I love this guy's butt-kickin', no-nonsense style.
"For starters, stop TALKING, THINKING, or WRITING about your problem and start DOING something. I'm not trying to be glib, but trying to make a point. Mainly, the only way to get things done is to ACT."
http://personal-development.com/chuck/cure-for-laziness.htm
"[The] request for a tip on how to get motivated enough to break the cycle of laziness is based on the fallacy that motivation precedes action. Actually, it is the other way round. That is, it is ACTION that creates motivation. First you act. Then you experience the six benefits mentioned above. And those benefits motivate you to do more. Well, then, it is clear the time to act is now. After all, if you don't make things happen, things will happen to you. Here's another point, we become what we do. So, we become a person of action by taking action."
Gee, that sounds a LOT like Aristotle.
So instead of writing this useless (so far) blog, I'm going to put down the laptop, back away slowly and ACT. See ya.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Interesting suggestion, I'll have to try this. 10, 9, 8...
You can overcome any simple laziness problem (get out of bed, close Facebook, fetch something across the house, etc.) by mentally counting down from ten before you do it. Setting an exact point in time to take action completely prevents your subconscious from telling you "I'll do it in a second."
http://lifehacker.com/5523367/from-the-tips-box-easy-ram-procrastination-tricks-and-weight-loss-mind-hacks/
http://lifehacker.com/5523367/from-the-tips-box-easy-ram-procrastination-tricks-and-weight-loss-mind-hacks/
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Busy
I said I'd write at least once a week, but I was on vacation last week. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Zzzzzzzzz
Call it an excuse, but I think fatigue plays a role. I'm tired. Yes, more exercise would help, and does, when I have the energy and discipline to do it regularly. Get going!
A more fundamental question perhaps is this: How do you overcome laziness when the problem itself is the obstacle preventing progress? There are a million ideas for organizing your life, becoming more disciplined, getting in shape, losing weight...etc, etc, etc. But they all assume the motivation to follow the steps necessary. Laziness trumps them all.
A more fundamental question perhaps is this: How do you overcome laziness when the problem itself is the obstacle preventing progress? There are a million ideas for organizing your life, becoming more disciplined, getting in shape, losing weight...etc, etc, etc. But they all assume the motivation to follow the steps necessary. Laziness trumps them all.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I'll do it later
THIS is the problem. I can start anything, it's sticking to it and finishing it that are the problem.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Whew!
This week was insanely busy, I think. And I'm exhausted. I was running like a madman all week, but just don't feel like I accomplished as much as I should for the amount of effort expended. Perhaps that's a clue. For all the ink spilled about the myriad demands on each of us, the need to juggle many responsibilities at once and the benefits of multitasking, I'm convinced it's simply not possible. We wired to do one thing at a time, period. Maybe some are better than others at "time-slicing" (IT lingo for quick-swapping from one task to the next), but even they are still single-tasking.
I can juggle 50+ different tasks an hour, and regularly do, but the constant change from one to the other results in many things poorly done. My work is such that it's often unavoidable, but the occasions when I can focus on one task for awhile are the most productive and the most satisfying.
So, where does lazy come in? I think it's in allowing the interruptions to feed the insatiable desire for variety and the intellectual stimulation of a fresh task. At least that's the part I can control, and should. I've always been a library junkie, reveling in the endless cornucopia of things to be learned and explored. With the world's greatest library (the Web) now at my fingertips, the surfing has probably reduced my attention span to that just shy of a goldfish (3-7 sec). If industriousness is the opposite of laziness and this requires a disciplined focus on the task at hand...then it's virtually hopeless unless I go cold turkey on the Internet. What, and stop this blog?!
Is there such a thing as an Internet addiction? If addiction is defined as an activity that is so compelling or habitual that it crowds out daily responsibilities and is painful to avoid, then clearly there is. Maybe I should check out Bill W's 12-step program...
Or maybe I should be a librarian. Er...an Electronic Information Specialist.
