I have a System
I'm finally implementing a system for overcoming inertia, getting things done, and (hopefully) for feeling less depressed. I'll describe it here, partly for my own reference, partly because I'm interested in feedback, and partly because I'll be more likely to stick to the system after I've told people I'm doing it.
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Part 1: Mantras
I'm coming up with a number of mantras to help me get out of specific bad moods and into good ones. Haven't got many so far, but have ideas.
"Question not whether I am superior to another/others. I need only be superior to myself."
For when my relative self-esteem takes a hit, or when I feel vindictive pleasure at others' failures (plus a dash of self-improvement -- make second sentence optional if I'm currently hating myself?)
"Rise, heart! thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise without delays."
For a simple dose of uplift, and a reminder of my favorite music
"You step out your door, and there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Adapted from LOTR. To catalyze getting out of my room and doing things, and remembering that sometimes spontaneous awesomeness happens. See also "There is life outside your apartment, and you're only gonna see it if you leave."
"Happiness is a gift"...?
For when I am emo and inexplicably reluctant to do something fun
"Happiness, you must seize it"...?
Something about getting up and actually doing stuff, that ignoring it will not make it go away
"Walk tall"...? For posture and bottom-up mood feedback
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Part 2: Accountability to others
I'm more likely to do things if I've told other people I'll do them. So the plan is to construct a network of promises to various people, which will get me out of bed in the morning. For example, I asked people to call me if I don't come to Tech Squares this week.
Ideas:
- Tell my friends in Random that I'll visit them, and then actually do it
- Get regular study groups, as appropriate for each class. Facilitate study-grouping by passing round a sheet of paper for people to put their name and residence if they want?
- Ask the guy who lives across from me to knock on my door if he hasn't seen me for a couple days (get to know him better first)
- Posting things to LJ regularly (will work better the more LJ intersects real life)
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Part 3: Day slips
So I have this pad of little square blank pieces of paper, just the right size to put a to do list on. I make one for every day. On the front are things like "work on this pset" or "go to this event". On the back are things like "water plants" and "take vitamins". They're just the right size that I can't overschedule myself because there isn't enough room. I carry them in my pocket all day.
Every day slip will have the following:
[the day's date]
Talk to someone
Brush teeth
Take vitamins
Feed Mome Wrath
Water plants
Do [some exercise here]
Log day
(I will not automate this. Hand-writing them makes me focus on what I need to do. Although, I may set up something to remind me of things that repeat with a frequency < 1 day, like "go grocery shopping".)
At the end of every day, I write in a log on my computer. I list the tasks on my dayslip that I did, and the tasks I didn't do (along with the reason why). Then I write good things I did that day, like "socialized effectively with an unfamiliar group", and things I should improve on, like "procrastinated doing X for a really long time". Finally, I throw out some random insights -- improvements to the system, etc.
Then I put the dayslip in an envelope on my wall. My goal is to fill that envelope up with days, so that when I get discouraged I can look at all the dayslips with all their checked-off tasks. (Notation: a check means the task was completed, strikethrough means the task was cancelled before the day started, X-out means I decided not to do the task for a specific reason.)
Suggestions? What-all systems do you use?
ETA: I came up with this system Friday night. Seems to be working -- I'm certainly more productive, and I'm less depressed when I'm out doing stuff. But it's way too early to tell, and there may be major system revisions to come.
=================================
Part 1: Mantras
I'm coming up with a number of mantras to help me get out of specific bad moods and into good ones. Haven't got many so far, but have ideas.
"Question not whether I am superior to another/others. I need only be superior to myself."
For when my relative self-esteem takes a hit, or when I feel vindictive pleasure at others' failures (plus a dash of self-improvement -- make second sentence optional if I'm currently hating myself?)
"Rise, heart! thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise without delays."
For a simple dose of uplift, and a reminder of my favorite music
"You step out your door, and there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Adapted from LOTR. To catalyze getting out of my room and doing things, and remembering that sometimes spontaneous awesomeness happens. See also "There is life outside your apartment, and you're only gonna see it if you leave."
"Happiness is a gift"...?
For when I am emo and inexplicably reluctant to do something fun
"Happiness, you must seize it"...?
Something about getting up and actually doing stuff, that ignoring it will not make it go away
"Walk tall"...? For posture and bottom-up mood feedback
=================================
Part 2: Accountability to others
I'm more likely to do things if I've told other people I'll do them. So the plan is to construct a network of promises to various people, which will get me out of bed in the morning. For example, I asked people to call me if I don't come to Tech Squares this week.
Ideas:
- Tell my friends in Random that I'll visit them, and then actually do it
- Get regular study groups, as appropriate for each class. Facilitate study-grouping by passing round a sheet of paper for people to put their name and residence if they want?
- Ask the guy who lives across from me to knock on my door if he hasn't seen me for a couple days (get to know him better first)
- Posting things to LJ regularly (will work better the more LJ intersects real life)
=================================
Part 3: Day slips
So I have this pad of little square blank pieces of paper, just the right size to put a to do list on. I make one for every day. On the front are things like "work on this pset" or "go to this event". On the back are things like "water plants" and "take vitamins". They're just the right size that I can't overschedule myself because there isn't enough room. I carry them in my pocket all day.
Every day slip will have the following:
[the day's date]
Talk to someone
Brush teeth
Take vitamins
Feed Mome Wrath
Water plants
Do [some exercise here]
Log day
(I will not automate this. Hand-writing them makes me focus on what I need to do. Although, I may set up something to remind me of things that repeat with a frequency < 1 day, like "go grocery shopping".)
At the end of every day, I write in a log on my computer. I list the tasks on my dayslip that I did, and the tasks I didn't do (along with the reason why). Then I write good things I did that day, like "socialized effectively with an unfamiliar group", and things I should improve on, like "procrastinated doing X for a really long time". Finally, I throw out some random insights -- improvements to the system, etc.
Then I put the dayslip in an envelope on my wall. My goal is to fill that envelope up with days, so that when I get discouraged I can look at all the dayslips with all their checked-off tasks. (Notation: a check means the task was completed, strikethrough means the task was cancelled before the day started, X-out means I decided not to do the task for a specific reason.)
Suggestions? What-all systems do you use?
ETA: I came up with this system Friday night. Seems to be working -- I'm certainly more productive, and I'm less depressed when I'm out doing stuff. But it's way too early to tell, and there may be major system revisions to come.