apr3

April 3rd 2015

Woke up and wanted to get started

on a clipboard of TO DO's,

a wall full of post it notes,
and a head full of mental notes.

That was when I had trouble: 

with the Disney website,
getting 2 teen girls up,
dressed and awake enough to answer simple questions
and getting a move on.

Although I was quite successful 

on accomplishing lots on those lists by 5 pm 

I was just too tired to continue!

(I found this while hunting for an excuse not to keep working)

10 Ways to Do

What You Don’t Want to Do

By Leo Babauta

Life would be grand if we only did what our fleeting hearts wanted to do, each moment of the day. Unfortunately, the laundry, taxes and difficult conversations would never get done. The best books would never be written. All the achievements of humankind would be imagined,

not realized. So what should we do if we’re facing a task we don’t want to do? Well, we can run, and find distraction. That usually works, until it causes problems. Or we can find a way to get crap done.

Here’s how to get crap done

• Meditate on why you need to do this. 

Instead of giving in to distraction, sit there for a minute.
Why do you need to do this task you don’t want to do? Sure, because it’s on your to do list, or because someone else wants you to do it. Or you are getting paid for it, or just because someone’s got to do it.

But why? What will this task help accomplish? Who is it helping? Dig deeper and find the good that you’re creating in the world.
If you’re a dishwasher, you might not think getting dirty dishes clean matters, but those dishes are required to serve food, and the food nourishes people and it can make them happy and then they can go out and do something good in the world with a smile on their face.

So connect the dishes to the good.

• Meditate on your fear. 

The thing that’s stopping you from doing the task, or wanting to do it, is fear. You fear of failure or looking bad, you fear the discomfort or confusion of the task. So take a moment to look inward and see this fear.

Feel it. Accept it as part of you, instead of running from it.

• Let go of your ideal. 

If this fear were gone, you could just do the task easily.
So what is causing the fear? Some ideal you have, some fantasy about life being free of discomfort,
confusion, embarrassment, imperfection. That’s not reality, just fantasy, and it’s getting in your way by causing fear. So let go of the fantasy, the ideal, the expectation.

Just embrace reality: this task before you, nothing else.

• Intention, not results. 

You are caught up with the results of the task. Like what will happen if you do it, what failure might result. So forget about the result you can’t know what it will be anyway. That’s in the future.
For now, focus on your intention: why are you doing it? If it’s to make the life of a loved one better, then that’s your intention. That intention is true no matter what the result is.

Focus on this, not what bad things might or might not happen.

• Embrace the suck.

Doing something hard sucks.
It’s not easy, and often you’re confused about how to do it because you haven’t done it much before. So what? Hard things suck, but life is not always peaches with roses on top (and a sprinkle of cinnamon). It sucks sometimes, and that’s perfectly fine. Embrace all of life, thorns and pits and all. Life would be boring without the suck.

So smile, embrace the suck, and get moving.

• Give yourself constraints. 

We tend to rebel against restraints; “I don’t want to do this! I want freedom!”
Well, unfortunately, having unlimited freedom means unlimited choices, unlimited distractions, and nothing gets done. Simplify by putting restraints on yourself: do only one task at a time. Do just this one task for now. Do it for 10 minutes. Forbid yourself from going to any other websites or checking anything on your phone or doing anything else that you like to do for distraction, until you do those 10 minutes.

Ask a friend to hold you accountable — another restraint that often helps.

• Do a little, then get up. 

If you have to write something, just write a sentence.
Then get up, get some water, stretch. Pat yourself on the back for getting started! Now do a little more: write a few more sentences. Get up, take a mental break (don’t go to another website), do a few push ups. Go back, do a bit more.

Pretty soon, you’re in the flow of it.

• Don’t let your mind run. 

Your mind will want to run. That’s OK, that’s the nature of minds. They are scared, and they will rationalize going to distraction, going to what’s easy. Watch this happen, don’t try to stop the phenomena, but don’t give it anywhere to run to. Watch the mind want to run, but don’t act. Just watch.

It will eventually calm down.

• Find gratitude. 

This task might seem hard or sucky, but actually there are a lot of great things about it. For example, if you’re doing it for work, hey, you have a job! You have money to buy food and shelter! You have eyes and ears and a mind to do this task! Imagine life without all these things, and then try feeling sorry for yourself for having to do something so hard. Or, instead, try being grateful for the opportunity to do some good in the world, to learn from this task, to get better.

Be mindful as you do it.

• Learn and grow. 

By meditating on your intentions and fear, by letting go of ideals and embracing the suck, by giving yourself constraints and finding gratitude … you’re learning about yourself.
This task, as mundane or scary as it might seem, is teaching you about your mind. That’s a wonderful thing. So this task is a huge learning opportunity.

What a wonderful way to spend your time!

**************************************************

**************************************************

Here’s how to really  get crap done

By: Debbie Shannon

1. Medicate until you don't care why you need to do this. 
   Instead of giving in to this task you don’t want to do, but have to because it’s on your to do list,
   or because some family member thinks ONLY you can do it, or you’re getting paid for it, or  just because someone’s got to do it, focus on the why?
   
   What will make this task accomplishable? Who is it helping? Dig deeper inside the cupboard or fridge and find the good that will help you create a world where you don't care that you have to do it. Clean matters, food nourishes, but doing something for yourself puts a smile on your face. 
   
   So connect your hand with a Baileys coffee or a cheesecake bite and do those dishes.
   
2. Medicate your fear.
   
   The thing that’s stopping you from doing the task, or wanting to do it, is you don't want to!
   
