problems with planning and organizing

Post Reply New Topic

hi there,

i am especially bad in planning and organizing things, and I don't know actually why I am such bad.

I think part of the problem is, that I fear that it can't be done.... I don't know... ok for example: I have to go to a seminar in a couple of days, and I have to read for this seminar some books, some are more important some less... but instead of planning which things to do then... I just read each book after each other.... and I got probably not enough time to read all of them... actually I also don't know how long which book will take to read. maybe its because i fear that i can't read all,... and I can't decide to do something not... to go not into details about this and that... and then I just don't plan ... i fear i can't read all in full detail... and then just try to escape this fear by ignoring it... and not to plan anything.

What do you think about that? can you relate? What prevents you from planing and organizing?


thanks,
anton

Last edited by antonblock on 04 Jul 2011, 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hey Anton

It sounds to me like you are talking about a similar issue that I have. That is, the perfectionist/extremes trait. I had extreme issues at Uni doing my degree. Whenever I thought about an assignment I had due, I could only imagine the absolute perfect way for it to be done. But for me to do that, it would have taken mega effort, resources, and time that I didn't have. So therefore the only other option to me was just to not do it at all coz it just always seemed so big. I never planned, I never broke it down into doable steps, I just ignored it and procrastinated to the max! I would start assignments the day they were due and never proof read them because all they were to me was the "word count" and something to hand in so that I wouldn't fail the subject. I always passed somehow, and I never collected my assignments once they were marked.

And now this same trait follows me into my Life now, trying to organise all the things I do in my Life! My mind gets over excited thinking up all this stuff I want to do in my Life, so I start it but then never have enough time and energy to do it all.

I am learning now to just PLAN it. To work out the goals that I want to achieve, to write down what needs to be done and which goals are the bigger priorities, and I am about to create a massive diary/calendar to schedule in small steps each week to get me to my goal. My experience with my Life Coaching has really benefited me with this.

As for specifically what you refer to with reading the books. I can totally relate!! ! I always fear that if I haven't read the book in its entirety that I won't be able to do the assignment/exam/seminar correctly. What helps me is to look at the contents, skim the book and get a general feel for the big picture first. I refer back to the Question or topic a lot to make sure I stay right on track and don't stray. I try to read only the areas that most definitely refer only to the topic I am working on. I also might like to read a small chunk of each book in order to get a feel for which writing style I prefer and which one seems to be on par most with the topic.
Other than that, and I know it sounds bad, but I just try to lower my own expectations and make my 1st priority not to do it PERFECTLY, but just to DO IT.

Good luck with it, I know how hard it is

you may have a "phobia",
where i may have a "philia".
have you heard of anything sillier,
in the travels of your mind?

although the world moves "slow by ya" ("slow by you")
you get a chance to "really ah"...
suss it completely out, and leave uncertainty behind.