Get me to my work on time
January 8, 2010 11:45 AM Subscribe
Help me figure out how to get up and to work on time while getting the timing right for my ADD medication and balancing other responsibilities.
Just got called on the carpet (and rightfully so) by my boss this morning because I'm not getting into work as early as he needs me to (most folks in our office get in between 9:30 and 10, but he needs me there at 9 on the nose so that we can meet before everyone else arrives).
I have ADD, and I'm really bad at mornings (and at getting to bed, too, which is part of this).
Here are the things I need to balance to figure this out. What plans and adjustments to my routine (and my life) can I make to get myself in bed by 11 and out the door by 8:15?
For folks who don't have ADD: please don't respond with things that say something like "just focus" or "just put down the computer." My brain, unfortunately, doesn't work that way.
Just got called on the carpet (and rightfully so) by my boss this morning because I'm not getting into work as early as he needs me to (most folks in our office get in between 9:30 and 10, but he needs me there at 9 on the nose so that we can meet before everyone else arrives).
I have ADD, and I'm really bad at mornings (and at getting to bed, too, which is part of this).
Here are the things I need to balance to figure this out. What plans and adjustments to my routine (and my life) can I make to get myself in bed by 11 and out the door by 8:15?
- When I take my medication: currently, I try to take my medication right before I head out the door, so I'll be able to focus for as much of the workday as possible (it kicks in about 30 minutes after I take it). The downside of this is that I don't get any benefit from it to get me through my morning routine. Also, regardless of when I take it in the morning, I won't have the benefit of it at night, which is when distraction keeps me from getting to bed.
- My computer: the internet is a major distraction for me. It's like ADD candy (there's always something NEW! and something MORE!). But I need to have my computer around and internet enabled, both for graphic design projects and for editorial work. I've made my bedroom a no computer zone, which helps, but I still end up hanging out in the living room bouncing from thing to thing to thing until the wee hours of the morning, and hopping onto the computer in the morning to log my weight and check my email turns into a major timesuck.
- Errands: I'm usually at the office well after business hours, so things like dry cleaning, banking, etc., have to happen before I go to work.
- Weighing myself: I weigh myself every morning just after I get up, and log my weight in an online spreadsheet. It's an important part of my routine, and keeping it online means that I can always do it, even when I'm out of town. I want to keep doing this, but it's often the gateway into distraction on the computer.
- Breakfast: preparing it, eating it, and washing up after often seem to take way more time than I have. (And I'm not doing anything complicated, just yogurt and honey or cheese and crackers.) Getting breakfast on the way to work and eating it at my desk is similarly time consuming.
For folks who don't have ADD: please don't respond with things that say something like "just focus" or "just put down the computer." My brain, unfortunately, doesn't work that way.
I thought of something my husband suggested for me once, but couldn't remember the name, so I ran this Google search. Might something like one of those time-limiting software options help you with controlling the Internet timesuck? I know their aimed at parents to limit kids' Internet use, but I imagine it could be effective for adults as well. For the morning, you could estimate how long you actually need to log your weight (say, 5min?), and set the program accordingly. For the evening, you could set a deadline to be off the computer, like 11:00pm.
posted by Meg_Murry at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by Meg_Murry at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2010
Maybe get one of those alarms that have the capability of having two times on them, and set one for 1045pm and one for when you wake up? That way once the alarm goes off at night, you MUST DROP EVERYTHING, brush your teeth, and go to bed.
posted by Grither at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by Grither at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2010
I don't know how to help in the morning, because I have the same problem of getting distracted first thing in the morning. But I do have two suggestions for getting to sleep at night.
The first is general purpose advice usually doled out to people who have trouble getting to sleep, and is this: no sleeping in. Not ever. You set a wake up time, and you always, always wake up at that time, no matter what. This forces your body onto a regular schedule, and eventually you'll getting tired and wanting to go to bed early enough in the evening that you'll get enough sleep. I can tell from experience that this works. I can also tell you that it sucks, and I've never been able to keep it up for more than a month or two at a time; it particularly gets in the way of late night weekend socializing, which is why I've always fallen off the wagon. Second, this may just not be an option for you, depending on how late you end up at the office sometimes.
