I have a problem. It's not exactly a new one, but this is the first place I've been a member where I've felt talking about it would do any good.
For some reason, when I'm on the road for whatever reason (generally vacations), I turn into a productivity monster. I read all kinds of books, make all kinds of lists, charts, and plans, and generally come up with a design to conquer the world. I come up with lists of actions I need to take when I get back home, where my "office" is; the current list includes drafting a fitness and healthy eating plan, getting the place organized, working out a sound financial plan, selling the superfluous crap I have in storage... all of this to get me prepared for the next actual goals I have, like getting into shape, simplifying my stuff, getting out of debt, and that sort of thing. Also on my "near-future projects" list is starting a blog, learning Japanese, getting to work on the novel I've had in my head for so long, working on an interior design degree... way too much stuff to be practical, really.
My problem is that when I get home all the drive and focus drains right out of me. I'm great at making plans, and even on getting started with them while I'm away, but something about being "home" sucks the life out of me. Suddenly I want to watch movies, I want to read novels, I want to chat with friends on the Internet, I want to play video games; and so on. The thing is, I can just as easily do all those things "on the road" - I have a case of DVDs, I always bring five to ten books with me on vacation (depending on how long I'll be staying), I always have my laptop with me and Wifi is more or less ubiquitous, I can bring my Playstation with me in a carrying case if I don't need a second carry-on. I don't know why it is that when I'm home I can't seem to summon the drive to actually do anything productive. For a while I thought it was because I lived alone, and having someone else with me would spur me not to be so lazy, but then I got a roommate and the only thing that changed was that we did frivolous things together.
I'm seriously at a loss here. I have everything I need here to be productive: an elegant little office setup with a nice computer, a decent filing system, a set of "boxes" as described in Getting Things Done. I have a drawing board set up with all the tools I need to make art. There's a pretty nice gym in my building. I have a kitchen for healthy cooking. And unlike on vacation I know where everything is. So what is it about being at home that makes me not want to do anything but read blogs and webcomics, and watch movies and TV shows and anime? It's not just this apartment, either; this happens to any place I consider "home". My mother's house when I was in high school, a succession of dorm rooms, the house I shared before I moved in here... if someplace is home I can't seem to make myself be productive there, and even when I'm on vacation most of what I do is make plans about how I'm going to be so on the ball when I get back. Yeah, planning isn't doing, but it's a step up from not planning at all.
Has anyone else experienced this? More importantly, whether you've experienced it yourself or not, can anyone think of a way to get around it? Do I need motivational posters? Self-help books? A butler? What do you do to be productive at home?
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For the time being, I think you should consider cutting your losses and accepting that you won't be in your most productive state when you're at home. When I'm at school, I'm almost in the same situation as you. Therefore, when I have some serious work I need to get done or I really want to ramp up my productivity, I'll go to the library, a coffee shop, outside...basically anywhere except my apartment. Physically going someplace else to be productive is a cue for your brain to focus and it sounds like that is lacking when you're at home.
Also, maybe once you've spent some time being productive elsewhere you can start increasing your productivity at home little by little. Instead of tackling the biggest or most daunting tasks while you're at home (save that for the library or wherever you decide to go to focus) you could consider tackling some of the smaller or more concrete tasks that are on your list. Once you have that momentum going, it'll be easier to carry it on to something bigger.
Also, maybe once you've spent some time being productive elsewhere you can start increasing your productivity at home little by little. Instead of tackling the biggest or most daunting tasks while you're at home (save that for the library or wherever you decide to go to focus) you could consider tackling some of the smaller or more concrete tasks that are on your list. Once you have that momentum going, it'll be easier to carry it on to something bigger.
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I have the same problem. At first I thought it was my families' fault: they're very messy. Then I attempted the "feng shui" approach, rearranged the furniture, baking soda, etc. I had a psychic in hoping he'd tell me there were lost souls from the underground tunnel system in the back yard. The park behind me used to be a psychiatric hospital. You know what the problem is? ME!
