Texas-
Don’t worry too much about what (within reason) or how much you write, I think we all have those tendencies, and isn’t that comforting to hear?! I myself am pretty new to this, but I will try to help with you what helps me.
First, making sure that there is a glass of water and a pill right by the alarm, sounds simple. My problem comes in with the snooze button, my FAVORITE invention, but I have been really trying to train myself to do this…. I set the alarm for an hour earlier than I want to actually get up, then before I allow myself to push the button of my dreams, down the hatch with the pill and water. I habitually press snooze at least three times, and after the third or so 15 min nap, I can get up not feeling crappy, since the meds started to kick in while I was in dreamland. Obviously you can alter this to fit your tendencies and time constraints.
Second, then with that extra 15 min, before I get my daughter up and off to school and I start my life, I have time to allow myself to “snap into” my brain for the day. I can make a list of what I need to do by 8 when she gets on the bus, slam some caffiene, have a cig, whatever I need at that time. This has helped a TON. Not only do I find myself not as frantic, or behind schedule first thing, but my mood is that of a “normal” person ;P
Third, after my daughter is gone, I fight the same fight with working from home motivation issues, so I take another 10-15 min to block out the next time frame I want to work with. Again tailored to what I have to/ want to/ feel up to accomplishing for that time. At first I worked with smaller chunks of time, but have been able to expand on it as I find new ways to manage. When that time is up, another short break while I switch gears, and plan the next hour or two of life, and so on through the day.
Fourth, I try to be realistic, and take it easy on myself if it doesn’t quite go as planned. Really, when was the last time anything went as planned?! But I found trying to plan, and make a list, and continue follow through from 6;30 am to 11:30 pm was WAY too much for my poor brain, and it never worked once. This way I have a lot more successful days than not, less gets left out, especially the all important taking care of me part of the day. I think its because I can change it up, so I don’t get bored, which also helps, and if I want to skip the workout, and spend time playing a video game its ok, because I don’t have this idea planted in the back of my head that I’m not using my time well.
And Finally, the best part! I try to give myself a treat at the end of the day, for anything that got accomplished, and for the simple fact that I got up and gave it my best shot! At first I started with a small treat at the end of each time block that I planned out, then stretched it out when I got more used to it all.
I guess I really just find it helpful to break the day down into tiny more manageable bits, not set up a plan that’s bound to be disrupted and still allows me to go with the flow, and to remember that a little reward is usually enough to push me through an hour or two of something that I don’t love to do. ( I now have an entire kitchen cabinet of candies, expensive nuts, new fingernail polish, etc. that’s off limits to anyone else, so I have rewards available) Also if the last chunk of time in the day is something I really am looking forward to, then that also becomes a reward in itself, and I find myself pushing through the rest to get to that special something I want.
Anyway, I hope some part of this helps! And as I said, feel free to alter it to you and your lifestyle, or toss the info altogether! 