Second piece of advice for getting to be on time: set a daily alarm on your phone, after which you have to get off the computer. If you're trying to get to bed by 11, set it for 10:30. An alarm makes a big difference on these sorts of things, I've found. If you're just saying to yourself "Oh man, it's 10:30 and I need to go to bed," you're going to continue with "but man this thread on the blue is SO INTERESTING" and keep reading. If there's an outside source chirping at you saying your computer time is over, you're more likely to pay attention, especially if you train yourself to close your laptop immediately the moment the phone goes off. (Assuming you have one of those laptops that automatically goes into sleep mode when you close it, and make sure you leave it plugged in.)
For mornings? Fuck, I don't know. Hopefully this thread can help me, too.
posted by Caduceus at 12:12 PM on January 8, 2010
The first is general purpose advice usually doled out to people who have trouble getting to sleep, and is this: no sleeping in. Not ever. You set a wake up time, and you always, always wake up at that time, no matter what. This forces your body onto a regular schedule, and eventually you'll getting tired and wanting to go to bed early enough in the evening that you'll get enough sleep. I can tell from experience that this works. I can also tell you that it sucks, and I've never been able to keep it up for more than a month or two at a time; it particularly gets in the way of late night weekend socializing, which is why I've always fallen off the wagon. Second, this may just not be an option for you, depending on how late you end up at the office sometimes.
Second piece of advice for getting to be on time: set a daily alarm on your phone, after which you have to get off the computer. If you're trying to get to bed by 11, set it for 10:30. An alarm makes a big difference on these sorts of things, I've found. If you're just saying to yourself "Oh man, it's 10:30 and I need to go to bed," you're going to continue with "but man this thread on the blue is SO INTERESTING" and keep reading. If there's an outside source chirping at you saying your computer time is over, you're more likely to pay attention, especially if you train yourself to close your laptop immediately the moment the phone goes off. (Assuming you have one of those laptops that automatically goes into sleep mode when you close it, and make sure you leave it plugged in.)
For mornings? Fuck, I don't know. Hopefully this thread can help me, too.
posted by Caduceus at 12:12 PM on January 8, 2010
I do not have ADD, but I do have 'moves slowly in the morning' issues and, as a night person 'not wanna to go to bed' issues.
On morning stuff: Would it work to prepare breakfast the night before and eat it either on the way to work or when you get there? I have, in the past, used Greasemonkey scripts to block my main timesuck websites and time how long I'd been online (seeing the time ticking helped speed me up). Also, could you log your weight at work? Some workplaces wouldn't allow it, I know, but given that you need to be there before regular business hours and are regularly there after normal business hours, perhaps it would be ok in the interest of getting you out the door in the morning?
I also found the sleep hygiene rules to be a G-dsend. Though, frankly, in the end, having 2 alarms, one of which forced me out of bed and getting up consistently at the same time helped more than anything else. I was groggy for a few days and then it got easier.
posted by eleanna at 12:16 PM on January 8, 2010
On morning stuff: Would it work to prepare breakfast the night before and eat it either on the way to work or when you get there? I have, in the past, used Greasemonkey scripts to block my main timesuck websites and time how long I'd been online (seeing the time ticking helped speed me up). Also, could you log your weight at work? Some workplaces wouldn't allow it, I know, but given that you need to be there before regular business hours and are regularly there after normal business hours, perhaps it would be ok in the interest of getting you out the door in the morning?
I also found the sleep hygiene rules to be a G-dsend. Though, frankly, in the end, having 2 alarms, one of which forced me out of bed and getting up consistently at the same time helped more than anything else. I was groggy for a few days and then it got easier.
posted by eleanna at 12:16 PM on January 8, 2010
Something I've found helpful for not getting stuck on the internet when I'm supposed to be in bed is getting off the internet 20 mins or so earlier than I need to and reading an entertaining book that I've read before.
