Successfully changing to become organised and motivated?
Successfully changing to become organised and motivated?
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Woodrow Wilson

Original Poster:

392 posts

189 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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Is it really possible to go from being merely an inquisitive, scatter-brained, paperwork-hating, easily distracted person with motivation issues, but articulate and fairly bright, intelligent person to an organised, motivated, achiever?

Having tried numerous times to change, I have become a little more organised in myself, but still struggle with engagement in tasks that I am not interested in -at work and at home.

I'm not a lazy person ...if I am interested in something. I get up early, exercise a lot, don't laze around watching TV, read a lot and enjoy learning and making/repairing things for my own interest and satisfaction (but not for exams).

I just often feel that I cannot be a'rsed to do things that don't interest me, especially things that require attention to detail. I get distracted very quickly. This seems to affect me more than most people.

p1stonhead

30,133 posts

196 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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Ice White Socks

73 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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I would find that funny if it wasn't so utterly accurate about me! Particular loved the panic monster-thanks for posting that :-)

944fan

4,962 posts

214 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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p1stonhead said:
I might read that later.

p1stonhead

30,133 posts

196 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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Ice White Socks said:
I would find that funny if it wasn't so utterly accurate about me! Particular loved the panic monster-thanks for posting that :-)
Literally is me through school and Uni. Thankfully my real world job has kicked it out of me and I'm 'normal' now hehe

Flibble

6,538 posts

210 months

Saturday 7th November 2015
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944fan said:
I might read that later.
hehe

Woodrow Wilson

Original Poster:

392 posts

189 months

Monday 9th November 2015
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p1stonhead said:
Yes, that pretty much sums it up and is amusingly (and depressingly) accurate in places.

If somebody is that way inclined (along with a tendency towards disorganisation and 'scattered' thoughts) though, it is extremely difficult to change, especially so if there is nobody cracking the whip.

The people who are intelligent and able to focus on any task given to them without needing to 'work' at just focussing before they begin the tasks are very lucky.

Breaking large, off-putting, tasks down into smaller chunks can work, to a degree.

In my case, I am able to communicate and mingle with high achievers, but just do not deliver to the same standard or with the same degree of devotion.

Changing habits that have been there since childhood is extremely difficult.

PositronicRay

28,950 posts

212 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
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This is me also. smile (I even forgot to go on a course entitled, "time management and personal effectiveness")

I just have to work harder at the things I'm st at (mostly paperwork) I wound up with a reputation for being efficient and organised. But it took years, knowing my job inside out and computers to achieve it. (My handwritings crap)

My trick, lists for everything and do all the st 1st. I go to work early (I hate working late) to give me quiet time I can concentrate in.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 11th November 07:32

Monty Python

4,813 posts

226 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
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I think a lot of it is down to how your brain is wired.

Although I work with a lot of people who have similar academic qualifications, there are still some who don't seem to be able to complete one job - they start it then either get bored or distracted by something else. I must be lucky in that respect in that I can plan what I need to do in my head, then do it - it also helps that in most cases I'm interested in the outcome.

If you have trouble getting organized with things - as mentioned above - draw up a plan of action before you start. Read through it to make sure (a) the stages are in the right order and (b) what you get at the end is what you're actually after. If you keep doing this it may start to become second nature and you'll be able to stop drawing up plans each time.

Another thing I find useful is to have all my regular experimental procedures written down, so I have something to look at if I need to do something several months later.

TwistingMyMelon

6,506 posts

234 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
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p1stonhead said:
Great link, thanks for the share

p1stonhead

30,133 posts

196 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
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TwistingMyMelon said:
p1stonhead said:
Great link, thanks for the share
The whole website is fantastic. Particularly 'The Fermi Paradox' and 'A.I' ones.

DuncanM

7,451 posts

308 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
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p1stonhead said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
p1stonhead said:
Great link, thanks for the share
The whole website is fantastic. Particularly 'The Fermi Paradox' and 'A.I' ones.
Brilliant link thank you!

GlenMH

5,458 posts

272 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
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Get a Myers-Briggs practitioner to do a preferred type exercise with you - you may well find it very enlightening!