   Not the fear of failure or looking bad, you fear the discomfort, complexity or confusion of the task. So take a moment to look inward and see this fear.
   
   Feel it. Accept it as part of you, and have another drink.
   
3. Let go of the idea your home will ever look like a magazine cover.
   
   If this fear were gone, would you even be doing this task?
   
   Some have a fantasy about life being free of discomfort, confusion, embarrassment, imperfection and mess. That’s not reality, just fantasy and it’s getting in your way! So let go of the fantasy, the ideal, the expectation. Live in the moment IN the mess.
   
   Just embrace reality:
   this task would not be so obvious to you if you went out or if you went to another room and ignored it, or got another drink.
   
4. Intentionally realize
   results will never happen if you do not live alone.
   
   You are caught up with the results of the task and how fast you can make them no longer be visible on your to do list. What will happen if you do it, how long before you have to do it again?
   
   So forget the result! You can’t know what it will be anyway **because that is in the future. If it’s to make the life of a loved one better, have them do it.
   
   For now, focus on intentionally eating that last piece of cake in the fridge. 
5. Embrace the suck.
   
   Doing something hard sucks.
   It’s not easy, and often you’re not confused about how to do it because you have done it so many times before. So what? Hard things suck, but life is not always scrapbooking and parties.
   It sucks sometimes, and that’s perfectly fine. Embrace all of life, thorns and pits and all. Life would be boring without the suck.
   
   So smile, toss the list, embrace the suck,
   and go get a drink in your hand and a scrapbook layout on the table.
   
6. Don't strain yourself.
   
   We tend to rebel against restraints; “I don’t want to do this!”
   Well, unfortunately nothing gets done this way. Simplify, by putting restraints on yourself (or ask the hubby to!) and do only one task at a time. You can't drink and drive, so why try to multitask at home??
   Do just this one task for now.
   Do it for 10 minutes (refill glass as needed).
   See? drinking one at a time is much more calming.
   
   Forbid yourself from websites, your phone, or doing anything else that might distract you from the task at hand, until you drink for those 10 minutes.
   
   Ask a friend to hold you accountable and remember to encourage your friend to follow the same plan -as that often helps.
   
7. Do as little as possible.
   
   If you have to write something, just write a sentence.
   Then get up, get some coffee, and have a little snooze. Pat yourself on the back for getting started when you wake up! Now do a little more: write a few more sentences. Get up, go pee, take a mental break, grab a snack and recaffienate. Do a few stretches. Go back, do a bit more on the laptop.
   
   Pretty soon, you'll have facebooked, pinterested and chatted with everyone you know.
   
8. Don’t let your mind run for heavens sake.
   
   Your mind will want to run, make it walk.
   It’s OK, that’s the nature of minds they are scared you might abuse them so they try to run away. You must train them to work at a slower pace. Rationalize your cheesecake distraction,
   and go to what’s easy... eating! Don’t try to stop the phenomena, give your mind room to run over to that box of chocolates too. If someone threatens to come over, shove the mess in a closet.
   
   It will eventually all get done. After that piece of cheesecake.
   
9. You won't find gratitude from the kids. 
   Tasks are hard or sucky, but especially family chores. BUT actually there are a lot of great things about it. 
   For example, if you’re doing it for work, hey, you have a job and can buy beer! You have money to buy cheesecake and fridge to keep it in! You have eyes and ears and a mind to help you with your scrapbooking! Imagine life without all these things, and then try feeling sorry for yourself!! Instead, try being grateful for the opportunity to share the beer and cheesecake!
   
   Do some good in the world, invite some friends and have a party.
   
10. Learn to grow your own happiness or get a prescription. 
    By medicating your intentions and fear, by letting go of ideals and embracing the suck, by giving yourself the tools to enhance your happiness,you’re learning about how you can make a to do list less mundane or scary as it might seem. It is about teaching your mind new ways to deal with toilet cleaning, dishes and grocery shopping. 
    That’s a wonderful thing. So remember what you have learned,
    keep you fridge, freezer, medicine chest and liquor cabinet full. 
    Now that's a wonderful way to spend your time!
    
    
    *******************************************************************

Hahahahhahahhaha!!!

I have been trying so hard to  get stuff done,

I chose to use #3.
I ran away.

but

tomorrow I am going to be a tornado!

Today, once I got the girls going...

Judy picked up her pay cheque,

we got the banking done,

picked up an order for Lale,

ordered flowers for the prom,

had lunch at Harry's,

stopped at Ardene for prom earrings,

popped by Cox to see if they had caddies,

made a drop off at Lale's

AND picked up my Easter cake,

stopped by Berry Hill

to see the baby chicks (FINALLY),

dropped off Kendryk,

popped into Lens Mills 

to pick up parts for the prom jacket,

picked up Dad's new summer pjs,

got Judy to work,

got the groceries for the truck 

AND the house groceries.

When I got home I was so tired 

I couldn't empty the truck!

I was plunked on the sofa

when Super Lale showed up

ran to the truck, unloaded it, 

and disappeared just as fast!

I managed to get the groceries put away,

make supper,

get another Disney reservation for Connie,

and get my husband some
cleaning up and some sleep.

He got up just as Judy got home from work,

we had a late dinner together

and watched some Broke Girls season 3.

In the morning Judy and I are off for laundry 

first thing in the morning.

Then back to meet Judy's date
and do some cooking.

I have some decorating,

receiving and cleaning to do.

Good Night from John Street.