Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > |
What to do when you feel lazy Thread poster: Ines Burrell
|
Ines Burrell United Kingdom Local time: 21:25 Member (2004) English to Latvian + ...
I am not sure this has anything to do with being independent, it probably is linked to being lazy but here it goes anyhow. I have this huge project that I have to deliver on Monday. And I just cannot force myself to start working. I know it will mean working durign the weekend. I have checked so many unimportant things on Internet, drank several cups of cofee, written emails to several friends etc. I have not started playing computer games yet, that is the last stage. Do you get stuc... See more I am not sure this has anything to do with being independent, it probably is linked to being lazy but here it goes anyhow. I have this huge project that I have to deliver on Monday. And I just cannot force myself to start working. I know it will mean working durign the weekend. I have checked so many unimportant things on Internet, drank several cups of cofee, written emails to several friends etc. I have not started playing computer games yet, that is the last stage. Do you get stuck the same way? And if yes (well, I hope I am not the only freak of nature), how do you get out of it? Just force yourself or you have a trick or two under your sleeve? Cheers, Burrell ▲ Collapse | | |
Got the same problem - my cure is putting on some jazz, dancing on my own a little and then using that energy for work. Doesn't always work, though. Maybe you should let yourself be lazy every once in a while (of course, only if you don't come even close to missing a deadline):). Burrell wrote: I am not sure this has anything to do with being independent, it probably is linked to being lazy but here it goes anyhow. I have this huge project that I have to deliver on Monday. And I just cannot force myself to start working. I know it will mean working durign the weekend. I have checked so many unimportant things on Internet, drank several cups of cofee, written emails to several friends etc. I have not started playing computer games yet, that is the last stage. Do you get stuck the same way? And if yes (well, I hope I am not the only freak of nature), how do you get out of it? Just force yourself or you have a trick or two under your sleeve? Cheers, Burrell | | |
Marc P (X) Local time: 22:25 German to English + ... What to do when you feel lazy | Oct 14, 2005 |
Burrell wrote: how do you get out of it? Just force yourself or you have a trick or two under your sleeve? I log into my bank account and look at the balance. Marc | | |
What to do when you feel lazy | Oct 14, 2005 |
Yes, I know that feeling only too well What helps me usually is NOT to listen to any music, and to start work very early in the morning. Exit your Messenger or any chat programme. But on the whole, I think it's a sign that you need a holiday maybe. | |
|
|
"To do" list | Oct 14, 2005 |
Well, you're not alone....I went through the same patch just last week. I had to finish a huge assignment and I kept finding odd little things to do instead of getting down to work. What got me cracking was setting a schedule on a piece of paper. X number of pages to be done within a certain time frame for all the days left before delivery. Once I realised that at that pace I was not going to have enough time to proofread my work properly I wrote two more schedules and each time I had finished t... See more Well, you're not alone....I went through the same patch just last week. I had to finish a huge assignment and I kept finding odd little things to do instead of getting down to work. What got me cracking was setting a schedule on a piece of paper. X number of pages to be done within a certain time frame for all the days left before delivery. Once I realised that at that pace I was not going to have enough time to proofread my work properly I wrote two more schedules and each time I had finished the amount of pages on time or in advance I gave myself a little treat (a gossipy phone call, a snack, a drink with my friends etc.). Next time I get a large volume job I will write down a schedule again, it may sound silly but crossing things off a to-do list and marking them as "done, finished" makes me feel much better. And now....get down to work, that's an order! ▲ Collapse | | |
Ines Burrell United Kingdom Local time: 21:25 Member (2004) English to Latvian + ... TOPIC STARTER
Daniela Zambrini wrote: And now....get down to work, that's an order! Well, actually I did check the bank account. It worked. Amazing! | | |
Laura Gentili Italy Local time: 22:25 Member (2003) English to Italian + ... My suggestions | Oct 14, 2005 |
MarcPrior wrote: I log into my bank account and look at the balance. Marc Marc, you are so right! Or you can also write down a list of all incomes/expenses for the next 3 months and see how behind you are... Like Daniela, I also find that breaking the huge boring job into smaller segments makes me feel better and less overwhelmed. Alternatively, I re-read some article about translation quality and maintaining high standards and this gives me the necessary push to go back to my huge, boring translation. Laura | | |
