Procrastination and Gaps Solitaire

Jamál (Beauty), 2 Ayyám-i-Há (The Days of Há), 173 BE - Sunday, February 26, 2017 CE about 11:52 AM Pacific Standard Time 

I'm having some issues updating this blog on a regular basis. I think my main problem is procrastination. My procrastination is caused by worrying. Worrying encourages me to play Gaps Solitaire instead of writing or doing anything else. Now that I've stated my problems I can do something about it. 

Now that I've stated the problem what do I do about it? I think the best thing to do is simply to procrastinate playing the game. Make myself a handwritten To Do List and when I find myself wanting to play Gaps check the list. I've been making myself a To Do List in a document on the computer. However, since I don't have printer cartridges my printer doesn't work properly. I'll have to scrape up the money to get the printer cartridges in March. 

That last paragraph brought me to another issue which is living on a fixed income. My fixed income needs fixing. Go ahead, laugh at that pun. At least I still have my sense of humor which is becoming weirder all the time.  I wish everyone a happy Sunday. 

Midweek Reflections on Letting Go

'Idál (Justice), 8 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 173 BE - Wednesday, January 25, 2017 AD about 11:07 AM Pacific Standard Time 

O Lord, 

Help me to let go 

Of yesterday's fears 

And mistakes. 

This morning I seem to be having difficulties letting go of yesterday's bad decisions and fears. I'm not sure precisely what is causing this problem today. I'm tired so it could be I didn't get enough sleep last night. I had a problem with my allergies last night so the coughing could have interfered with my rest.  I have some meds my doctor prescribed for the allergies which I didn't take last night. I take one of those meds tonight and see if that helps. I may have to call my doctor to get another prescription for those meds or a referral to a specialist. I'll deal with that after I see how many of those allergy talbets I have left. 

O Lord, 

Help me to let go 

To focus on your strength 

And forgiveness. 

I'm attempting to remember which prayer I said last night. I know I recited the evening prayer, but I don't remember reading anything from The Hidden Words or any other scripture. That could be one reason I'm having problems letting go this morning. I have put reading The Hidden Words on my daily To Do List that way I know I'll read a scripture verse. I may not get everything done on my To Do List, but I do get over 95% of the list accomplished. 

2015 Off to a good start

Jamal (Beauty), 5 Sharaf (Honor), 171 BE - Sunday, January 4, 2015 about 4:00 pm Pacific Standard Time

I have decided to forget the New Year's resolutions and make a To Do List instead. That way I can check off each item off as it is accomplished. I have worried and fretted over the past five or six days about my New Year's resolutions for 2015. I am procrastinating so rather then make the resolutions I am writing To Do List and then checking the items off as I accomplish them.

There are a few items on the list that will take a few weeks to complete, but at least I have a  plan and an approach to solving my some of my problems. I have to stop procrastinating. I have to stop worrying because worrying causes stress and stress causes me to forget things. It also causes me to avoid opening mail that I need to read immediately upon receiving it.

I will make another post later with some of the items on my To Do List. I finished the To Do List for dealing with the items in my writing.com port. I now have to work on doing something around the house. I know that I can do whatever I set my mind on, sometimes I have to force myself do what I need to do.

Twenty Fifteen is off to a good start. I have the momentum going and I have to keep up the effort in order to accomplish something. I also have to say prayers because I need spiritual help to make myself do things and to take action.

Thankful Thursday To Do List: February 27, 2014

Istijlál (Majesty), 2 Ayyám-i-Há (The Days of Há), 170 BE - Thursday, February 27, 2014 about 6:58 am Pacific Standard Time

1. Post Gratitude list on Poet 999's Thoughts about Writing and other Stuff.

2. Go to laundromat and do laundry.

3. Check g-mail inbox for surveys.

4. Check Cox inbox and respond to any mail from family.

5. Post updated status to Facebook.

6. Make entry in pen & paper journal.

7. Go to gym at 3:00 pm

8. Check bank accounts

9. Respond to prompt "What is the kindest thing someone has done to you this week?"

10. Check writing.com inbox.

11. Answer question "What else do I have to do today?"

Check list for reviewing or writing my weekly To Do List

Kamál {Perfection), 4 Mashíyyat (Will), 170 BE - Monday, September 30, 2013 about 9:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time

After reviewing my weekly "To Do List" this morning, I realized there were a couple of items I wanted on the list. I think the only reason I have for not list them is lack of attention, which is the results of drowsiness. Therefore, I have decided to make a check list for writing and reviewing my "To Do List".

1. Drink at least three cups of coffee before starting the "To Do List".
2. Take a short walk in the morning or afternoon sunlight before creating the list.
3. Check the previous week's list for any necessary additions.
4. Pour another cup of coffee before starting this weekly list.
5. Use check marks or word counts to indicate accomplishments.
6. Use X or dash indicate items not accomplished or completed.
7. Write necessary additions at bottom of present "To Do List".

Some of the things on the list I need to do only two or three times a week. I have to do my A priorities everyday, while I need to do my B priorities three or four time during the week. My C priorities are once a week activities and those can be skipped until the weekend if I need to put them off. As much as I dislike making the list and setting the priorities, I need the discipline.

A change of plans for this week

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 167 BE – Sunday, October 16, 2011 about 4:30 PM Pacific Time

I had planned to go to the laundromat on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. As it turns out, I have to remain home on Monday. If I let it, this will mess up my schedule for the week; however, I do not think I will let it. I have plenty to do here at home both on and off line.

I need to clean out the pantry and move some of the canned goods to another cupboard in the kitchen. I need to clean out Mom’s closet and my closet. We both have dresses that we will never wear, so I need to pack those in a box and give them away. I also need to get the spare room ready to rent. I am not sure the renting idea will work out, but it is worth a try because we need the money and I am tired of using that room as a “catch all”.

I suppose I need to write a “to do list” tonight so that I accomplish something tomorrow. If I can check a job off a list then I know I have accomplished something.

I woke up tired this morning

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Nur (Light), 166 BE – Monday, June 8, 2009 about 6:03 AM Pacific Time

I woke up tired this morning, obviously I didn't sleep well last night. In addition, when I went to look at the copy of yesterday's blog entry, I realized I didn't do a spell check. That isn't like me, I usually do a spell check. However, yesterday I didn't and this morning I found some misspellings. Today, of course, I will do the spell check.

I have an appointment with my mechanic this morning to have the car fixed. I'm not sure how long that will take, but I don't think I will get back on-line until this evening. I need to write some check list for blog entries, get a couple of cartridges for my printer, and pay my Internet connection fee. There's probably other things I need to do, but I can't think of them right now. When I do think of them I'm going to put them on my to do list, which I can't print out until I get cartridges for the printer.

I need to redo my priorities

‘Idál (Justice), 17 ‘Izzat (Might), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, September 24, 2008 about 3:04 PM Pacific Time

Part of the process of transformation is learning about oneself. I've learned a lot about myself in the past year. I've learned a lot about myself in the past month. One thing I've learned about myself lately is a tendency to do "make work" project that don't take me toward my ultimate goal. The things waste time, but they make the inner critic happy because they appear to take action while avoiding the challenging goals.

The 80/20 rule state that on a "to do list" of ten items two of those items return 80% of the value of the list. That is because two of those items lead a person to achieving he or she wants in life. I've found that to be true for me lately. Therefore, I'm going to change the way I make my "to do list" and the way I set my priorities.

Right now I'm reviewing the goals I have and rewrite my to do list. I set nineteen-day goals, so that I have a list that I can work with in a specific period. I'm going to rewrite that list for the next 19-day period because the way I'm doing it now isn't getting me anywhere near what I want.