I find it easier to stop surfing the net when I know I don't have to go straight to bed, and I find it easier to go to bed when I already know the story of the book I'm reading so its not new and exciting.
posted by Laura_J at 7:54 AM on January 9, 2010
I find it easier to stop surfing the net when I know I don't have to go straight to bed, and I find it easier to go to bed when I already know the story of the book I'm reading so its not new and exciting.
posted by Laura_J at 7:54 AM on January 9, 2010
Response by poster: There were some really good, thoughtful answers to this question that got lost in the server snafu yesterday, along with a comment where I said what I was planning to do. Here's what the plan was, basically:
Or is it that you don't need to stay late at work but have trouble with transitions? (Obscure Reference)
I both have trouble with transitions and am pretty much expected to stay late at work. My boss, though, would be happy for me to be in on time in the mornings and leave earlier at night. The morning is the more crucial time.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:56 AM on January 9, 2010
- I'm going to use LeechBlock to shut down the internet on my computer from 10:30 pm or so (maybe even 10) every weeknight, excepting a few websites that are crucial for work-related projects (and I'm going to do this on my work computer, too, since I have remote desktop access to my work PC).
- In the mornings, I am not going to use the computer at all (and I'll have LeechBlock back me up on that). Instead, to log my weight, I will write it down on sticky notes that I'll keep near the scale and bring with me to work.
- For errands, I'm going to designate one day a week as errand day, and I'll take care of as many of them as possible near my work over my lunch break.
- In addition to blocking the internet, I'm also going to have an alarm set up on my phone and computer (both audio and visual) to tell me "It's time to go to bed."
- I'm going to have a non-negotiable "get out of the house" time of 8:00 am, and a non-negotiable wake up time of 6:30 am. Weekends I'm going to make it an 8:00 am wake up time. (This one's going to be difficult, but I think it's necessary.)
- Even though they're more wasteful, I'm going to get individual yogurt cups for my weekday breakfasts, because they'll take less time, I can take them to work if necessary, and I won't have to wash dishes after I eat.
Or is it that you don't need to stay late at work but have trouble with transitions? (Obscure Reference)
I both have trouble with transitions and am pretty much expected to stay late at work. My boss, though, would be happy for me to be in on time in the mornings and leave earlier at night. The morning is the more crucial time.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:56 AM on January 9, 2010
Response by poster: I end up eating breakfast at work a lot. But I want to eat it at home, both because it is cheaper and because I need to be better about separating work and not-work.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:24 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 12:24 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: I take Adderall XR, which you can't split, because it's a time-release capsule.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:27 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 12:27 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: Regarding Leechblock: I like Meg_Murry's suggestion of having a time limit in the morning and an automatic shutdown at night. Is Leechblock flexible enough to do that? Also: for design and editing, there are a few sites (like google docs, the Library of Congress, Flickr and Wikimedia Commons) that I never want to block. Can I set up time limits and keep those unblocked, too?
posted by ocherdraco at 12:34 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 12:34 PM on January 8, 2010
You are me, I'm also bad at mornings.
Can't you just print this Excel spreadsheet? You can write your weight without going online, and you can then enter it into computer once a week.
And you could check your email first thing at work. You can skip Internet in the morning entirely.
posted by leigh1 at 12:51 PM on January 8, 2010
Can't you just print this Excel spreadsheet? You can write your weight without going online, and you can then enter it into computer once a week.
And you could check your email first thing at work. You can skip Internet in the morning entirely.
posted by leigh1 at 12:51 PM on January 8, 2010
Figure out how much time-wasting stuff you can defer to the weekend (or any other non-work-morning time). Possibly you should just commit to doing dry-cleaning and other errands on Saturday. Maybe you can do some of them on a lunchbreak. How important is it to log your weight daily instead of weekly? How important is it to log your weight in the morning, instead of in the evening?
posted by grobstein at 1:17 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by grobstein at 1:17 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: That was probably way more than anyone wanted or needed to know about that.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:51 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 1:51 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: Yay for pb! Many of the missing comments (maybe all of them) are back. Hoorah!
posted by ocherdraco at 10:39 AM on January 9, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 10:39 AM on January 9, 2010
I have ADD, and I am also an internet addict like you. I was told that part of the reason for this is that computer screens and TVs actually stimulate ADD brains in a way that is remarkably pleasureable, so describing it as a drug is not that far off the mark.
