be more productive

So I’m running my own little business. Without getting into the boring specifics it’s alot of analysis and report writing for different people. The business isn’t a long term venture, just something to tide me over for now until I can get into something I really want to do for the longer term.

But anyway, I’ve found that I can sit down to do some work, and before I know it I’ve wasted the bones of a day browsing the web. And then I get the associated guilt in the evening and at weekends. So basically I firstly intend to get a handle on this browsing thing and then see about chopping out other sources of procrastination. Unfortunately I need the net for my work, which makes browsing around stupid sites all the more tempting. Any tips on kicking that browsing habit would be a godsend!

I think most people would agree that writing down one’s goals helps. However, I found that some lists work better than others, and different goals might need different lists.

I’ve found it helpful to write down short-term goals on paper, so I can have it with me until it’s done. This works well for things like homework, shopping lists, and a list of daily things to do that I might otherwise forget.

For long-term goals, paper is not that great. Loose sheets get lost all the time; I’ve tried using a planner, but I keep forgetting to check it. The only thing that I’ve found helpful for remembering and accomplishing long-term goals is 43things. This site has worked very well for me :)

The goals I post here can’t get lost, and it’s hard to forget about them. I check my email almost every day, so while I’m online I might as well log in here, see what I need to work on, and update my progress.

Now I haven’t been online for some time, and I haven’t done much about my goals during that time, but now I’m back and determined to make up for lost time.

distractions and lazy thinking is what holds me back. like the internet: you know how easy it is to kill a bunch of time by checking emails 10 times a day and getting on facebook?! my goal is to cut this shit down to about twice a day, morning & night.
i watched these extra features on a dvd today about how they made the tv show. they were talking about how the creator of the show knew exactly what he wanted and put together a team to make the script come alive. what excited me about this is that life is much like that. you have this little story in your head for yourself who you consider the main actor, and yet you are also the team who makes sure all the props are correct and the wardrobe is right…
except we forget about our own little movie and we get wrapped up in someone elses… or worst, we abandon ours through some form of escape, like watching dvds…
my goal is to keep the awareness in front of me and take full responsibility of my choices.

ive been working extra hard! and i feel that i’m reaching my goal of being more productive.

I’m trying the GTD method again. I hope I can stick with it this time.

I had a dream that a McDonald’s employee was giving me a lesson in discipline.. how to live a more disciplined life. Maybe my subconscious mind is trying to tell me something.

My friend came over and helped me plant seeds, today. I think I need more people with lots of energy to motivate me.

I’ve been known to waste almost entire days playing solitaire/spider solitaire/hearts, etc, when I have a midterm or final the next day.

I really should be studying for my midterms right now but instead I’m writing entries about being more productive… I guess this is more productive than solitaire…

Want to do this in all aspect of my life including work and social life.

Shall start by being really productive with my job-hunting and make a list of all job applications and their status. Then complete all online tests all applications today!!!

A while ago I used the Personal Challange on one of my goals, and the consequence was a very good motivator, so I tried adding consequences to other things. (I decided to eat a stick of celery for every meal missed. My hatred of celery is indescribable, and I haven’t missed a meal since then.) But after a while I realized that just the thought of getting an ex instead of a checkmark on my checklist provided enough motivation to make me do what I said I would do, so physical consequences (like the Dreaded Celery) are not necessary.