Tricks To Getting Things Done?

[kstg]

I am not getting my job done, and that is crisis, since I run my own company. I tried everything. Forcing myself, having a friend sit hold my hand while I work (haha) and eating more food, drinking more coffee and smoking like a chimney. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time…. Nothing works. I just end up distracting myself or walk around restlessly, waiting for tomorrow.

Do any of you have better tricks to help you get things done? Anything from washing clothes to making food to getting work done (paying taxes, paying wages, making reports…) seems impossible these days. I'd appreciate any stories, ideas or advices that can help me cope.

 

[NovemberStar]

Wish I had the answer - I don't - I struggle with it too. But I wanted to let you now you are not alone in this!

for me, I am able to do work things (am self employed so I have to do the work or it all falls apart, and I'm a health professional on call, so if something comes up that is urgent I have no choice but to DO it.

However - I struggle to do anything around the house. I have had a pile of dirty dishes on my bench for 4 weeks and counting. Might be up to 5 weeks no. Last week I did manage to rinse them (starting to smell - :-0 ), but just cannot 'do' them. My washing goes form me, to wishing machine, to hanger, to the floor, back to me. never fold it , never put it away. I have not vacuumed for a couple of months. I haven't walked the poor dogs for days. I don't even open the curtain in some rooms. I don't open the mail. I don't do taxes, pay bills until the very very last moment.

(setting up direct debits helps with that though! Maybe you could have some bills set up so the money just goes straight out of your account every month?)

What I think it is all about is - it's about validating what I'm gong through in a funny kind of way. In my work role, I need to 'be ok and keep functioning, and appear to have it all together' - but when I'm at him,e its like the part of me that is suffering, hurting, and struggling with PTSD, needs an outlet of sorts - so that my house is in such a mess, in some ways validates that part.

At the end of the day - what is the worst thing that 'could' happen? If my dishes don't get done, and say they start to grow mould - i can always throw them out, get paper plates. clothes not being folded away - who cares? Luckily, I live alone, so if I am ok with the mess, no one else is worried either. Are, I'd LIKE to live in a tidy house, but in some ways, it provides comfort having it messy, cos its my mess. It .. feels safe.

Could you hire someone to help out, doing paperwork? even a couple hours a day or a week?

 

[kstg]

Oh, you sound so much like me, wow. Thank you for posting that! I was ashamed to tell that much, but my reality is the same as yours. I, too, function and smile and do my job as long as it is immediate and I have to be present, in a meeting, for example, but follow up work, like reports and anything at home… ouf… shame. And taxes… that I what I should be doing now. I have hired people, but I still have to prepare the papers for them (find receipts, e-mails, log driving, etc) for them to do their work. And even that is too hard. I just need to do things and NOW, or everything will fall apart. I'm already overdue with these taxes, and had a "we will close your company for business" threat letter last week, and still I am not managing. I have sat in front of the computer for 5 days waiting for inspiration to strike, but nothing. I can't afford losing all I built, but it seems I'm not able to cope. I need to find a way… :-/

 

[The Albatross]

Turning tasks into challenges or doing them as "mindfulness" exercises helps to get me started, then I start small for "time" and make a choice to re-evaluate every 10-15 minutes after the goal is met - then repeating until it becomes habitual (the initiation of activities).

 

[kstg]

Turning tasks into challenges or doing them as "mindfulness" exercises helps to get me started, then I start small for "time" and make a choice to re-evaluate every 10-15 minutes after the goal is met - then repeating until it becomes habitual (the initiation of activities).

I just made my best friend call me every 5 minutes and give me a new little task, from a list I made myself and sent him.... This is ridiculous, and I owe him big time, but it is actually working... It is the challenge part of it helping, but I have to find better ways...

You may laugh at me, I'm laughing at myself. Though this will save me from disaster, so I'll just do it. :-D

As for mindfulness, I can't do it. Too painful to be in the moment. I am all gone to the other side of the moon, and do not feel like being mindful one bit. Reality is just pure pain, and I don't plan on visiting it for a while. I know it will work later, though. :)

Thank you! :-D

 

[Jane.l]

I relate and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you can only do the immediate stuff - that's me .

I also relate to your comments on mindfulness - I am on the other side of the moon with you !

 

[NovemberStar]

That's awesome - and don't beat yourself up about it or tell yourself 'its ridiculous' - it's just a symptom of PTSD, it isn't a moral issues (i.e., you're 'bad') :)

 

[kstg]

Thank you @NovemberStar!
:-)