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Inertia

(33 Posts)
Granny23 Fri 05-Jan-18 11:20:30

Has anybody got hints or tips on what to do when you are gripped by inertia, feel totally flat and cannot force yourself to tackle the mountain of essential paperwork and other tasks demanding your attention.

Working yesterday on the idea that accomplishing a couple of tasks would break the dead lock. I forced myself to go to the Bank in the nearby town which will close in April to get some advice re transferring to Internet Banking. Home to complete this simple task - 3 hours, 3 phone calls later the task is completed but has generated a whole pile of old statements, LPO documents, etc. Time to make the Tea, then commence a search of the back bedroom for childhood photos requested by family for memorial of old friend who died, in Canada at New Year. Light bulb pops off with a bang, search continues by torch light, with no success, but livingroom awash with boxes and albums of old photies, joining the Christmas tree and decorations waiting to be taken to the shed 'when the rain stops'.

This am sitting here at computer, still in PJs, (though DH is up dressed and fed - what to do next? I don't know where to start. Any ideas, folks?

Day6 Sat 06-Jan-18 12:36:03

I am the world's worst when it comes to getting round to things. Retirement is absolutely wonderful in that my life became so much less stressful, but, for someone like me, lack of routine isn't good. I am sure I could spend the rest of my life reading, musing, writing, navel gazing, catching up on good TV programmes and generally idling my time away in blissful, self indulgent contentment. Retirement has meant I am less active and less organised even though I have much more time on my hands. Part of me loves it and thinks it's well deserved after a hard working life full of cares and worries but I know I have to strike a balance. I need my own sergeant major to bark orders at me and scare me into achieving once more. Quite a nice dilemma to have but I do have so much to do and little inclination to do any of it.

Day6 Sat 06-Jan-18 12:58:52

Sorry Granny23, I meant to add that I am obviously not the person to advise you regarding lack of mojo! My guilt is the only thing to drive me on these days! Being conscious of my lack of achievement and allowing a bit of deferred gratification, like just one more cup of tea, chapter of book or episode of whatever it is I am watching becomes my treat, and after that I am duty-bound to get up and do a task. Once I get started I tend to keep going for a while. My best wishes to you Granny23. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate to contend with. X

Jalima1108 Sat 06-Jan-18 13:30:18

1 Log out of Gransnet
2 Make a list
3 Read list two or three times
4 Have a shower, get dressed
5 Make a cup of coffee
6 Re-read list
7 Start going through the list and do the worst job first, then cross it off the list.
8 You will begin to feel better.

Do not log on to Gransnet until tasks are completed.

Granny23 Tue 09-Jan-18 12:04:38

Prophetic words, Jalima On Friday my Phone, Wifi and Internet were intermittent, by Saturday it was out cold. Through the night the MECS alarm kept bleating 'check your mains supply' at half hour intervals and I kept expecting them to arrive at the door to see if DH was alright.
managed to dig out the old mobile, charged it up and was able to phone the Hub and let them know what was wrong.

It was a cold but sunny day so in the afternoon I tackled task 12 - to take the car for a long run at motorway speeds to clear the exhaust of the effects of numerous short runs. That was lovely, road clear and quiet but snowy covered hills on both sides. Cup of coffee and a cake in a cafe and then zoomed home before dark.

Sunday, I enlisted SIL (both DD's familes in quarantine with virus) to find me a phone number for internet provider (why is all info re restoring internet on line, when obviously you cannot go online to access it? Spent over an hour on mobile while line was checked etc. Fault lies with BT line and Engineer booked to come tomorrow AM. Between Sunday and Monday - ALL outstanding paperwork tasks have been completed and last night, DD2 broke her self imposed quarantine to bring me a smart phone and by some technological magic beyond my ken, has given me a Wifi signal - so here I am.

Ain't it amazing how much you can get done when you can't access Facebook, Gransnet, Games?

Nonnie Tue 09-Jan-18 12:28:16

Sounds to me as if you don't need motivation, you seem to be getting a lot done already.

I find that simply giving in to it on the bad days is OK and getting on with it on better days is easier. Sometime I just do the things which can be done quickly so at least I can feel I have achieved something. Other days I can start at one end and work through.

Jalima1108 Tue 09-Jan-18 20:14:08

Ain't it amazing how much you can get done when you can't access Facebook, Gransnet, Games?
Yes, it certainly is.

Or Ancestry ..... although you could argue that going on genealogical sites is 'getting things done'

I like thinking, planning and dreaming, though, and have to give myself a metaphorical kick up the backside to actually do these things!

Fennel Wed 10-Jan-18 10:12:35

Perhaps it's the time of the year, Granny23.
I've just read in the local paper about a roof collapsing in a village and the locals were "woken from their winter torpor at 7pm" by the noise.