, clean, cook, cut grass and everything else that needs done, i run out of time. I am so focussed on trying to earn from home to help support me andmy family, I run out of time and I choose to do what is most important for that given day and add on tomorrows list what i didnt get to do today. So I totally I understand where you are coming from. I think that we focus on what is most important to us to get done on that particular day. I have to force myself away from this computer and just go do it.
@geekwidow (88)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Yes, it happens to me all the time. I was diagnosed at an early age with ADD, and this seems to be one of the adult symptoms from what I have seen on the web so far. I don't take any medicine for it, I even avoided it in school when I was supposed to be taking it. I prefer to deal with the symptoms on my own. It is really hard at times, I go from one task to another without finishing any of them. Especially if it's something I don't want to do! Of coarse just because you procrastinate doesn't mean you have ADD, but that's the excuse I give myself when things don't get done!
1 person likes this
