Rationally I know what is time (heck, I did my PhD in physics, so I have an edge here). When it comes to actions... I often zone out, daydream, get distracted by a random post, get too focused so I spend well more time than I realize on something I didn't plan to do, etc.
Once I realized this NOW vs NOT NOW, I set some triggers to make a project "NOW".
Of course, one natural trigger is "the final deadline is tomorrow", but it gets risky and unhealthy.
Other is (I am a freelancer, so there is no natural "we are in the office"):
- setting coworking sessions (then during a meeting there is NOW for the project)
- setting regular meetings (to create a lot of smaller deadlines)
- I try to respond to emails only twice a day, in blocks (so a short question won't turn into NOW against my wished)
- I essentially dropped the hope of doing things well in advance... and it was good. For example, when I give a talk, I book time the same day to prepare it. And it works. The other alternative is to agonize over a week, and they still (in a self-hating mood) prepare things the last minute, but without booking enough time or energy.
Still learning that, so I am very open for pointers.
I thought you might appreciate this clip from a lecture by Dr. Russell Barkley which explains how to use the environment to compensate for ADHD (externalize everything - time, to-do's, motivation, rewards, feedback) and how to keep your willpower reserves high (frequent breaks, positive self-talk and positive mental pictures, meditation and exercise).
Rationally I know what is time (heck, I did my PhD in physics, so I have an edge here). When it comes to actions... I often zone out, daydream, get distracted by a random post, get too focused so I spend well more time than I realize on something I didn't plan to do, etc.
Once I realized this NOW vs NOT NOW, I set some triggers to make a project "NOW".
Of course, one natural trigger is "the final deadline is tomorrow", but it gets risky and unhealthy.
Other is (I am a freelancer, so there is no natural "we are in the office"):
- setting coworking sessions (then during a meeting there is NOW for the project)
- setting regular meetings (to create a lot of smaller deadlines)
- I try to respond to emails only twice a day, in blocks (so a short question won't turn into NOW against my wished)
- I essentially dropped the hope of doing things well in advance... and it was good. For example, when I give a talk, I book time the same day to prepare it. And it works. The other alternative is to agonize over a week, and they still (in a self-hating mood) prepare things the last minute, but without booking enough time or energy.
Still learning that, so I am very open for pointers.