I can juggle 50+ different tasks an hour, and regularly do, but the constant change from one to the other results in many things poorly done. My work is such that it's often unavoidable, but the occasions when I can focus on one task for awhile are the most productive and the most satisfying.
So, where does lazy come in? I think it's in allowing the interruptions to feed the insatiable desire for variety and the intellectual stimulation of a fresh task. At least that's the part I can control, and should. I've always been a library junkie, reveling in the endless cornucopia of things to be learned and explored. With the world's greatest library (the Web) now at my fingertips, the surfing has probably reduced my attention span to that just shy of a goldfish (3-7 sec). If industriousness is the opposite of laziness and this requires a disciplined focus on the task at hand...then it's virtually hopeless unless I go cold turkey on the Internet. What, and stop this blog?!
Is there such a thing as an Internet addiction? If addiction is defined as an activity that is so compelling or habitual that it crowds out daily responsibilities and is painful to avoid, then clearly there is. Maybe I should check out Bill W's 12-step program...
Or maybe I should be a librarian. Er...an Electronic Information Specialist.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Do It Now
I'm reading a book called "Personal Efficiency Program." No, it's not a current NYT bestseller. Hey, I'm lazy, ok? It's taken me a while to get to it. Here's their link: http://www.ibt-pep.com/)
Here's the short version, applied to finance: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/09/20/getting-to-now-how-to-beat-the-procrastination-habit/
Even shorter, the basic message is DO IT NOW. Yes, it's that simple. So why is it soooo hard?
Here's the short version, applied to finance: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/09/20/getting-to-now-how-to-beat-the-procrastination-habit/
Even shorter, the basic message is DO IT NOW. Yes, it's that simple. So why is it soooo hard?
Help, I'm Lazy and I Can't Get Up!
Hi. My name is Bill W.
No...not really. At least Bill W has a program to follow for his ailment.
Lazy be my name. While most looking at my life from the outside would say I am hard-working, busy and productive, this doesn't tell the whole story.
Given a choice between action and inaction, I prefer the latter. It's more...comfortable. I've tried for decades to pin down the cause (goal-disoriented, fatigue, low energy, lack of confidence...etc), but I'm tired of excuses and missing the life I dream of.
I am declaring war. This is it. While not normally a fan of chick flicks, I was inspired by the movie "Julie & Julia;" but not for the obvious storyline, Meryl Streep's amazing portrayal of Julia or the delectable-looking food. I was impressed by the reason Julie started the blog in the first place, as a goal, as a daily kick-in-the-butt to finish something just once. That's me. Yeah, wah.
So, I resolve to do the following:
1) Post at least once a week
2) The post will be an accomplishment, a tip or an observation.
3) Follow the above for at least one year.
I'd ask that many of you, the six billion of my closest friends, post comments with suggestions, tips, encouragement and humor. If all goes well, you will have helped to change a life and in turn many others I hope to help. Perhaps I'll also write a book and dedicate it to all of you.
Thank you!
No...not really. At least Bill W has a program to follow for his ailment.
Lazy be my name. While most looking at my life from the outside would say I am hard-working, busy and productive, this doesn't tell the whole story.
Given a choice between action and inaction, I prefer the latter. It's more...comfortable. I've tried for decades to pin down the cause (goal-disoriented, fatigue, low energy, lack of confidence...etc), but I'm tired of excuses and missing the life I dream of.
I am declaring war. This is it. While not normally a fan of chick flicks, I was inspired by the movie "Julie & Julia;" but not for the obvious storyline, Meryl Streep's amazing portrayal of Julia or the delectable-looking food. I was impressed by the reason Julie started the blog in the first place, as a goal, as a daily kick-in-the-butt to finish something just once. That's me. Yeah, wah.
So, I resolve to do the following:
1) Post at least once a week
2) The post will be an accomplishment, a tip or an observation.
3) Follow the above for at least one year.
I'd ask that many of you, the six billion of my closest friends, post comments with suggestions, tips, encouragement and humor. If all goes well, you will have helped to change a life and in turn many others I hope to help. Perhaps I'll also write a book and dedicate it to all of you.
Thank you!
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