it worked!

On Thursday evening I realized that a major factor in my not having accomplished much uni work for the past couple of days was that I hadn't set myself any specific goals as to what task I'd undertake next--in the absence of something specific to do and knowing only that I needed to do "lots of uni work", it was terribly easy to let myself get distracted with various chores around the house, e-mail/livejournal/facebook/blogs and other such diversions. Once I realized that I instituted a new "rule"--I now set myself a specific goal for my next work session before I need it. This means that before I go to bed at night I know what specific task I shall be doing for uni work in the morning, and before I leave the computer to take a break during the day I make a note of what specific task I shall be doing when I return.

It is amazing how instantaneous the transition was. After a week (or two?) of little to no motivation, I woke up around 06:30 Friday morning early and inspired. I started the day with a jog "around the block" and then settled into my assigned uni task for the morning. Took a nap from about 8:30 to 9:00, then got up, did more uni work, baked some cookies to take with us,and when in to uni around 15:00 as clovis_t had some errands to run (one of which was picking up his Honour's Thesis, which is now bound, so the final step of his degree--turning a copy in to the library and to the history department is now complete!). Once at uni I worked non-stop on tasks that couldn't be done at home (since they involved the use of microscopes and my actual rock samples, rather than just the photographs thereof) till time to go pick up a friend at 18:30. We made a brief stop by the SCA social night on our way to the Contra Dance, and then spend a very fun evening dancing to the music of Crowfoot, a band visiting Tasmania from Quebec. They were fabulous! There were just the three of them, but their music has such richness it sounded like there were more instruments than that.

Woke up early again this morning, started some washing, did my morning sit-ups,and have just finished reading e-mail. Time to start on today's uni task...

it worked!

On Thursday evening I realized that a major factor in my not having accomplished much uni work for the past couple of days was that I hadn't set myself any specific goals as to what task I'd undertake next--in the absence of something specific to do and knowing only that I needed to do "lots of uni work", it was terribly easy to let myself get distracted with various chores around the house, e-mail/livejournal/facebook/blogs and other such diversions. Once I realized that I instituted a new "rule"--I now set myself a specific goal for my next work session before I need it. This means that before I go to bed at night I know what specific task I shall be doing for uni work in the morning, and before I leave the computer to take a break during the day I make a note of what specific task I shall be doing when I return.

It is amazing how instantaneous the transition was. After a week (or two?) of little to no motivation, I woke up around 06:30 Friday morning early and inspired. I started the day with a jog "around the block" and then settled into my assigned uni task for the morning. Took a nap from about 8:30 to 9:00, then got up, did more uni work, baked some cookies to take with us,and when in to uni around 15:00 as clovis_t had some errands to run (one of which was picking up his Honour's Thesis, which is now bound, so the final step of his degree--turning a copy in to the library and to the history department is now complete!). Once at uni I worked non-stop on tasks that couldn't be done at home (since they involved the use of microscopes and my actual rock samples, rather than just the photographs thereof) till time to go pick up a friend at 18:30. We made a brief stop by the SCA social night on our way to the Contra Dance, and then spend a very fun evening dancing to the music of Crowfoot, a band visiting Tasmania from Quebec. They were fabulous! There were just the three of them, but their music has such richness it sounded like there were more instruments than that.

Woke up early again this morning, started some washing, did my morning sit-ups,and have just finished reading e-mail. Time to start on today's uni task...

so far, so good

My new plan of setting specific-task goals is working. I've just completed one and am about to head off to hear Crowfoot, the band from last night's contra dance, in concert at Brookfield Vineyard. Yes, I do have a goal set for the next time I turn on the computer!

so far, so good

My new plan of setting specific-task goals is working. I've just completed one and am about to head off to hear Crowfoot, the band from last night's contra dance, in concert at Brookfield Vineyard. Yes, I do have a goal set for the next time I turn on the computer!