As I write this, I KNOW that I have so much to do, and yet...I am having such a hard time focusing on them. Instead, I am "letting" myself get distracted with everything else. Argh!

I am with you on this one big, believe me! I had gotten out of the habit of listing tasks in my planner which I finally did this morning, oh boy, what a list. Guess I can just knock them off one at a time, after I'm done perusing the ADDFORUM that is! :) I really have to battle procrastination, medicated or not , it is so easy to slide into that mode.

So relate to the procrastination thing....it feels like an all or none type of struggle for me...either I'm procrastinating everything or doing things pretty much on target....right now having a rough time....sometimes I procrastinate taking my meds until the end of day...which is BAD...I can't do that....PLUS I'm supposed to be working on case study for school....and I find it so easy to carry it around in my book bag to everywhere I go with good intentions to work on it -- and then it doesn't get worked on....but it enjoys the visits to wherever I go...lol.....I'm travelling right now...and did bring it with me...I sure would like to get some of it done during this trip....I KNOW if I just take it out and commit to 5 minutes -- and get momentum going -- I will work on it...it's getting started that's tough for me....I guess I tell myself it's boring, I don't want to do it...it will be painfully dul...yuck...and so I don't DO anything....and true it's not the most exciting work in the world...but it must get done...so I'm sure I must break into parts into a schedule and get it done...piece by piece...yes..piece by piece...little at a time....

Joan

I used to think Procrastination was the professional version of crastination. I do it like its a career. I wander mentally, I say while Im here I might as well do THIS when Im supposed do be doing THAT, etc. So Ive been setting a timer and saying for such and such an amout of time I do this set job. Then I break and do something fun for such and such time etc. I have gotten so much done in three days.

Crissy,
What a fantastic idea! Both Joan and you could have been describing me, as work has gone on many a journey with me as no more than excess baggage. Slipping off task is the exact old habit I was referring to. I can see the timer defines a finite period to stay focused. I will try this imjmediately and tell you all the results. That is as soon as I get to the store to buy the timer, uh oh, the catch-22 ! :)

Crissy/Phil: Thanks for concrete sugggestions...I too am off to buy a timer....Joan

I agree, GREAT suggestions. But what happens when people dont respect your timed activities? When I work and people leave me alone, the timed approach can work very well...but when I'm interrupted or pulled away, the timer idea goes out the window.

I think, for me thats when the phone gets turned off ( I get really annoyed by the phone, and I can hear the machine so if its emergency I can get it). I literally have to do fifteen minutes spans because that is the time frame my youngest can handle waiting for me. She uses the timer also, for cleaning her room, or other things like disciplines. So she knows the holiness of the Timer in our house. I ahev also used the term "Kid Free Zone" which means the room is off limits to kids.I have two kinds, the digital one that can be both clock, stop watch, time down etc. And I have the traditional egg timer dial. I use the egg timer dial with her because she enjoys hearing the tick tick tick.The timer isnt always just for us. Husband has been getting very tolerant of my need to concentration and will wait for my timer to ding or for me to get up or look up from what Im doing and speak to him.We have had a few battles regarding this need and it is finally gettong across that this is NOT an insult to him but a need to me.

My newest job is taking all the paper we spoke about in The "ADDults" forum (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=448 ) and scanning it and burning to disk. I am so proud of myself, I spent last night scanning, burning, making cd folders to have in my file cabinet instead of the cd holder. (Simple plastic envelopes the length of folders, layers in four levels ,stapled down the center and taped to the folder insides.)I have done half my filing cabinet, tranfered them to disk and even put the disks away.

**Sob** Im so proud

http://greenespot.com/cdfile.bmp

<Stands up and applauds> You GO girl :) Now THAT is what I call a creative approach to a paper management problem! I like the idea of the egg timer and bell, though knowing me I'll probably have some Pavlovian response to the bell and start looking for food :D...lol Thanks for all the ideas, Crissy

wow crissy, you should be proud thats a fantastic accomplishment! Catching up on this thread reminded me taht i blew of getting the timer today :mad: I was even standing in CVS picking up my adderall knowing that i needed to get two other things, a large ice gel pack for my shoulder and one other mystery item.. grrrrrrrr the mystery item was the timer, lol. Thanks again for the great suggestion, this forum is incredible.

ok im a BIG procrastinater, unfortunately. hay.....i wonder if this links to add/ad/hd. anyways i always put things of to the very last day! not much to say here because i forget every time that i have procrastinated!

Hi all! :) New here but I wanted to say GREAT forum, neat HTML design (my hobby and love) but most of all, you can find software on the web that can act as a timer.

Triggering the "uh-oh, it's noon already", or "YES! it's noon" can be done by downloading a clock that stays on top of all the windows. :)

http://www.softshape.com/cham/

it's pretty cool and that WITH a watch would help anyone.

