I realize I have a lot of free time to do things but my effort isn't always there.
I am a creative person but I spend more time thinking and studying self improvement
rather than school work, editing (job), etc. I am a senior in college so maybe that has
something to do with it. I got scared this morning thinking back on how my effort wasn't
always there. I've put out some decent stuff. But I know I can be better.
I think part of the problem is setting MITs too broad instead of specific tasks within editing,
animation, or another assignment. Another problem is not knowing the technicalities of equipment,
and thus resulting in fear. Maybe I'm just overwhelming myself. Cos I can really shine.
I know it. I'd love to hear your thoughts...
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One of the most important things you can do is decide the night before what are the just 2-3 most important tasks for the day, and do them in the morning (before 11am). it will have an amazing effect. Whereas if you start your day with email or forum, you'll feel unproductive the rest of the day.
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The major problem with 'To Do' lists, even prioritized ones with MITs, is that they don't go far enough into helping you get things done. When you write something on your 'To Do' list, you create an objective to fulfill. Then, when you set out to do it, you generally find that you cannot complete it easily. You probably have some problem solving to do, some preparation work to do, some resources to put together. This means that you cannot instantly fulfill the task.
Unfortunately, humans are mostly driven by instant gratification, so if you cannot complete the task in the moment of desiring to do it, or to have the result, then that feels disappointing or frustrating. Disappointment and frustration are minor negative emotions and they are a little bit painful. We don't like pain so instead, our minds search for something easier to do that is pleasurable and capable of instant fulfillment.
The essence of defeating procrastination is make whatever you want to do possible and easy in the moment of desiring to do it. A 'To Do' list and MITs just don't do that for you. They set up objectives that you cannot easily complete. The answer is to think about the process required to fulfill a task on the 'To Do' list. I use what I call a 'How To Do' list (HTD list). With this, I think about, create and write down the things that I have to do to complete the whole task. I create a further series of 'To Do' items, but each item should be easy to do. I then consider what I think are the most difficult things to do. Anything that seems 'impossible to do in the moment of wanting to do it' will bring me to a juddering stop. By searching for these things in advance, I can figure out how to solve the problem and get beyond it.
Creating an HTD list does require extra preparation, but it takes you through a thought process that you actually have to go through anyway, if you are to ever finish a difficult task on your list. By doing it in advance and identifying and preparing for difficulties, it means that when you actually do the task the work flows much, much easier.
I have an article on my blog that describes this further:
http://www.nickpagan.com/blog/35/how-to-do-list/
For fun, you can check out my procrastination analyzer and see what causes you to procrastinate!
http://www.nickpagan.com/procrastinationanalyzer.html
Take care,
Nick
Unfortunately, humans are mostly driven by instant gratification, so if you cannot complete the task in the moment of desiring to do it, or to have the result, then that feels disappointing or frustrating. Disappointment and frustration are minor negative emotions and they are a little bit painful. We don't like pain so instead, our minds search for something easier to do that is pleasurable and capable of instant fulfillment.
The essence of defeating procrastination is make whatever you want to do possible and easy in the moment of desiring to do it. A 'To Do' list and MITs just don't do that for you. They set up objectives that you cannot easily complete. The answer is to think about the process required to fulfill a task on the 'To Do' list. I use what I call a 'How To Do' list (HTD list). With this, I think about, create and write down the things that I have to do to complete the whole task. I create a further series of 'To Do' items, but each item should be easy to do. I then consider what I think are the most difficult things to do. Anything that seems 'impossible to do in the moment of wanting to do it' will bring me to a juddering stop. By searching for these things in advance, I can figure out how to solve the problem and get beyond it.
Creating an HTD list does require extra preparation, but it takes you through a thought process that you actually have to go through anyway, if you are to ever finish a difficult task on your list. By doing it in advance and identifying and preparing for difficulties, it means that when you actually do the task the work flows much, much easier.
I have an article on my blog that describes this further:
http://www.nickpagan.com/blog/35/how-to-do-list/
For fun, you can check out my procrastination analyzer and see what causes you to procrastinate!
http://www.nickpagan.com/procrastinationanalyzer.html
Take care,
Nick
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