I agree that you cannot use your computer in the morning first thing. The one unifying factor I have noted when I am late in the mornings is that I decided to turn on the computer for "just a minute." If your e-mail is work related, you should definitely check it when you get to work, especially since you are trying to create a better work/home separation. It also provides a nice transition into working in the morning, since it is work related and productive but doesn't really require a lot out of an ADD person (or at least, not for me. I'd have much more difficulties even with having a balanced water cooler conversation).
If your work has a fridge, perhaps you could keep your yogurt there? That way you can eat it at your desk as you transition into work. In fact, you could even keep a large container and a bowl. Just eat the yogurt in the kitchen, and rinse it off immediately with water, shake the water off, then store the bowl at your desk.
If you're using a greasemonkey script to avoid timewasting sites, I wrote a script you might be interested in. Basically, instead of blocking sites outright, it allows you to add to-do items or check them off in exchange for access to that page. I wrote it to be friendlier to me ("Do you really need to go to this page?" with an option "No, I should probably be working") and to provide an incentive to get small things done around the home. MeMail me for the script if you want it.
One issue with errands is planning. As someone with ADD, I tend to have things happen last-minute rather than planning for them in advance. If something comes up and you can't use your scheduled day, see if your boss might be more comfortable with you coming in slightly earlier that day and taking time during the middle of the day to get it done, or leaving early. I've found many people feel that the morning is all about momentum, and so getting there on time is more important than how much time you spend there. Getting in late and staying later seems like such a common ADHD trend. If you can arrange to get there right on time, leaving earlier or taking time during the middle might present itself as an option.
posted by dancingfruitbat at 11:50 AM on January 9, 2010
I agree that you cannot use your computer in the morning first thing. The one unifying factor I have noted when I am late in the mornings is that I decided to turn on the computer for "just a minute." If your e-mail is work related, you should definitely check it when you get to work, especially since you are trying to create a better work/home separation. It also provides a nice transition into working in the morning, since it is work related and productive but doesn't really require a lot out of an ADD person (or at least, not for me. I'd have much more difficulties even with having a balanced water cooler conversation).
If your work has a fridge, perhaps you could keep your yogurt there? That way you can eat it at your desk as you transition into work. In fact, you could even keep a large container and a bowl. Just eat the yogurt in the kitchen, and rinse it off immediately with water, shake the water off, then store the bowl at your desk.
If you're using a greasemonkey script to avoid timewasting sites, I wrote a script you might be interested in. Basically, instead of blocking sites outright, it allows you to add to-do items or check them off in exchange for access to that page. I wrote it to be friendlier to me ("Do you really need to go to this page?" with an option "No, I should probably be working") and to provide an incentive to get small things done around the home. MeMail me for the script if you want it.
One issue with errands is planning. As someone with ADD, I tend to have things happen last-minute rather than planning for them in advance. If something comes up and you can't use your scheduled day, see if your boss might be more comfortable with you coming in slightly earlier that day and taking time during the middle of the day to get it done, or leaving early. I've found many people feel that the morning is all about momentum, and so getting there on time is more important than how much time you spend there. Getting in late and staying later seems like such a common ADHD trend. If you can arrange to get there right on time, leaving earlier or taking time during the middle might present itself as an option.
posted by dancingfruitbat at 11:50 AM on January 9, 2010
Uh, Deathalicious here (dancingfruitbat's husband). Forgot that this computer was logged in under her account. She doesn't have ADD.
posted by dancingfruitbat at 11:51 AM on January 9, 2010
posted by dancingfruitbat at 11:51 AM on January 9, 2010
Response by poster: deathalicious, I'd love to have that script. I'll send you a memail.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:57 AM on January 9, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 11:57 AM on January 9, 2010
My husband has ADD, and in order to get up in the morning (and be productive), he sets an alarm for an hour before he has to wake up. He takes his medication (Concerta) and then goes back to bed. He already has an alarm set for the actual time he has to get up, and by then the meds have kicked in and he's good to go. If he doesn't take it before he leaves, he's frequently rushed and disorganized and overwhelmed.
