Same problem here. Hope you get some good replies.. cause I could TOTALLY use them as well.
It's not just Ne-doms. I have the same problem >_<
+1
I know, right?
First of all, don't couch this in terms of MBTI or you're going to confuse yourself. The problem is that you lack structure and disciprine, so, make a schedule and fucking stick to it. Once you get the ball rolling on your personal projects, i.e., after a little perseverance, it won't seem like a chore to sustain. And if it does feel like a chore? Too bad. Study anyone who's accomplished anything important and you'll see that they always tout discipline and focus. You can't take shortcuts on that. You just have to stick with it and keep your priorities straight. If you need to cut out your addictions (internet, TV, porn, porn, porn) then do it.
Yep, you got that right. Great points, thanks!
Here's an old post of mine with lots of tips on handling procrastination:
http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45190&p=1513835&viewfull=1#post1513835
Other than that, I like to
keep a "mission statement" hanging in the kitchen.
It lists long-term objectives I want to work on or accomplish and keeps them in front of me. I try to look at it a couple times a day, just to
remind myself where I want to keep my focus. And if I don't make progress on some items, then I question whether I'm really serious about them and maybe take them off the list.
Also, OP said that you are good at working on a single priority but spin your wheels when you have a couple items of equal importance that you want to work on. So
prioritize them so that one is on top for a while, then change the priority the following week. Or use odd and even days for working on alternating priorities.
Ooh, great suggestions, thanks!
Maybe I will keep my list of priorities on the fridge with a mission statement.
And just f'n pick one priority for a period of time, then switch to the next when I feel the need for a change.
This is a human problem, there is no reason why we should be being productive when no production is occurring (i.e. when you are not getting paid).
Well, except that I do need to do these things for myself, even if no one pays me to do them. Unfortunately.
oh yeah me too. totally have this problem.
i keep lots of sticky notes and lists around. i use bright-colored, fun calendars. i make redundant calendars. i have 3 right now. i know i'm a very visual person so i keep lots of sight reminders around in general. and i am motivated by being able to use my organizational tools, like checking things off a list or coloring something in on my calendar(s). i'm not really sure why this is so satisfying to me but i'm grateful for it, because i would probably be a mess otherwise.
i'll make a list of the things i want to do for the day and then number them by priority. then i'll try to get them done. what i don't do, rolls over to the next day. usually i'll get a few things done and leave a few. sometimes there are things that keep rolling over and over. eventually they piss me off and i just do them to get them off my list.
i also try to do whatever i feel like doing that day... like have some kind of "theme" for the day. if i'm feeling super energetic, i'll drive across town and exercise twice and whatnot. that way the next day i can have a chill day and just hang around my room and get paperwork done, meet up with people, etc. and i'll try to make chores fun. blasting music and whipping around corners while i drive, making 112 gmail color labels for my email archives, treating myself to new things as i clean out the old ones. i also like to make big task changes - driving after emailing, grocery shopping after cleaning out the closet, etc. and i do dirty things first so i can shower and be happyclean for the rest of the day.
and i definitely give myself pure-freedom breaks, but only after my tasks are done. or if i have something scheduled that i can't miss. otherwise i just fuck around on the interwebs the whole day. also what tends to happen to me is either i'll have a really great day where i'm super productive and have fun, too, or am lazy and do nothing and feel shitty about it. so i try to remind myself of that dichotomy and aim for productive. because really the alternative isn't even that pleasing in the short-term anyway.
i like fineline's idea of a mission statement, too.
Ooooh, I like your strategies, these might work for me! Te pwns Ne when necessary, yet they work with each other and remain friends, yeah!
I suffer the same thing and still trying to find a cure. The only thing that really works for me in implementing real structure is having some kind of anchor for everything else to fall into place. Most days, that's work. When I have to work, I'll get up earlier, go to the gym, eat better, etc etc etc. But on a day off, I'll have a lot of plans and they'll never happen. It's a matter of putting yourself on smackdown and following through.
So true. I find I accomplish more if I have to get up for something in the morning, especially if that something has a non-flexible time commitment that I can't keep pushing back. It kind of ends up being my anchor, like you say.
When it comes down to several tasks of equal priority, just pick the closest, and forget the others.
That's what I usually end up doing, but then the others don't get done until the last minute, or at all.
The other problem I'm having is that I keep changing my mission statement because I'm trying to figure out what I want to do next with my life. So first I think I want to read this book, then I think NO I have to read this one first, then I think NO I have to read this other one first!! And then I think I have too many books to read, I need to think about how to prioritize it best, and hey, why don't I check TypologyCentral while I'm thinking about it/ (insert alternate fuck-the-day-away activity).
