The Now Habit

[lifequest]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I read the first part of Covey's book 3 years ago, but I wasn't in PD at the time, and felt his instructions were too vague for me. But since I've read a few book, I'm starting to see how they interact and complete each other, so maybe I should fish it out of my library. Or find the audio version, I find that's really convenient when you're on the go.

[arithhuh]

Yupp..!

[lifequest]

Well, it's been a while since I wrote, so here's an update.

I decided to do a little experiment. This semester is my last one, and my work load was less than usual because I had less courses to follow. I worked hard at the beginning of the semester, but now, I'm in a position where I feel that I am able to finish with this semester with good grades even if I take a lot of time for myself. So, for the last 2 weeks, if I didn't feel like working, I just didn't. If I felt like staying up late, I did. If I wanted to sleep in late, I did. At first, it didn't feel right. I mean, I'm used to working all the time, and doing work I don't necessarily like (well, studying is studying after all!). But I must say, my important work has gotten done anyway, and it's making me think that I haven't taken enough time for myself in the past. Now, for the rest of this semester, I'm gonna go with the flow. This semester has proven me that if I want to do it, I can. I was able to get up early and study, something I wasn't able to do for years. For now, I find there isn't a strong reason for me to do it. I'm taking it relax for 'till january, when I start working at my new job. At that moment, I am gonna get back on the getting early schedule.

In the mean time, I'm gonna have some free time during christmas vacation, so I've already planned to put up a gtd system. I tried to start to put up a system in the recent weeks, but putting it in place by small chunks doesn't help me to get the big picture of the system. So, I think it will be better if I take a couple of consecutive days to put it all in place.

'till next time, take care everyone!

[tinasu]

lifequest,

Have you tried visualizing yourself succeeding in what you're trying to achieve?
For example, I've found it helpful to see myself succeed in getting up early and how awesome it felt. I'd do this the night before. I've also found it helpful to practice the motion of getting up instantly when the alarm goes off.

Let us know what's been working for you.

[artman]

i was just trying to deal with this idea of the now. I have read that the present is where i need to be. not to think of the future or past but stay in the moment to get the best out of life.
but i read an article on memory loss and how this one guy has no memory at all. ask him a question and he will answer and ask him again in 5 minutes and he doesnt remember you asking him. so what the article said was that he is in a good mood and has no worries cause he just doesnt remember. he is stuck in the present. he has no sense of time. he is in the present but ultimately lost. so how is being in the present such a good thing?

[Ilya]

Originally Posted by artman

he is stuck in the present. he has no sense of time. he is in the present but ultimately lost. so how is being in the present such a good thing?

Well, artman, you are pushing the analogy a little to far. The guy has the mental illness. His problem is not being happy or stuck. His problem is not having a choice about remembering the past. And all the inconvenience it causes him or the people around him.
The usual talk of being in the present applies to people who have that choice. And often people choose to stay exlusively in the past or in the future. And not in the best parts of it. Using your terms, they are stuck in some bad moment in the past and don't notice the good world around them. In this respect they are in a worse position than the guy you write about.

The exercises that aim to put us in the now, have the goal to break this pattern, to give back the choice to the people. Personally, I think that being stuck is bad, no matter where you stuck. I think that people should strive to increase the number of options available to them in every area of the life.