I'm an escapist. I love travelling because of the perspective it gives me. I can think, write, read and talk to my heart's content. Same think with being a student. When I'm taking a course, I can totally focus on that project, assignment, book, and I'm organized! Now please don't read this wrong. Learning and travel are both high on my list of self-growth. But here's what I've discovered about myself: The two hardest things for me to do are:
1. Get Started
2. Break it down into small parts
Attack one little thing at a time, and forget about how much is ahead of you. If you're like me, by the time I've documented everything I need to do, I need to have a nap. And I did learn when I was a full-time student, when I would go into panic mode imagining myself not meeting a deadline, that to ask myself "what's the worse that can happen" was an excellent reality check.
I struggle with depression, and also find that some of my demons want me to fail! They don't think I'm good enough. Just recognizing that you need a strategy is an amazing first step. You can do it!
I'm an escapist. I love travelling because of the perspective it gives me. I can think, write, read and talk to my heart's content. Same think with being a student. When I'm taking a course, I can totally focus on that project, assignment, book, and I'm organized! Now please don't read this wrong. Learning and travel are both high on my list of self-growth. But here's what I've discovered about myself: The two hardest things for me to do are:
1. Get Started
2. Break it down into small parts
Attack one little thing at a time, and forget about how much is ahead of you. If you're like me, by the time I've documented everything I need to do, I need to have a nap. And I did learn when I was a full-time student, when I would go into panic mode imagining myself not meeting a deadline, that to ask myself "what's the worse that can happen" was an excellent reality check.
I struggle with depression, and also find that some of my demons want me to fail! They don't think I'm good enough. Just recognizing that you need a strategy is an amazing first step. You can do it!
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jocelain: I'm an escapist too. I did have a hard time focusing on stuff when I was a student, but it wasn't so much for lack of interest as for a surfeit of interest. I'd read about some psych study or literary theory or whatever the current topic of the course was, and I'd neglect the work I was actually supposed to be doing in favor of intensely researching a complete tangent.
And my list of the hardest things to do is almost the same as yours, but I'd add a third to mine: seeing things through to completion. I get distracted by other interesting (or shiny) things way too easily. And I also struggle with depression. Thanks for the words of encouragement. :D
And my list of the hardest things to do is almost the same as yours, but I'd add a third to mine: seeing things through to completion. I get distracted by other interesting (or shiny) things way too easily. And I also struggle with depression. Thanks for the words of encouragement. :D
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Amazing! As I was making my list (1. and 2.....I love making lists), I realized there was a big empty 3rd item missing! Following through with what I start! In fact I got further distracted and responded to another post in 'living the simple life' from "new around here", and mentioned exactly that! Thanks for the reminder!
Another point that drummingpariah made is how he schedules in outdoor time. For me it is hugely healing, and since I've actually managed to do not much else than talk to you guys today, I think I'll take the dogs for a walk right now! Let's talk later. I've enjoyed your other posts too.
Another point that drummingpariah made is how he schedules in outdoor time. For me it is hugely healing, and since I've actually managed to do not much else than talk to you guys today, I think I'll take the dogs for a walk right now! Let's talk later. I've enjoyed your other posts too.
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Maybe specifically allow yourself time when you are home to read, play games, chat etc - actually schedule time for it, because obviously it's important to you! And pick just one of the brilliant new ideas to work on, rather than thinking about trying all your new great plans at once, because that is way too overwhelming. I frequently overwhelm myself that way :-)
And maybe you need to set up your environment at home more to inspire yourself more while you're there - sure, maybe you do need a motivational image of some kind, or a mantra pinned up on a wall somewhere to re-focus yourself. Or a prominent, easy-to-sort place to store and flick through all your great ideas/lists when you aren't feeling motivated.
I know how hard it can be to get things done at home, though - I'm not sure I could ever work at home, at least, not the way I am now.
And maybe you need to set up your environment at home more to inspire yourself more while you're there - sure, maybe you do need a motivational image of some kind, or a mantra pinned up on a wall somewhere to re-focus yourself. Or a prominent, easy-to-sort place to store and flick through all your great ideas/lists when you aren't feeling motivated.
I know how hard it can be to get things done at home, though - I'm not sure I could ever work at home, at least, not the way I am now.
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