BAKICIDW/LJ: Refocusing

[firecat]

Are there any books, web sites, communities, or apps for this? --> "Getting things done when you're depressed, easily fatigued, easily distracted, virtually unable to prioritize, and tending to have a problem with authority, including your own."

Are there any for this? --> "Relearning how to set and follow through with goals when you've forgotten how and have the issues mentioned above."

In the past I've tried and failed to be inspired by Flylady, Unfuck Your Habitat, Getting Things Done, TiddlyWiki, and various others. But if you have issues similar to mine and use them effectively, feel free to explain how.

I keep on top of small tasks using a reminder app (*and I need to remember that I used to have trouble with that, so my current state of frustration is actually a little distance down the road of where I think I want to go, so yay?*) but so far I haven't figured out how to make it work for bigger projects.

ETA: I'm mainly seeking recs for tools/books/communities that you have worked with. I know the guidelines (such as "break down the task" and "designate x minutes to work on the task") but I get into states where I have a hard time putting the guidelines into practice.

Comments

[elainegrey.livejournal.com]

It's not specifically for depressed folks, but i found http://jenniferlouden.com/products/satisfaction-finder-buy/ very helpful.

Many of the concepts were fairly familiar, but the condition of enoughness has been helpful. I won't say it's made me rock and solved every task oriented issue, but it has made me very aware of both unrealistic expectations and honoring my energy levels.

Conditions of Enoughness (COE)

"This will be satisfying because i have declared it enough. It is my life, I get to decide"

1. name what is enough in simple facts [Specific Measurable Actionable]
3. insure they are achievable in an average day [Realistic]
2. include a time element [Timebound]
4. Declare yourself satisfied when your conditions are met -- even if you don't feel satisfied.

STOP when you have completed what you said what you said you would do. Declare it enough.

One of the complementary techniques i came up with is influenced by "pomodoro" techniques and the fact that part of my sense of overwhelm is that there are too many ought-to-dos that aren't critical or urgent. I'll make lists of things that need to be done, number them, roll 20d (or more often use a command line random number generator) , take the task and work on it for a set period of time. For some unending tasks, it's good enough to just do one lap and move on to something else. Sometimes i have two sets of things: things that will take me away from the desk, and then a major desk project, and i'll take breaks by randomly following the outcome of the random number.

For me, there's something about the randomness that breaks through a certain getting started inertia, and the practice of saying something's done when the clock says it's done has helped with my perfectionism.

[firecat]

Thank you, the "I get to stop" concept is what's missing from so many productivity systems.

I've also got a random creative idea picker, but I stopped using it. Maybe I'll try to pick it up again.