Also, with respect to recording your weight on a spreadsheet and then being distracted: there's no reason you can't write it down on paper (the old fashioned way!) in the morning and then enter it in at night.
posted by desjardins at 7:59 AM on January 10, 2010
Also, with respect to recording your weight on a spreadsheet and then being distracted: there's no reason you can't write it down on paper (the old fashioned way!) in the morning and then enter it in at night.
posted by desjardins at 7:59 AM on January 10, 2010
You can use Leechblock to kick you off the internet (or just certain sites - so you could allow googledocs but not mefi) at specific customized times.
For the morning, is there a way to automate entering your weight into a spreadsheet and uploading it later? So that you don't actually go online at all but the data still gets uploaded. I bet there's some way you could tweet to Evernote and then sync that with something something...
For evenings, don't know if you're a read yourself to sleep type (and I know that reading one's self to sleep is against generally accepted sleep advice), but if you are, I find the trick is to be reading just the right kind of book that is interesting enough that you look forward to reading it & it's a motivation to get into bed, but boring enough that it puts you to sleep quickly. There's a certain kind of nonfiction that fills this niche for me; right now I'm reading (and have been for ages; takes a while to get through a book this way) a bio of Isamu Noguchi that is perfect for this.
posted by yarrow at 12:23 PM on January 8, 2010
For the morning, is there a way to automate entering your weight into a spreadsheet and uploading it later? So that you don't actually go online at all but the data still gets uploaded. I bet there's some way you could tweet to Evernote and then sync that with something something...
For evenings, don't know if you're a read yourself to sleep type (and I know that reading one's self to sleep is against generally accepted sleep advice), but if you are, I find the trick is to be reading just the right kind of book that is interesting enough that you look forward to reading it & it's a motivation to get into bed, but boring enough that it puts you to sleep quickly. There's a certain kind of nonfiction that fills this niche for me; right now I'm reading (and have been for ages; takes a while to get through a book this way) a bio of Isamu Noguchi that is perfect for this.
posted by yarrow at 12:23 PM on January 8, 2010
What medication are you taking? I just started with IR Adderall and I'm still trying to figure out a dosing schedule.
So far I've got an alarm set to quietly go off 45 minutes before I need to be up. I take half a dose then, and then allow myself to doze for that 45 minutes until the alarm goes off for real. Then I take the other half when I get to work, an hour and a half later.
The half dose is enough to get me through my morning routine, and the second half is the amount I need to concentrate on my work.
posted by elsietheeel at 12:26 PM on January 8, 2010
So far I've got an alarm set to quietly go off 45 minutes before I need to be up. I take half a dose then, and then allow myself to doze for that 45 minutes until the alarm goes off for real. Then I take the other half when I get to work, an hour and a half later.
The half dose is enough to get me through my morning routine, and the second half is the amount I need to concentrate on my work.
posted by elsietheeel at 12:26 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: Though I might talk to my doctor about moving to the normal instead of the time release.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:27 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 12:27 PM on January 8, 2010
currently, I try to take my medication right before I head out the door,
My husband puts his on the nightstand with a glass of water before bed. He sets his alarm for about an hour before he actually needs to get up. He takes the medication and goes back to sleep (having already set a 2nd alarm for when he actually needs to get up). The medication takes effect and he's ready to go when the 2nd alarm goes off. This seriously works awesome.
I'm not ADHD so I'll refrain from making other suggestions, but I'll send the link to him and maybe he'll chime in with other advice.
posted by desjardins at 12:37 PM on January 8, 2010
My husband puts his on the nightstand with a glass of water before bed. He sets his alarm for about an hour before he actually needs to get up. He takes the medication and goes back to sleep (having already set a 2nd alarm for when he actually needs to get up). The medication takes effect and he's ready to go when the 2nd alarm goes off. This seriously works awesome.
I'm not ADHD so I'll refrain from making other suggestions, but I'll send the link to him and maybe he'll chime in with other advice.
posted by desjardins at 12:37 PM on January 8, 2010
I had to make a rule that I do not turn the computer on in the morning. Period. I've been cheating by checking email on my iPhone while eating breakfast and I recently had to have a little chat with myself about it. Engaging with the outside world before I'm at work just means I don't get to work on time, and that's not ok.
So. The computer should stay off in the morning. You can still weigh yourself in the morning, and make a note on a post it or something, to enter it into your spreadsheet later, but if that spreadsheet is the gateway to internet canoodling, you've got to make a decision to stick to the analog world.
