motivation

[ultramarineblue]

I have trouble motivating myself. I always wish I had done better in the end. I don't know why I put things off to the last minute, but I do. I love spending time reading about other people's experiences but I know that I need to wait to do that after I've cleaned and other things. It's so much easier when I'm doing it for someone else. However, I know that I need to learn to do it for me.

So the question is, how do you motivate yourself to get stuff done?

 

[Harmony_1985]

"The sooner its done, the sooner its out of the way and the sooner you can get to relaxing!"

 

[00Syd]

I have the same problem. I'd also be interested to hear people's tips for how to fix this.

 

[rida]

I gave up on trying to motivate myself to do things that I do not really care for, and ultimately will make no difference.

For the other stuff that HAS TO BE DONE ... it is a toss up between "making myself do it now so it is out of the way" and "there is always tomorrow" ...

And if there is no tomorrow (dead-lines and so forth), I found that the best way is to just get going and start doing it: out of the bed and start; no sitting in front of the computer, no sitting down for breakfast (cup of coffee on the go), just high gear from step one.

The problem I think is if you are not satisfied with the end result: if you really feel you could have done better and want to ...that should be your motivation.

I know ... easily said than done ...

 

[myinnerslut]

Master tells me i have to.

i know, its not a great solution for being self sufficient, but i suck at doing things ahead of time and can use all the help i can get sometimes.

 

[Arkhilokhus]

I feel your pain. I'm an arch-procrastinator myself. Supposedly it runs in my family, so at least I have a good excuse.

I think rida has the right of it, though. The main thing is to get started. Once I manage to overcome that inertia, I find things generally become easier to do. It's the first step that's always the hardest.

As to how to take that step, I suspect there's no real answer other than willpower. Having said that, though, I find it's easier if someone I respect is counting on me to do whatever it is. When I respect someone, the desire to please is a major motivation (while threats and cajoling generally just make me dig in my heels).

 

[unregistered]

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

I reward myself. A cup of tea, a few minutes with a book, time on the computer...if I get something worthwhile done, I get something special to relax with. Of course I know I could just do nothing and relax anyway, but somehow I've tricked myself and it works for me.

Also I'm on a diet and I have a tremendous sweet tooth, so sometimes I'll lure myself into doing what I should with some sugar-free treat.

 

[ZRT]

The surest method I have is to just flat out force myself to do it. My worst tendency in this regard is to get wrapped up in something more entertaining and play the 'in five minutes' game. So I say to hell with five minutes and just go after whatever I need to get done.

One thing that helps is staking something of value in doing something. Want to pick up a book? Get my work done.

It helps.

 

[myinnerslut]

i was so much of a procrastinator throughout my freshman and sophomore year of college that one of my friends created a superhero after me.

procrastimouse! saving the world.... tommorrow

 

[ultramarineblue]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I've tried checking things off a list - it works for a while and then I manage to find other ways to get around it.

I try rewards and stuff - see above.

I absolutely know I feel awesome and great when I get stuff done. Taking that first step is practically impossible for me at times. I think for me it is more a matter of interest in the challenge. Once I figure out how to do something, I don't have an interest in it any more. It's like that with my job/career. The one I'm at now is one that has kept my interest longer than anything I've ever done. That is only because it has been something I didn't get how to be good at right away. Now that I have it; I do not have as much interest in it. There are still things I love about it but I need a new challenge and that does not include more paperwork.

I know I do better when someone tells me to do it. A friend from the local group has been discussing this with me and he says that I have to learn to do these things for myself before I can choose to do it because someone else tells me. I haven't completely decided what I think about that yet.

I've always been the type to research (or ask others about their research) because other people will consider things I haven't considered. Those things always give me new perspective. Eventually I make my own mind up about stuff though. So if anyone has any thoughts on the statement that I haven't made my mind up on yet, they would be welcome.

 

[ultramarineblue]

i was so much of a procrastinator throughout my freshman and sophomore year of college that one of my friends created a superhero after me.

procrastimouse! saving the world.... tommorrow

I love that.

This made me think of how everyone teased me about skipping classes in college. I was horrible about that. They also wanted to know how long I would wait to start the big projects. If someone told me that it was definitely a project to start early, I would see how long I could wait and still finish it on time. One of those almost got me in trouble, but I barely managed to pull it off. I still have that project somewhere.

 

[YourCaptor]

I remind myself that lounging wont make me that powerful dude that other powerful dudes and dudets asume is in charge.

Springs me into action, and once I'm in action I'm golden.

 

[Dreamliner]

ultramarineblue

Do you have a Master?

 

[Dreamliner]

Being more on topic:

Most humans are not that self motivated. We will probably have some sceintist prove this in 100 years and it is integral to our DNA.

That motivation is wrapped up in your whole self worth. If there are some parts missing, or not as you would want, then you will procrastinate. Your main focus is on other matters.

Feel confident in yourself, you will get things done.

(yes, I have procrastinated myself. The outcome is not as I would like. Fortunately it does not happen often.)

 

[satindesire]

I used to be sooo bad at procrastinating. My last relationship really forced me to learn to stop being so damn lazy and just get shit done. I am constantly amazed at how much easier my life is when I make myself do the things I have to do...my house is cleaner, my cats are happier, my husband is calmer...it's a win win situation. The more I do now, the happier my family is.

Now I just tell myself "Just fucking do it Megan!" And I do it.

Like Yoda, there is no try. There is do, and do not.

 

[ultramarineblue]

ultramarineblue

Do you have a Master?

As in that is part of the reason why I have trouble with motivation?