Awesome idea for me. Im not one to ignore alarms so it would work well for me. Thanks

i just use my alarm clock...it helps too when im doing laundry...i dont forget ive got a load in the washer.

That's an awesome idea...Thanks! (and welcome to the ADD Forums :) )

Originally posted by SonnetCelestial
Hi all! :) New here but I wanted to say GREAT forum, neat HTML design (my hobby and love) but most of all, you can find software on the web that can act as a timer.

Triggering the "uh-oh, it's noon already", or "YES! it's noon" can be done by downloading a clock that stays on top of all the windows. :)

http://www.softshape.com/cham/

it's pretty cool and that WITH a watch would help anyone.

Crissy, you know,
you are the cat's *****

btw, i'm familiar with the "while i'm here i'll do this, while i'm doing that".

i'm a two birds with one stone kind of a girl
so when i'm in one "room" doing one task, i think "may as well get this done too".
and then i forget what it was i was originally doing,
however, after an hour and a half of this constant activity the entire house is clean.

Hmmm...procrastination....it drives me nuts..lol I am one of those list writers but sticking to it..well now that's another story..lmbo

Here's procrastination in it's full force. I just finished my taxes..and the bad thing is, I use Turbo Tax..lmbo..

I always seem to put things off I hate doing. Even though I know if I get it done it will be out of my hair.

House work is another thing, I have more help making it messy than I do keeping it clean, and it doesn't matter how much I rant and rave, things never change.

I cant beleive this BUT:
I didnt do my taxes (holds her head in shame and anguish) I mean wtf. I would blame it on my ad/hd but my freaking OCD never allowed me to get passed January without filing. What has happened to me !?

I'm heading to the caoching forum woth this one
AND andrea thanks honey, i didnt see your post and you're cooler that cat s**t too :D

The only time I ever get anything done is when I'm supposed to be doing something else!

Procrastination is my #1 ADD problem..........I think it is a paralysis type of thing.....then comes the deadline and all the adrenaline of having to get it done. I think we crave the adrenaline rush?

I am a recently diagnosed adult and have been taking Strattera for almost a year with some good results.

Just added Wellbutrin though to try to get better focus and ability to get over PROCRASTINATION. I can relate to the doing taxes story but that's for another time.

I have not got my taxes done but there is hope. At least I think there is hope. I too would count this as the thing that causes me the most grief. Procrastination.

I bet I'm through a dozen long standing undone tasks over the past five weeks that I thought would never see the light of day. Keeping my food intake restricted to slower burning fuels has helped give me more energy. Last week was a good one. This one is shaping up to be the same.

Keep us posted on your progress please.

Eating the bad bananas first. Ian

Well I have not yet done by taxes but I am finding myself accomplishing things that had been elusive. For example I actually filled the trash can in my office yesterday by going through a few stacks and pitching the stuff i hadn't looked at or needed in a year.

I also knocked out a couple of things at home that had been on my list for weeks (ok months I admit it!). Little stuff but that's kind of the point isn't it? Even little things get put off when it would be so easy to just do it.

As far as the medication goes, today marks the 1st full week on Wellbutrin XL in addition to the Strattera.........side effects have pretty much gone away and I am feeling more energy and a more positive mood which is definitely connected to the getting things done and overcoming procrastination.

Joan,

I usually put things off until the last possible minute and not work up to par, because of it. It's so easy for me to get discouraged and just drop a project or procrastinate.

However, when I decide that there is something I HAVE to do, I do it; and I do it very well. I have done amazing things when I get into this mode.

Like you, I either procrastinate with everything, or get everything done.

Also, I need fast results...if I don't see anything happening or it's really slow, that's when I get discouraged. Bleah.

Cyndi

So relate to the procrastination thing....it feels like an all or none type of struggle for me...either I'm procrastinating everything or doing things pretty much on target....right now having a rough time....

Joan

However, when I decide that there is something I HAVE to do, I do it; and I do it very well. I have done amazing things when I get into this mode.

I either procrastinate with everything, or get everything done.

Also, I need fast results...if I don't see anything happening or it's really slow, that's when I get discouraged.
yes!
:D
i think this is *one* of the reasons i get *so* frustrated with people who say "no" before they've even *thought* about what i'm suggesting (where i've mostly experienced this is the local kennel club, where i'm the secretary. i have like a *gazillion* ideas about how to get people/the other club members involved in club activities - for some strange reason, people seem to think they're "finished" with the kennel club once they've been to the "puppy training class" that we offer...) - *why* is *everything* so *impossible* to most people?
:(
where are the dreamers? where are the visonaries? where are the *what if-ers"?
(you know where and who we are)
:D :cool:

I am a timer person also which reminds me.. Where is my timer? I have been very very bad lately.