Errands and stuff: can you designate just one day a week to be errands-before-work day? Or can you do errands on your lunch break? (I know in publishing lunchtime tends to be a hilarious anecdote, because you're either lunching an agent and can't drop something off at the dry cleaners or eating on the fly between meetings and never leaving the office, but maybe?) I designated one lunch period per week for errands like going to the library, bank, post office, dry cleaner, cobbler, whatever. I picked the day that my boss usually has a lunch date or meeting. I also changed my thinking from having those services need to be close to home and found some that were all close to work. I figure if/when I change jobs I can find a new dry cleaner.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 12:43 PM on January 8, 2010
So. The computer should stay off in the morning. You can still weigh yourself in the morning, and make a note on a post it or something, to enter it into your spreadsheet later, but if that spreadsheet is the gateway to internet canoodling, you've got to make a decision to stick to the analog world.
Errands and stuff: can you designate just one day a week to be errands-before-work day? Or can you do errands on your lunch break? (I know in publishing lunchtime tends to be a hilarious anecdote, because you're either lunching an agent and can't drop something off at the dry cleaners or eating on the fly between meetings and never leaving the office, but maybe?) I designated one lunch period per week for errands like going to the library, bank, post office, dry cleaner, cobbler, whatever. I picked the day that my boss usually has a lunch date or meeting. I also changed my thinking from having those services need to be close to home and found some that were all close to work. I figure if/when I change jobs I can find a new dry cleaner.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 12:43 PM on January 8, 2010
Re Leechblock: Yes, on the first point - it's pretty customizable; you set it up so you specify blocks of time and how many minutes you have within those blocks (can be zero). On the second, I use it to block specific sites rather than everything but a few, but it looks from the FAQ like that could be done.
posted by yarrow at 12:46 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by yarrow at 12:46 PM on January 8, 2010
Yes, Leechblock can do that for you. You can set up several custom blocksets, so you could have one that said "between 7 and 9, block after 20 combined minutes of use" and one that said "after 10pm, block everything".
To allow only a few sites: In the box where it asks you what to block, enter * (i.e., everything), and then whitelist specific sites by entering +site.goeshere.com.
posted by dorque at 12:48 PM on January 8, 2010
To allow only a few sites: In the box where it asks you what to block, enter * (i.e., everything), and then whitelist specific sites by entering +site.goeshere.com.
posted by dorque at 12:48 PM on January 8, 2010
I also have ADHD and suck at mornings (and bedtime and any time that is not internet-time).
Some thoughts:
- Leechblock is awesome, but I have been known to just circumvent it with IE when I really feel like ignoring my responsibilities. I have not found a good way of enforcing a timed internet block, short of configuring stuff on my network's router, which screwed up other things, so I don't do it anymore. But Leechblock is worth a try if you are less self-sabotaging than me.
- I use a tool called KirbyAlarm that sounds an alarm on my PC and pops up a message whenever I need to be reminded to do something. I set it up for weekday mornings to say "You better finish getting ready so you can leave for work on time!" and then another one for almost-bedtime that says "Time to get off the computer, it's bedtime!" I find that JUST visual or JUST audible alarms by themselves dont' work, but the combination of sound and popup work well for me. I am sure there are other alarms you can use, too. If audible alarms are enough, your cell phone probably has multiple alarms.
- Do you have an iPhone or iPod touch? My iPod touch has made it easier for me to SHUT MY STUPID COMPUTER OFF but still do "important" things like check the weather and my to-do list before leaving for work. I don't get "lost" on the internet that way because it's somuch clunkier and slower to type,but you could probably still take care of entering your weight that way.
- Could you also just keep a notebook with your daily weight and then enter it into your spreadsheet in the evenings or one day a week? As long as you record the date and weight, does it matter if you log it immediately online?
- I agree that maybe you should talk to your dr about switching to regular Adderall to see if that helps you get going faster. I take regular Adderall, but I also wake up and have 1 cup of coffee before taking it, since it helps me feel like it's time to get going (and it also helps me sorta center myself to just sit and have a cup of coffee while I wake up).
- Can you do errands on your lunch break or on Saturday mornings? Find a dry cleaner near your office, post office near your office, etc. That's what I do, since I sure as hell am not going to be getting out the door any EARLIER than I have to (it's hard enough to be on time!). I also use a vacation day every couple months to just take care of errands and crap that I haven't been able to do.
posted by tastybrains at 12:56 PM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Some thoughts:
- Leechblock is awesome, but I have been known to just circumvent it with IE when I really feel like ignoring my responsibilities. I have not found a good way of enforcing a timed internet block, short of configuring stuff on my network's router, which screwed up other things, so I don't do it anymore. But Leechblock is worth a try if you are less self-sabotaging than me.
- I use a tool called KirbyAlarm that sounds an alarm on my PC and pops up a message whenever I need to be reminded to do something. I set it up for weekday mornings to say "You better finish getting ready so you can leave for work on time!" and then another one for almost-bedtime that says "Time to get off the computer, it's bedtime!" I find that JUST visual or JUST audible alarms by themselves dont' work, but the combination of sound and popup work well for me. I am sure there are other alarms you can use, too. If audible alarms are enough, your cell phone probably has multiple alarms.
- Do you have an iPhone or iPod touch? My iPod touch has made it easier for me to SHUT MY STUPID COMPUTER OFF but still do "important" things like check the weather and my to-do list before leaving for work. I don't get "lost" on the internet that way because it's somuch clunkier and slower to type,but you could probably still take care of entering your weight that way.
- Could you also just keep a notebook with your daily weight and then enter it into your spreadsheet in the evenings or one day a week? As long as you record the date and weight, does it matter if you log it immediately online?
- I agree that maybe you should talk to your dr about switching to regular Adderall to see if that helps you get going faster. I take regular Adderall, but I also wake up and have 1 cup of coffee before taking it, since it helps me feel like it's time to get going (and it also helps me sorta center myself to just sit and have a cup of coffee while I wake up).
- Can you do errands on your lunch break or on Saturday mornings? Find a dry cleaner near your office, post office near your office, etc. That's what I do, since I sure as hell am not going to be getting out the door any EARLIER than I have to (it's hard enough to be on time!). I also use a vacation day every couple months to just take care of errands and crap that I haven't been able to do.
posted by tastybrains at 12:56 PM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: p.mcg. is right. I really just shouldn't touch the computer in the morning. Weight logging is the only real must-do thing that involves the computer then, and that sticky note thing is a good solution. I've got tons of sticky notes; I'll set some up right next to my scale.
Also: having designated errands-during-lunch day is a good plan. Most of them I can (and do) take care of near work. The ones I can't (paying rent at the neighborhood bank, for example) I can probably take care of quickly enough (and infrequently enough) so that I could give my boss advance warning that I'd be in a few minutes late.
Thanks for the Leechblock details, folks. (I have tried to use it before, but couldn't figure out how to unblock the necessary sites and so had to abandon it in the face of deadlines. Knowing how to do that makes it useful for me again.)
I'm also going to try the nighttime phone alarm, Caduceus. External reminders and stimuli like that are very helpful.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:57 PM on January 8, 2010
Also: having designated errands-during-lunch day is a good plan. Most of them I can (and do) take care of near work. The ones I can't (paying rent at the neighborhood bank, for example) I can probably take care of quickly enough (and infrequently enough) so that I could give my boss advance warning that I'd be in a few minutes late.
Thanks for the Leechblock details, folks. (I have tried to use it before, but couldn't figure out how to unblock the necessary sites and so had to abandon it in the face of deadlines. Knowing how to do that makes it useful for me again.)
