Posted by coral on February 23, 2003, at 17:10:16
In reply to Re: motivation -- WOW » coral, posted by noa on February 23, 2003, at 16:32:45
Dear Noa,
I know exactly what you mean. After the cellar demons packed up and left, I had no idea how to live a proper and productive life, so I managed to fling myself from one disaster to another. It's 7 years post-MAJOR depression, and I really got hit by the procrastination. My office is crucial. I work out of my home and everything was held together with gray duct tape. My birthday present, by my request, from my husband was to help me redo my office. My birthday's in Nov...and I'm now finishing?
One of the secrets for me is a) getting someone else to help. If you ask a friend/spouse, to help and schedule a time, you'll be more committed to getting something done. Another secret is to cut it into small pieces (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time). We're also NOT alone in this. I did a friend's laundry (her washer was broken) and it was THIRTY loads!!!!
I'd look at all I had to do and head for the couch, computer, etc....anything that was numbing. The fact that it's getting old for you is a truly good sign. Revving up your "life" engine after depression isn't just flipping one switch. It's like starting a nuclear reactor; one slow step at a time, making sure each step is functioning before going to the next.
I MUST thank you again. During my office redo, there were many times that I was sitting on the floor, looking at the chaos around me, and thinking of you helped me to clean one spot. One spot led to another. The walls are a Williamsburg blue and the drapes are almost a royal blue. Speaking of procrastination - I've had the material for the drapes for 10 years. I still have boxes of last year's stuff in the guest room . . . I'm guessing 1 out of 100 pieces of paper are valuable. It's sorting that now or some sorting some time this week. LOL
This fall, I realized I was seriously procrastinating and decided to straighten up our bedroom, which meant taking boxes of clothes to the attic. The ONLY problem was the boxed clothes were my WINTER clothes.
My prime example of procrastination is I realized one clock hadn't been changed for daylight savings and INSTEAD of changing the clock, I thought, "Well, daylight savings changes back in a couple of months and the clock would be right then. So, I did NOT change the clock.
Our Christmas tree is still up and the holiday dishes are still on the table.
My suggestion is that you lighten up on yourself, lady. :) You are learning how to live again.
Again, thanks so much.
Coral
poster:coral
thread:203024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/2000/20030125/msgs/203123.html