Anxiety and procrastination, a cycle
One thing that just really fuels my anxiety is procrastination. I don't mean the 'wait till the last minute to do your homework' kind, but the kind in which you aren't supposed to procrastinate on...like applying more for jobs, or buying my textbooks on time, or getting my financial aid squared away. Luckily the latter I got taken care of but I just hate how its cyclic for me: I am too anxious to do some of these things, which causes me to procrastinate, which then causes more anxiety! Especially the job thing. I am currently so desperate for work and tend to panic over it because currently I get financial support from my grandparents but I don't want to rely on them all the time so much.
its like something is holding me back from doing what needs to be done, like I am separated from my goals and anxiety is the glass in which I cannot break. Anyone have experiences like this? How can one work through getting over anxiety-induced procrastination?
I can absolutely relate to you right now and I know how it feels. I have been looking for a job and have teacher training in September which I still need to complete forms for and apply for funding and pass tests and then because I applied slightly later, I need to start buying essentials for the teacher training start date. In between I have all of my graduation and family get togethers (because we don't see each other very often so we get together more in the summer) and it all starts to get a bit much. I'm so nervous all the time, which led me to write a list and looking at the list makes me feel stressed and anxious and then I feel too drained to do it. So what I did instead is I made smaller lists for each day, so two or three things to try, and for some strange reason, when the pressure was off with what I had to do, I very often would do 2 days worth of the work on my list in one day. I still have more to complete, but I am getting there. It is an endless cycle and can often lead to not knowing where to start. I would say, write down everything that you have to do in the next few days/ weeks, even if it is 'going out to the cinema' or something you would class as fun, and then arrange it by importance. So one day you could write your CV and look online for jobs and make a list. The next day you could visit some of those jobs, and so on... Work around everything that is already planned. Plus if you have a smaller list of things to do that you have assigned for that day, you will not only have more chance to get them done in the day, but you may also feel a real sense of accomplishment, rather than 'Ok I got only three things done, but I still have all of this to do and I don't want to do it now'... you know to leave the rest for the next day, and the next day and so on.
I hope this helps.
All the best,
starryRiver83 :)
I do this. Every day. It's hard, and I'm not I can be much help except to offer comfort.
one thing that did work for me was telling my best friend what I wanted to get done, and have her encouraging me, and demanding I show her the evidence of what I'd written every day. Just little steps, like 200 words until what I wanted was completed.
unfortunately, she has a busy life, so she couldn't constantly keep it up. I'll just have to push myself harder.
I also like making weekly lists of Lo the important things to be done, and working through them, day by day. It's really satisfying for my to cross something off the list, knowing I've actually got something done. I don't always cross everything off, but I'm getting better. Some days it's easier than others.
Hope this helps, maybe we can encourage each other, good luck!
I can soooooo relate! I've recently got thigs worked out between my insurance and my doctor for coverage regarding sick leave... I haven't had a paycheck in over a month. My insurance company should have taken care of everything but instead they had me playing phone yoyo and evety time I picked up my damn cellphone, I'd either be shaking just at the thought of it or be shaking by the end of the call. And that's just *that* part of my day, besides the chores, taking care of pets, plants, family, friends... Sometimes I feel so backed up in a corner that I can barely breathe if I pay attention to what needs to be done.
What's worked best for me so far is to do my utmost best to take the bull by the horns for TWO things: getting out of bed and getting one task done, ideally the most daunting. It's super scary but once it's done, I often have a surge of energy and pride! That often leads to getting other stuff done but I don't sweat it if I don't; I figure that at least I got that one big thing out of the way and that I have that to be proud of!