De la Vera C (X) Argentina Local time: 18:25 English to Spanish It happens... | Oct 14, 2005 |
Daniela Zambrini wrote: And now....get down to work, that's an order! That's it! And you too, VerĂ³nica! Don't worry, it happens from time to time. But checking the bank account does the trick most of the times. You see? Instead of working, I'm posting in this thread and probably I'm going to see a little bit what happens here on proz and check the mail (again!) and read the news and... oh, yes, the bank account. See you in our next lazy break! VerĂ³nica | |
|
|
Stephen Rifkind Israel Local time: 23:25 Member (2004) French to English + ... Positive Reinforcement | Oct 14, 2005 |
My daughter taught me a good solution to motivating oneself to finish long and boring, but profitable projects: Repeat the mantra of how much money it will earn and what you are going to do with it. I had to work all during Pesach vacation, which did not make my small daughter too happy. I told her that we are going to Eilat [a Red Sea resort] on this project. Her whole attitude changed. She said, "Work hard and let me know when we are going." Something like "a spoonful of sugar makes the m... See more My daughter taught me a good solution to motivating oneself to finish long and boring, but profitable projects: Repeat the mantra of how much money it will earn and what you are going to do with it. I had to work all during Pesach vacation, which did not make my small daughter too happy. I told her that we are going to Eilat [a Red Sea resort] on this project. Her whole attitude changed. She said, "Work hard and let me know when we are going." Something like "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine goes down" of yore. ▲ Collapse | | |
This works with my kids too | Oct 14, 2005 |
Stephen Rifkind wrote: My daughter taught me a good solution to motivating oneself to finish long and boring, but profitable projects: Repeat the mantra of how much money it will earn and what you are going to do with it. I had to work all during Pesach vacation, which did not make my small daughter too happy. I told her that we are going to Eilat [a Red Sea resort] on this project. Her whole attitude changed. She said, "Work hard and let me know when we are going." Something like "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine goes down" of yore. I do the same. Breaking it down in smaller segments and ticking them as finished also works for me. | | |
Javier Herrera (X) Spanish Set the alarm clock | Oct 14, 2005 |
Give yourself a treat. Allow half an hour, one hour, whatever, for computer games, jazz or tea. Set the alarm clock first. When it goes off, it's time to work. No excuses. | | |
Beat me to it | Oct 14, 2005 |
MarcPrior wrote: I log into my bank account and look at the balance. Marc You beat me too it, that's my trick as well. Or I look at my wife's tummy pregnant with twins. Combined with the bank account, it usually gets me going... | |
|
|
Avoid Overinformation | Oct 14, 2005 |
MarcPrior wrote: I log into my bank account and look at the balance. This used to work for me, too, but now I have an Access file showing me a nice diagram of the factured comings for the next few months - which look much better than the current balance - so it does not work anymore..
[Edited at 2005-10-14 11:54] | | |
pcovs Denmark Local time: 22:25 English to Danish Been down this road a couple of times ;o) | Oct 14, 2005 |
I do something along the lines of what Daniela described - make a "to do" list, and ticking off things as I finish them. ...but, this is not always enough, so I also sometimes have to look at the number of words I have to translate, then count the days till deadline, and then....most importantly...count the hours I would have to work each day to make the deadline delivering a quality product!!! Given that I have a little girl of 9 months, I have only limited time during... See more I do something along the lines of what Daniela described - make a "to do" list, and ticking off things as I finish them. ...but, this is not always enough, so I also sometimes have to look at the number of words I have to translate, then count the days till deadline, and then....most importantly...count the hours I would have to work each day to make the deadline delivering a quality product!!! Given that I have a little girl of 9 months, I have only limited time during the day when she's in daycare, and my evenings have slowly but surely turned into a time of the day when I really cannot work - I guess I have now learned to treasure the few moments alone with my husband and not work ;o) When I see that I'm getting close to using up all my 'free' time doing only THIS project, I usually get busy! What would I do if other jobs come in? I don't have enough regular clients to afford turning any of them down, so I will HAVE TO get busy indeed. This is what helps me during a 'momentary lapse of enthusiasm' ;o) ▲ Collapse | | |
Emma Grubb United Kingdom Local time: 21:25 Member (2010) German to English + ... This always works for me... | Oct 14, 2005 |
Go and watch some daytime TV, and when you realise just how bad it is that job will seem like the more interesting option! | | |
Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > |