stop procrastinating

How does you measure progress with this goal? This is one of the biggest dilemnas with this goal. I will always have things to do and timelines and deliverables both at work and at home so having nothing left to do (God, what a dreadful thought!) is obviously not the answer. So then how do I track whether the steps I am taking to address this are really working or do I need to make changes? I KNOW when I am procrastinating but there seems to be no way to make it more tangible for me to do a course correction or identify when it is happening or why. I am hoping someone out there has an answer. :-)

Making daily lists and keeping them in the open has had an impact. It helps to see what needs to be done and seeing things being delayed for days makes me realize that I am putting off something important, something that needs to be done and how many days I have been doing it. That, by itself, goads me into doing something about it without further delay.

I am not where I want to be with this goal, obviously but I feel I have made a good start in 2009. Now to sustain the momentum…

A very happy, prosperous and productive New Year to all!!! :-)

I started the new year by accomplishing one goal – listing 100 things which make me happy! Makes me feel good to have completed something on the first day of the new year.

One of the things I hope to finish today is take stock of the goals listed to see if any changes need to be made.

Things to do today after work

1. Finish putting up the Christmas tree
2. Buy last minute gifts for Z
3. Fix the towel rack in master bathroom
4. Pick up photos from Walgreens
5. Deposit cheque
6. Write a letter to K
7. Call or e-mail S
8. E-mail B
9. Reply to J’s e-mail
10. Hang up the mirror in Z’s room
11. Pay NG
12. Move printer desk and printer downstairs
13. Get the remaining books into the new bookcases
14. Pay painters

In an attempt to focus on the positive, I am going to list what I have completed in the last 48 hours (since Sunday morning) even if it is to prove to myself that it is a matter of time and not necessarily procrastination that I never seem to get my to-do list completed. :-)

1. Wrote thank you cards for those who came to our party and brought gifts. Addressed, stamped and mailed the cards
2. Sent Christmas/New Year cards to my team at work
3. Checked all my finances and paid the bills
4. Assembled DD’s bed, set it up with mattress, bed linen, etc.
5. Assembled DD’s storage system, book case and desk
6. Assembled my new desk and 5 new book cases
7. Cleaned the bathrooms and washed the mats/rugs, replaced them in the bathroom
8. Packed and mailed stuff people wanted (decluttering goal)
9. Mailed books to PBS buddied
10. Printed photos from the last two parties and put them in albums. Mailed extra copies to some of the guests
11. Organized 12 photo albums online, aprox 500 pics (organize photos goal)
12. Moved books into two of the 5 new book cases
13. Watched a movie (Eastern Promises) and an Inspector Morse episode (The Wolvercote Tongue)
14. Read two books (Lovely in her Bones and Mortal Memory). Started a third – The Coroner’s Lunch
15. Worked yesterday ~10 hours

:-D I do feel better!

I just looked back at my entries under this goal and I cringed at how long I have been putting off my passport renewal. Of course, I also have it as a separate goal and it has been on my list since July. UGH!!!!

I guess in my defense, all I can say is that the application is somewhere in the pile of papers that I threw into one of those huge plastic bags where I hide all my clutter. :( I did clear out one bag. Maybe it would be easier to just create another application online and be done with it instead of wasting time searching for the old one.

1. Sort papers in orange bags (Day 11) – Bag #1 done. Bag #2
2. Mail passport application (Day 11) – Found the check. Have photos. Need the application (somewhere in the above pile) and copies of all relevant documents.
3. Write Thank you notes
4. Mail pics

Things to do this week

1. Assemble Desk
2. Organize drawers and file drawer – In PROGRESS
3. Assemble DD’s bed and desk – BED ALMOST DONE (ARRGGHH.. why don’t they include the right hardware when you order furniture)
4. Change bed linens
5. Laundry
6. Put away washed clothes
7. Space saver for guest bathroom
8. Cleanup family room
9. Clean bathrooms
10. Fix window in guest bathroom
11. Vacuum the house
12. Watch Quantum of Solace (again)
13. Watch The Mummy 3 – Tomb of the dragon Emperor – Netflix (rules!!!)
14. Get art and photo frames hung around the house
15. Decide what to do about the magazine back issues and then do it

To do today

1. Sort papers in orange bags (Day 7) – Bag #1 done. Bag #2 – STARTED
2. Mail passport application (Day 7) – Found the check. Have photos. Need the application (somewhere in the above pile) and copies of all relevant documents.
3. Go to the PO

For DD’s party today

1. Order cake
2. Fix pants
3. Wash her hair
4. Get my hair done
5. Pick up cake, candles, decorations
6. Decorate
7. Party!!!!

To do this weekend

1. Laundry
2. Put away washed clothes – IN PROGRESS
3. Space saver for bathroom
4. Go to IKEA
5. Make a list of what I want to buy before I go to IKEA
6. Cleanup family room
7. Put unnecessary items on craigslist or eBay
8. Clean bathrooms
9. Fix window in guest bathroom
10. Vacuum the house
11. Iron curtains from DD’s room and hang them up

To do next week

1. Lunch with A – MONDAY
2. Watch The Day The Earth Stood Still – TUESDAY!!!
3. Change bed linens- THURSDAY
4. Wash bedlinens and towels – THURSDAY
5. Watch Quantum of Solace (again)
6. Watch The Mummy 3 – Tomb of the dragon Emperor – Netflix (rules!!!)

To do this month

1. Get 2007 and 2008 photos printed and organized in albums – DD’s party pics printed and organized in album
2. Get art and photo frames hung around the house
3. Design DB for organizing digital music collection – STARTED
4. Decide what to do about the magazine back issues and then do it
5. Select additional photos to be framed and hang them up

To do today

1. Sort papers in orange bags (Day 5) – Bag #1 done. Bag #2 left
2. Mail passport application (Day 5) – Found the check. Need the application
3. Mail checks for property tax(Day 4)
4. PTA meeting

To do this week

1. Watch Quantum of Solace (again), The Mummy 3, Mamma Mia

To do this month

1. Get 2007 and 2008 photos printed and organized in albums
2. Get art and photo frames hung around the house
3. Design DB for organizing digital music collection
4. Decide what to do about the magazine back issues and then do it

To do today

1. Finish last training course
2. Sort papers in orange bags – IN PROGRESS (Day 4)
3. Mail passport application (Day 4)
4. Mail checks for property tax – 50% done (Day 4)
5. Clean-up family room
6. Notecards for DD’s presentation

To do this week

1. Watch Quantum of Solace (again)
2. PTA meeting