What motivates you to follow a self-imposed schedule?

mkculs13
mkculs13 Posts: 681 Member
in Motivation and Support
I thrive with my work schedule and fall apart without it. I know I procrastinate to the point nothing gets done, because "there's always more time," until there isn't and it's too late and I'm mad at myself but still stuck with the consequences.

What do you do to motivate yourself to follow a self-imposed schedule all day, every day, if that is your situation? I wasn't like this when I was younger; it started about 5 years ago. I'm not depressed (have investigated that possibility more than once b/c this is a chronic issue for me lately, lack of motivation).

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Replies

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    I am not sure if any of this will help but:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10789216/tips-for-people-working-from-home-for-first-time/p1

  • mkculs13
    mkculs13 Posts: 681 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    I am not sure if any of this will help but:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10789216/tips-for-people-working-from-home-for-first-time/p1

    Thank you. I cannot work--basically for the next few weeks. The whole problem for me is NOT having work around which to center my day.

    I have come to dread retirement bc I know how, without work, I fall apart and just sit, read, scroll . . . ugh.

  • mandycat_florida
    mandycat_florida Posts: 60 Member
    "I have come to dread retirement bc I know how, without work, I fall apart and just sit, read, scroll . . . ugh."

    As a retiree of almost ten years, it is my sad duty to tell you that you really DO have to change up your mental outlook after leaving the work force. I've always been a compulsive list maker and that seems to have saved me from turning into one of those 600 pound people we read about being rescued by firefighters from her filth encrusted home. I made up a household binder with the following lists:

    Things to do every day
    Things to do every week, with tasks assigned to specific days of the week
    Things to do this particular week, which I fill in every Monday with one-off tasks
    Things to do this particular month, which I fill in at the first of the month with one-off tasks
    Things to be done several times a year (launder window treatments, feed indoor plants and so on) with tasks assigned to specific months.
    A work out schedule for six days of the week.

    Just to round out my OCD profile, I divided our home into six zones for deep cleaning and decluttering. I tackle one zone per month.

    Full disclosure: I don't complete every task exactly on schedule. But at least I know where I fell short and where I need to play catch-up.

    And here's another suggestion: While you have free time on our hands, this is an excellent time to create an emergency binder. There are lots of suggestions on Pinterest about what to include. Don't buy any of those fancy/expensive pre-printed doodads. A three ring binder, Word and Excel are all you need.
  • Debster634
    Debster634 Posts: 53 Member
    Mandycat_florida I am with you on this. I love your suggestions. I've been making lists since I was a teenager. If I don't, I feel that I am aimlessly wasting days and weeks. I'm not obsessive, but Sunday mornings I make my plan for the week - things that need to be done as well as social/fun things. Somedays I may not be able to do what I had planned, so I aim to accomplish those things within the week sometime. I allways have a daily and weekly plan.
    Some of us just need the structure. My husband doesn't understand why I hate camping, since he ljkes to sit around with no plan and I like to have an idea of what I'm going to do each day. Accomplishing things in my list makes me feel productive.

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