This reminds me of the time spent in Edmonton with The Husband as we managed my parents care and the house after they died. We would tell ourselves two things--“Just do the next thing.” And “What’s the reality here.”
Wow, Megan, this is spot on. Amazing thoughts and such eloquent writing. I, too, am a fan of thinking of only the next task. It’s a much more effective approach. I remember complaining to a counsellor years ago that I have “so much to do!” And he gently reminded me that no, I only have one thing to do. And then, when that’s done, another thing to do. And so on. That “one thing to do” has helped me for years. And you have now reminded me that I need to clean out my storage locker! 😁
I get myself into the gym by only thinking about the first ten minutes. I promise myself that if I am still uninterested in working out after ten minutes of warm-up cardio then I can leave. I never do of course, because after ten minutes I'm ready to lift heavy things and have the endorphins to do it! One task at a time is a little white lie, like "just ten minutes" but it seems to work!
Great minds think alike! I do the same thing on a run. I commit to 3km and then assess each km after that. I always do 5, and often 6 or 7km. It does work! (PS: glad to hear you are still lifting!)
Enjoyed the thinking and musings on procrastination, Megan. So much food for thought. And isn't it uncanny how appliance life comes in multiples!! Grrr....In the good old days, appliances kept on working and serving us but in this age it seems to have built-in obsolescence to drive us wild!
Both the dishwasher and the washing machine are about 15 years old - so I think they had a pretty good run. Not sure about the hot water heater - but it's at least a dozen years. I'm just hoping that our new appliances have that much life in them (but I'm pretty sure they won't given the state of planned obsolescence).
Such a great meditation on the conundrums of adulting and procrastination. We talk about our future selves a lot here, to try to ground what we are doing, and thank our past selves when we benefit in the future from things that we did with up front costs and payout later.
Thanks! I have totally said outloud "Thanks past me!" when something I did before makes now easier. I find it interesting that we essentially perceive our future selves as strangers - but it makes a lot of sense in explaining present behaviour!
This reminds me of the time spent in Edmonton with The Husband as we managed my parents care and the house after they died. We would tell ourselves two things--“Just do the next thing.” And “What’s the reality here.”
It really helped a lot.
Wow, Megan, this is spot on. Amazing thoughts and such eloquent writing. I, too, am a fan of thinking of only the next task. It’s a much more effective approach. I remember complaining to a counsellor years ago that I have “so much to do!” And he gently reminded me that no, I only have one thing to do. And then, when that’s done, another thing to do. And so on. That “one thing to do” has helped me for years. And you have now reminded me that I need to clean out my storage locker! 😁
I get myself into the gym by only thinking about the first ten minutes. I promise myself that if I am still uninterested in working out after ten minutes of warm-up cardio then I can leave. I never do of course, because after ten minutes I'm ready to lift heavy things and have the endorphins to do it! One task at a time is a little white lie, like "just ten minutes" but it seems to work!
Great minds think alike! I do the same thing on a run. I commit to 3km and then assess each km after that. I always do 5, and often 6 or 7km. It does work! (PS: glad to hear you are still lifting!)
Enjoyed the thinking and musings on procrastination, Megan. So much food for thought. And isn't it uncanny how appliance life comes in multiples!! Grrr....In the good old days, appliances kept on working and serving us but in this age it seems to have built-in obsolescence to drive us wild!
Both the dishwasher and the washing machine are about 15 years old - so I think they had a pretty good run. Not sure about the hot water heater - but it's at least a dozen years. I'm just hoping that our new appliances have that much life in them (but I'm pretty sure they won't given the state of planned obsolescence).
Such a great meditation on the conundrums of adulting and procrastination. We talk about our future selves a lot here, to try to ground what we are doing, and thank our past selves when we benefit in the future from things that we did with up front costs and payout later.
Thanks! I have totally said outloud "Thanks past me!" when something I did before makes now easier. I find it interesting that we essentially perceive our future selves as strangers - but it makes a lot of sense in explaining present behaviour!