Post by Amtram on Jun 24, 2014 11:15:08 GMT -5
Working with my psychologist on this. I'm carrying a small notebook with me at all times. (Also, a writing instrument to go with it!) The page size limits how long the list can be, and after I've crossed a couple of things off, I tear the page out and start a new one. That keeps me mindful of the things that still have to be done, as well as realistic about priorities. I'm still working on the whole motivation thing. Not having a schedule and hardly sleeping definitely have a negative impact on that.
The other thing he wants me to do fits in with that - trying to set a block of time every day to do something on the list. I told myself "I can do anything for an hour," and have set a kitchen timer to keep myself on track, but haven't quite made that a routine. Still, though, on days when my motivation is higher, I do cross several things off the list, timer or no. I notice that there are a few items that keep getting transferred from page to page without being done. . .mostly because they have more steps than just the task itself. Also because they're boring or I am not fully on board with being happy with the results.
Post-it notes and cell phone lists don't do it for me, because they're easy to ignore. I remember things better when I write them down, but if they "become part of the landscape," they don't work as reminders. Keeping up the notebook insures that my attention will be directed to the list every day. It's still a work in progress, but so far it's been working better than just winging it day by day.
The other thing he wants me to do fits in with that - trying to set a block of time every day to do something on the list. I told myself "I can do anything for an hour," and have set a kitchen timer to keep myself on track, but haven't quite made that a routine. Still, though, on days when my motivation is higher, I do cross several things off the list, timer or no. I notice that there are a few items that keep getting transferred from page to page without being done. . .mostly because they have more steps than just the task itself. Also because they're boring or I am not fully on board with being happy with the results.
Post-it notes and cell phone lists don't do it for me, because they're easy to ignore. I remember things better when I write them down, but if they "become part of the landscape," they don't work as reminders. Keeping up the notebook insures that my attention will be directed to the list every day. It's still a work in progress, but so far it's been working better than just winging it day by day.