General Discussion

XemaSab

(60,212 posts) Sun May 27, 2012, 07:37 PM May 2012

Does anyone have any pointers for staying on task while underemployed? [View all]

Right now I am doing contract work, so there will be no work for a week or two and then suddenly a pile of work will drop on me.

This is all well and good, but I feel like I am wasting my free time.

I want to do stuff. I want to study Spanish, I want to work on a book project, and I want to be better at cooking and cleaning and yardwork. But what I wind up doing is spending the whole day engaged in one stupid task after another with nothing to show for it.

To put it another way, self-discipline for things that don't HAVE to be done is not my strong suit.

So how does everyone stay on task for these things, especially when working at home?

43 replies

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Does anyone have any pointers for staying on task while underemployed? [View all] XemaSab May 2012 OP

I hand-write a list in the morning. Even the piddly, stupid stuff goes on it as well as the enoyable riderinthestorm May 2012 #1

To do lists work for me too, although I don't put everything on them. Gormy Cuss May 2012 #4

What type of contract work? discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #2

I hate to say it because my posts are almost always train of thought but XemaSab May 2012 #15

I know I would be more productive if I'd just LiberalAndProud May 2012 #3

This should be a DUzY (of the ouroboros type, I think :) - n/t coalition_unwilling May 2012 #9

First I had to google Ouroboros, damnit. LiberalAndProud May 2012 #14

Is moving an option? randome May 2012 #5

My daughter just took a job 2000+ miles away. Even doing ALL of the moving herself, it cost @ $5k riderinthestorm May 2012 #8

I know where you're coming from. And I agree. randome May 2012 #11

I worked a few times near DC. discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #19

Ooh! I'm going to forward this asap to her! riderinthestorm May 2012 #22

What area is she near? discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #26

McLean Virginia. She's looked at a couple places in Leesburg but I did forward your suggestion last riderinthestorm May 2012 #33

There is... discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #35

I don't watch TV and I recently XemaSab May 2012 #16

or the computer. or open a book. HiPointDem May 2012 #24

Right now I am still in the "reading" phase of the research XemaSab May 2012 #29

how did this turn into a thread about moving to find work? magical thyme May 2012 #34

I have similar issues... octothorpe May 2012 #6

damn hfojvt May 2012 #7

There are Big Things to do in the yard XemaSab May 2012 #17

I try to arrange it where the small tasks add up or "stay done" bhikkhu May 2012 #28

Word XemaSab May 2012 #30

Solitaire. HopeHoops May 2012 #10

When I have personal projects I want to work on mythology May 2012 #12

Get married. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2012 #13

ways to get visibility on accomplishments NJCher May 2012 #18

Try writing a book. discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #20

I have a job in which I'm very much underemployed. SheilaT May 2012 #21

. XemaSab May 2012 #23

Ah, you have a private-sector writing fellowship. Next thing you know, they'll make coalition_unwilling May 2012 #27

A private-sector writing fellowship! I LOVE it. SheilaT May 2012 #38

Yeah, I've never quite gotten the hang of purely electronic revision. There's coalition_unwilling May 2012 #39

I can always do a first draft on the computer, and some revisions SheilaT May 2012 #40

Tee-hee-hee. During a slow summer once, while at a very dull job working coalition_unwilling May 2012 #42

Ifd I had a real writing/editing job, I'd have to be working while on the job. SheilaT May 2012 #43

Good for you. truedelphi May 2012 #31

Are you looking for a job with more hours? That would take your free time. Honeycombe8 May 2012 #25

I have the same problem. wildeyed May 2012 #32

I took Spanish at the JC XemaSab May 2012 #37

sometimes rewarding myself with a brownie works magical thyme May 2012 #36

A written schedule, on-line classes, make lists and find satisfaction in striking when completed. lonestarnot May 2012 #41