Lockdown Stagnation

[Upside Down Eagle]

Hey people.

I´m assuming quite a few people are in the same boat as me.

Two weeks ago or so all social events, all bars, all education events etc closed. I just returned from being abroad and was looking into starting studying. However the information days, open days and such were all pushed to July (why...)

Meaning I have zero to do. I´ve always had a procrastination issue but it´s particularly bad now. I feel zero reason to do anything because I feel like there is no purpose to doing anything. Are any of you also dealing with the same issue, and if so, how do you get yourself to "Do Something"

Are there any tricks you think I can apply to myself.

Thanks!

 

[MrMoonlight]

It's hard to deal with all that we do, keeping a routine helps me but I keep getting thrown off for one reason or another. I'm just going to keep trying. If I stop I'll just start again.

Hope you find something that works. Maybe a little reward for yourself if you complete x y or z.?

 

[Mach123]

I for me am happy to have a legitimate excuse to be home. I love being home but I'm always slightly guilty about it.

I cook and clean for 5. I play the guitar. I have a goal. My daughter is autistic and somewhat of a musical savant. I have never played out. My daughter has been sort of pestering me in her way, to do a song with her at her day program.

It has to be pretty dead on for her to do it. She knows exactly how it has to sound and.ive watched her sing in public and she isn't shy but if her accompaniment is off she can't really sing because it makes her hesitate.

I'm going to see if I can practice with her and.get up to a level where we can do it for her group. I have to be really confident also or I won't be able to do it either . (I'm talking about playing for handicapped persons you'd think it wouldn't be that hard) She got excited when I told her mostly because I mentioned things starting.up again? She wants things back to normal.

So I am dumping myself into.my instrument as much as possible, I.was already doing that anyway. Whenever I play I.feel like I'm doing something good. I was a video gamer for awhile and I gave it up when I couldn't justify practicing a video game instead of an instrument.

 

[Ronin]

What did you always want to do if you could be left alone and in one place, if only you had the time? :sneaky:

Try *that*.

 

[Teasel]

I´ve always had a procrastination issue but it´s particularly bad now. I feel zero reason to do anything because I feel like there is no purpose to doing anything. Are any of you also dealing with the same issue, and if so, how do you get yourself to "Do Something"

Recently I tried out saying to myself to do just one tiny thing. It takes the pressure off - I tend to pressure myself a lot - and taking the pressure off by saying I'll just do one tiny thing was actually very effective.

Found myself fairly often continuing on after the one tiny thing. Often thinking ok what's the next one tiny thing I want to do and so on.

 

[MrMoonlight]

I really like that B. One small thing...

 

[Teasel]

Dropping anchor exercises found here are also great for getting you going again.

 

[whiteraven]

I am a horrible procrastinator. I am actually grateful to be home (except I have no money, so that will be a problem soon), but knew I would be fall into the same hole, just sitting here and doing nothing. So...I made a list. One thing every day. Now...my house is a wreck for a number of reasons, so there is stuff to do. But I'm also alternating with stuff like reading, writing, working on hobbies, etc...So far it's working, but the nearby state (where I do most of everything) just announced a shelter in place order. So...we'll see.

 

[hithere]

I suck at doing things I don't really want to do or "have" to do. I've always been like that. What helps me is ramping up my attitude on purpose. (when I actually do it) Once i get up and moving and doing it comes much easier. I must not "wait" until I feel like doing it, instead I must just start. Then I find it's easier once my body starts moving, and then I start working on my attitude. Attitude is everything. It's my responsibility to work on it. Putting on upbeat music helps get me going toI appreciate the topic

 

[Skywatcher]

Wake up the same time each morning, take a shower, get dressed and fix your hair. If you can go outside, do. Schedule a routine, even if it includes internet activities, crafts, foster a shelter animal or reading. Find something that interests you and create a plan. Eat on a routine. Go to bed on a routine. Weirdly, I find this stuff very helpful for myself.

 

[whiteraven]

I must not "wait" until I feel like doing it, instead I must just start.

But how do you get from being inert to getting up to change that?

 

[hithere]

But how do you get from being inert to getting up to change that?

Well, I know it sounds cliche, but the Nike commercial is correct. "Just Do It" It's what athletes at their highest level do. They don't enjoy practicing their sport every day until it hurts, it gets boring, they get depressed too. Still they head to the gym or the swimming pool, etc.

I was in a depression and couldn't get up and going. Then I learned I was waiting for the motivation, I was trying to get myself motivated. It was never going to come. But, putting one leg in front of the other, even though they felt like they had 60 pound weights on each leg, oddly after my body started to move and do the thing, like wash dishes, or take out trash, etc. it got easier and then a natural momentum came.

Also, there is a method (I forget the name of it) where you set a timer for 20 minutes, you tell yourself you will work on that project, read that book, write that paper, do that chore, whatever it is for the 20 minutes, then set the timer and start. I don't know why that works well but it does. There's a whole book and system about this method, but sorry I can't remember it.

I also will put music on really loud, like the song, "Downtown" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Cool Moe Dee, & Eric Nally. it's "explicit language" though, but this gets me going every time.