help me focus?

[Hopalong]

Hi anybody,
I am acting out obstinance, anxiety, stress overload, preferring-fantasy-over-reality, lack of focus, and general panic by avoiding working on a hugely important project that could really help my life a lot...and there is a huge deadline bearing down on me. (The more important it is the harder it is to focus.)

If anybody believes prayer, vibes, prayer, rites or rituals ("help her get it done" tossed in the air would be ample, wonderful, I truly mean it) can cross miles or even oceans...please send me some! I have a baby-step but uncertain trust in this sort of healing power, so  Ivolunteer to be a guinea pig.

Deadline Part 1 is Nov. 11; Deadline Part 2 is Dec. 21.

thankyouthankyouthankyou...

Hopalong

[Marta]

Hopalong, GO get that thing done. I am making hot tea for you and bringing some fresh croissants. Write down a game plan and prioritize. DONT let on your anziety to mom, she'll mince you, just believe in yourself. There is plenty of time still. Hugs, Marta

[stayhuman]

I've sent some vibes so I hope it helps

[David P]

You have a choice -get the job done on time or you come down here and help me fix my Toyota pickup in the heat..

David P in Tx.

[Hopalong]

I am slurping tea, snarfing croissants, and vacuuming up good vibes while typing in the back of a rusty pickup parked along some Texas road.

(Actually, I am writing about hemorrhoids, but I do have my dignity.)

Thank you all! I'll squeal for quick support again tomorrow!

Hugs,
Hopalate

[Plucky]

Greetings Hoppy, (I love typing that. Is it ok?)
As a major, professional grade procrastinator myself, I can say that you, if you are worth your salt as a procrastinator, can think of a million things you have to do this minute that won't delay you much and will actually help you, by relaxing you, letting you focus, etc.  This is all BS.

First decide that you are not going to do anything else but the project until the deadline.  Then, just simplify by breaking down the task into steps (don't take long doing this) and then breaking down the first step into something very manageable.  Then do that one little step.  Then keep going.

At some point, make an overall plan that actually fits the time you have left.  See that it is possible but not easy.

If you need more motivation, visualise yourself not finishing and how awful that will be.

Hope this helps.
Plucky

[Plucky]

Ps We love you up here, but this board can also be a form of procrastination.....
Somewhat Heretic
Plucky

[Healing&Hopeful]

Hiya Hoppy hon

Sending lots of good work vibes.  I know you'll do a good job and get it done within the deadline.... Go Hoppy

All the best

H&H xx

[Brigid]

Hoppy,
I can procrastinate with the best of them, so I understand your dilemma. 

Break the project down into manageable pieces and do one at a time and do not allow yourself to move on until each piece is finished (unless you have to for the nature of the work).

Sending prayers, hugs and good wishes that you find the energy.

Brigid

[Hopalong]

I just want to send a huge cloud of damp grateful clutchy hugs to everyone for their support.
Several people have wisely mentioned, ahem, that reading and posting here can be procratination too.
Oy. Y'all speak the truth, don't you?

 So I'm going to wean myself for now...will reappear later to hear all the news from all of you.

As I head toward Thanksgiving I want every one of you, visibile and in-, to know that discovering this forum is one thing I will be giving private, but powerful, thanks for.

I am stunned by how much love and help can come from stranger to stranger through this odd medium.
But more than stunned, I am so very grateful.

Love,
Hopalong

[highestgood]

My suggestion to you as a fomer professional deadline surfer ( I wrote for mags and newspapers for 10 years and suffered terrible problems focussing ) is to get someone to show you how to use EFT ( unless finding someone distracts you too much). Also there are various points on your body you can press and hold to help you calm down and focus ( if interested I'll respond)..... also I used to benefit from taking brisk walks to  get my body to  use the adrenal and start writing anywhere BUT my desk until I'd broken the impasse. If like me you suffer from disordered thinking and get lots of great phrases and ideas and just need to string them together give yourself the freedom to write the thing NO MATTER WHAT, not expecting it to come out in an ordered way. If you are ADDH you might find that you get your best thoughts or cohesiveness while doing something else .. driving, walking ,often being in motion in other words.. procrastinating.  You are probably really working on the thing down in the boilerrroom. If your problem is overloading on research ( god forbid you shouldn't read everything ever written about the subject) KNOW that that is often procrastination dressed up as perfectionism. Limit your research and trust what you have. You will get it done. AND MAKE SURE you don't deprive yourself of sleep and do crazy things like set the alarm for 3 am, 4. am, 5 am. Jumping jacks are also good plus amino acids.... another thing try chewing THEANINE gum from Solaray.. iI think it's a amino acid seratonin precursor but it' s calming and stimulating at once. GOOD LUCK ( are you really writing about haemmorhoids ?)

I could joke but I won't.

[mum]

Ok so Hoppy, you are not even reading this, right? you are writing in an uncomfortable sitting position about uncomfortable sitting, I hope.
EFT...good suggestion, highestgood....simpler (less web surfing for Hop) just a quickie: spend a  few moments getting clear, dropping out of your body and negative emotions associated with this "deadline" and FEEL and clearly picture what it will be like to have this done, well written, kudos and all....
"wishing and hoping" DOES get us what we want...oh yeah, but then we have to act on it. You will

KNOW that that is often procrastination dressed up as perfectionism

This explains everything for me and most procrastinators I know.

I think it was Nietsche (oooooh, I CANNOT spell) who talked about the creative process, and describes the "Apollinian dream state leading way to the Dionysian frenzy". Well, ok, that guy was nuts, but I get this particular thing because it makes perfect sense to me. As an artist (obviously not a writer!!) it does work that way for me.

SO, in conclusion (like I ever have one), Hopster, don't WORRY about it all. It will get done, you can envision that, right?
(ok, so if you are looking around online, look up futurevisioning.......don't buy anything, but the concepts are pretty easy to figure out!!! Like affirmations and any other positive energy trainings....focus on what you want....not the obstacles in the way.

[j_stice]

Hi Hopalong

I have a couple prayers for you that I have adapted to try and give you some strength I use it often:

1- G-d, you have graciously endowed me with wisdom and taught insight to a mere mortal. Please endow me gracefully from yourself with wisdom, insight and discernment. Blessed are thee, the granter of discernment.

2- G-d please heal us, so that we will be healed; save us from our woes - so that then we will be saved for you are praiseworthy. Bring complete recovery from all out ailmentz for you are G-d, King of the faithful and a compassionate healer.

I hope this helps with your second deadline!