“Willpower 1.0” Self Discipline program
It’s hard to start over after a full stop
April was unjustifying slow for me, despite it had to be just the opposite. I took part in SAC and my productivity had to skyrocket. I had all the reasons to believe in that.
I was writing an original post a week in my main blog, I was ready to put time and effort, I was ready for two project at a time, but everything went just the opposite.
I took a week of vacation with my family at the start of April, had some business to catch up, so did nothing to my internet projects for two weeks. I checked the workload on SAC after that, and felt overwhelmed big time.
Two weeks after that I was looking for slightest excuse to procrastinate. Boy how good I am at procrastination. If only I could monetize on that.
I tried to write some posts this week, but I find that my skill got rusty during that empty month and it’s not so easy anymore to write even a 1k word post. What a pain.
At the end of a month I found myself with pretty much no work done and lots of guilt in my soul. I guess this is the first pitfall where people stop and never continue. It is easier to stop then feel that pain from low result, shame and guilt of letting yourself down.
I’m writing this so no need to tell you I am not stopping at this first hole of laziness and procrastination. I need a plan to fight it and that's what I came with.
Willpower 1.0
Logic of my program is this: I have to do an action every single day. The difference is volume.
Plan minimum- mandatory to be done every day including Christmas and a day after wildest birthday party.
- Writing 100 words
- 1 comment on WA
The reason of this micro amount of work is to keep going. It’s not about progress, it’s about the day after, when I’ll be doing my day plan. Time needed- 20- 30 minutes.
Day plan- I expect 5 days at least of this volume from now on.
- Writing 500- 700 words
- Research:3- 5 statements for future articles
- 30 minutes site development.
- 2 comments on WA
This is enough of day work to my mind to develop with both projects I am on- SAC and my quit smoking support site. It should take 2- 2,5 hours
Maximum productivity plan- This suits for those days then I feel energetic, full of ideas and motivation. Would be happy to have 2 days like this a week. They count for a day plan of course
- Writing 1200- 1500 words
- Research 5- 7 statements for future articles
- 45 minutes site development
- 2-3 comments on WA
This is maximum of progress I expect from myself a day. It should take 3-4 hours.
I will also grant myself points.
- Plan minimum- 1 point
- Daily plan- 3 points
- Plan maximum- 5 points
My aim is to collect 20 points a week, but I will calculate all the points at the end of May, and make a conclusion about myself.
<50 points a month- I am not motivated. Should consider blogging as a hobby, or change motivation/ accountability system
50- 80 points a month- OK result. That is what I was expecting. I can move forward in this manner, but to my own interest is to keep my score closer to 80 next month.
>80 I put lots of work in to my projects and should be happy about a result. If I am not happy with my result, I have to change something. Ask for opinions of WA community, consider private coaching.
Consistency and Common Sense
I will use common sense during this program. Will not try to write nonsense if I am deadly tired just to meet my goal. I also not planning to stop at 700 words sharp if I am going for a daily plan that day. The goal is not points. Goal is self-discipline and working on my projects each and every day.
I leave a right to myself to change tasks a little bit, considering training programs I take part at the moment. I also promise myself not to do any discounts to my laziness and procrastination. Will make an excel spreadsheet for point counting and start this program, created by me for myself from 1th of May.
If anybody shares with me what self-discipline techniques they tried, I will be thankful a lot. I am interested in the subject, and all tips and tricks you can share with me, are a find for me.
Recent Comments
5
This is good. You're doing great. I'm struggling to keep up with SAC. I still have my other site and now building a second one and the challenge puts a lot on me because now I have to do more training starting from the beginning.
I need your motivation!! I'm only on post 9 on my site and still have 3 more to go this month.
Keep pushing.
Oh, dear Jeanette, you are so ahead. I put SAC tasks as priority compared to my other site. I think it was a mistake, as I was on track with my site, and it is very important to me. SAC on the other hand, is important for me as a craft learning project. So in terms of writing posts, I changed priorities now. I think it will decrease my procrastination on writing. Maybe it is also your case.
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Thanks for your honesty. You have some good ideas!
Also, good for you that you are trying to help people stop smoking. Smoking killed my dad.
Forge ahead!
Barb
Thank you for your kind words, Barbara. I am sorry for your dad and hope you will not lose any more close ones from smoking. If you know people, who needs some tips and tricks to quit smoking, be free to share www.smokingisachoice.com I advocate a bit different approach than most internet resources.
Thanks. Will do.