Being more on topic:

Most humans are not that self motivated. We will probably have some sceintist prove this in 100 years and it is integral to our DNA.

That motivation is wrapped up in your whole self worth. If there are some parts missing, or not as you would want, then you will procrastinate. Your main focus is on other matters.

Feel confident in yourself, you will get things done.

(yes, I have procrastinated myself. The outcome is not as I would like. Fortunately it does not happen often.)

There are always going to be parts of me that I'm not completely happy with. I will always want to improve on what I am.

I used to be sooo bad at procrastinating. My last relationship really forced me to learn to stop being so damn lazy and just get shit done. I am constantly amazed at how much easier my life is when I make myself do the things I have to do...my house is cleaner, my cats are happier, my husband is calmer...it's a win win situation. The more I do now, the happier my family is.

Now I just tell myself "Just fucking do it Megan!" And I do it.

Like Yoda, there is no try. There is do, and do not.

I know that my life is easier when I get things done. I want to have a clean house and everything. I just want to do other things instead of the day to day maintenance.

I tell myself that too. It does work but not always.

That last Yoda statements is almost verbatim what someone else told me last night.

 

[satindesire]

I know that my life is easier when I get things done. I want to have a clean house and everything. I just want to do other things instead of the day to day maintenance.

I tell myself that too. It does work but not always.

That last Yoda statements is almost verbatim what someone else told me last night.

Here's the deal shortpants, the stuff isn't going to do itself!

We ALL want to do 'other things' than just day to day maintenance, but the day to day maintenance, when done day to day, doesn't take all day. Does that make sense? I hope so. I haven't slept all night, forgive me.

If I keep up on my house, doing a little bit every day, it doesn't take me longer than twenty minutes to do EVERYTHING, including laundry, dishes, cats, and trash.

If you can't take twenty minutes out to pick up, then your life is WAY too freaking busy and it's time to cut back on less important stuff. Believe you me, I want to run that 10-man Upper BlackRock Spire raid as much as the next holy-specced Priest, but sometimes my video game time has to get interrupted by scooping the cat box or making sure I'm running the dishwasher.

I'd love to sit and chill out in front of Food Network At Night and watch Alton Brown and his yeast sock puppets, but sometimes I have to turn the TV off and make sure I fold the socks and hang up his work slacks before he gets up in the morning.

I hope this doesn't strike you as harsh or insensitive because I truly don't mean it in that way at all, I merely want to speak the absolute bases of truths in this kind of situation...when you procrastinate or don't do something, you are CHOOSING to. There's almost no excuse for that, barring things like stuff we have no control over. You have free will, so exercise it, and just stop letting your jobs slide. Make a choice and don't let yourself fall back into the rut of procrastination, and when you do, make sure you tell yourself that you're ALLOWING your duties to go by the wayside. Remind yourself that you are procrastinating for no reason. You can get up and do that thing, but you are choosing not to. See how bad that sounds? That's what my ex taught me. When you are making yourself aware of your own choices, suddenly...your choices change.

Becoming self aware of your actions and what consequences they have will vastly improve your life in all kinds of unexpected ways. For example, I am eating WAY less processed foods, I've given up soda -entirely-, I've started taking better care of my teeth (no more lemons, flossing thrice daily!).

Anyway, that's basically the deal. Choose to take care of your business and don't allow yourself the luxury of procrastination. You can say "it's easier said than done" and you'd be right, because suddenly you are doing stuff you didn't before. *laughs* Don't worry sweetheart, I think pretty much everyone goes through periods like this where they don't want to motivate themselves. But in the end, you kinda have to.

Being a grown up sucks, huh?

 

[intothewoods]

I have a bunch of little tricks, mostly involving lists, but recently I've noticed that keeping busy helps me accomplish more. So if I just need to do one load of laundry, it probably won't get done, but if I have about 18 things to do then I can get in the zone and tackle it all.

 

[Homburg]

Believe you me, I want to run that 10-man Upper BlackRock Spire raid as much as the next holy-specced Priest,

It's hot when you talk Nerd.

 

[satindesire]

It's hot when you talk Nerd.

*dies laughing* I love you Hommie. Have babies with me.

 

[Homburg]

*dies laughing* I love you Hommie. Have babies with me.

My baby-making app was taking up too much processor time, so I uninstalled it. Most painful damned uninstall I've ever done too, sheesh.

I did keep the attendant apps and shared files though, so I retained most of the functionality.

 

[Netzach]

Here's what helps me, not that I've got this nailed by any stretch.

Flylady style without the insane systemics - do anything for ten minutes, five minutes, an hour, one minute.

Say "I will do this hateful deadline thing for three minutes only." The three minutes tend to expand.

And you can stop without the huge task being all the way done. No one dies. It's smaller when you jump in tomorrow.

 

[intothewoods]

*dies laughing* I love you Hommie. Have babies with me.

My baby-making app was taking up too much processor time, so I uninstalled it. Most painful damned uninstall I've ever done too, sheesh.

I did keep the attendant apps and shared files though, so I retained most of the functionality.

Ha haha to both of you. Satin, dahling, ONE baby at a time!

 

[satindesire]

My baby-making app was taking up too much processor time, so I uninstalled it. Most painful damned uninstall I've ever done too, sheesh.

I did keep the attendant apps and shared files though, so I retained most of the functionality.

At least it won't eat your bandwidth anymore. I heard that app is murder on the baud rate.

Ha haha to both of you. Satin, dahling, ONE baby at a time!

Aww, but do I have to!? *whine!*