I'm also going to try the nighttime phone alarm, Caduceus. External reminders and stimuli like that are very helpful.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:57 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: Can't you just print this Excel spreadsheet? You can write your weight without going online, and you can then enter it into computer once a week. (leigh1)
That entering things in once a week business just will not happen. It's precisely the kind of activity I am least able to do.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:59 PM on January 8, 2010
That entering things in once a week business just will not happen. It's precisely the kind of activity I am least able to do.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:59 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: JUST visual or JUST audible alarms by themselves dont' work, but the combination of sound and popup work well for me (tastybrains)
Good point. I'll see what sort of audio and visual alarms I can set up.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:03 PM on January 8, 2010
Good point. I'll see what sort of audio and visual alarms I can set up.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:03 PM on January 8, 2010
Add a timed outlet to the PC so the power will automatically cut off at 11:30 or midnight: that serves as a (catastrophically hardcore) fail-safe in the event you try and circumvent Leechblock at night.
posted by subbes at 1:10 PM on January 8, 2010
posted by subbes at 1:10 PM on January 8, 2010
Two things:
Turn off the computer at night and don't turn it on in the morning. This you will just have to do because you can't trust yourself to do the thing that is good for you. If you have a laptop, actually shut it down rather than just closing it and putting it to sleep. "I need to log my weight" is a BS reason to use the computer in the morning.
I know what you're doing, and you shouldn't cut things close by saying "I have to leave home by 8:15am." This is BS. You need to leave by 8am, and even earlier if you want to log your weight or whatever from work.
Eating takes a similar amount of time for everybody. I suspect you're a functional eater and so all eating time seems like wasted time. No computer in the morning, sit on the couch with your yogurt or whatever.
If you're there before 9am and still there after business hours, your boss should be happy to let you do your errands any time you damn well please.
Okay, four.
posted by rhizome at 1:11 PM on January 8, 2010
Okay, four.
posted by rhizome at 1:11 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: How important is it to log your weight daily instead of weekly?
Very. The way that I stay on top of it (because I'm working on losing weight, but not actively dieting) is by paying attention to a rolling five-day average a la the Hacker's Diet. From much, much personal experience, I know that (a) I am not capable of noting daily but logging and analyzing weekly and (b) with the exception of a few holiday periods and weekends away, knowing what I weigh every day keeps me from both: (i) being anxious about what I think I weigh and (ii) not noticing when I'm backsliding. If I notice an upward trend when it starts, I can say, hey what can I do to reverse that? without getting panicky about it.
How important is it to log your weight in the morning, instead of in the evening? (grobstein)
Objectively, it isn't important. But subjectively, as a psychological comfort, it's very important. I know that in the morning, right after I hit the head (sorry) is both when I weigh the least and the least likely time for huge fluctuations due to things like eating out, so weighing myself at another time of day bothers me too much.
This is what it's like to be inside the head of someone who's had weight issues since about age 8, and body image issues since age 10, when I was taken out of school once a week to go to Weight Watchers. Having a sense of "I am on top of this" about my weight is incredibly important to me, doubly so since feeling completely and utterly not on top of things is what a bad day for my ADD feels like. I've talked about being fat on Metafilter before.
In any case, the sticky note plan for morning weight logging takes care of the computer need there. But that is one part of my morning routine that I'm inflexible about moving to another time of day.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:50 PM on January 8, 2010
Very. The way that I stay on top of it (because I'm working on losing weight, but not actively dieting) is by paying attention to a rolling five-day average a la the Hacker's Diet. From much, much personal experience, I know that (a) I am not capable of noting daily but logging and analyzing weekly and (b) with the exception of a few holiday periods and weekends away, knowing what I weigh every day keeps me from both: (i) being anxious about what I think I weigh and (ii) not noticing when I'm backsliding. If I notice an upward trend when it starts, I can say, hey what can I do to reverse that? without getting panicky about it.
How important is it to log your weight in the morning, instead of in the evening? (grobstein)
Objectively, it isn't important. But subjectively, as a psychological comfort, it's very important. I know that in the morning, right after I hit the head (sorry) is both when I weigh the least and the least likely time for huge fluctuations due to things like eating out, so weighing myself at another time of day bothers me too much.
This is what it's like to be inside the head of someone who's had weight issues since about age 8, and body image issues since age 10, when I was taken out of school once a week to go to Weight Watchers. Having a sense of "I am on top of this" about my weight is incredibly important to me, doubly so since feeling completely and utterly not on top of things is what a bad day for my ADD feels like. I've talked about being fat on Metafilter before.
In any case, the sticky note plan for morning weight logging takes care of the computer need there. But that is one part of my morning routine that I'm inflexible about moving to another time of day.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:50 PM on January 8, 2010
Response by poster: Well, day one of the new regime has gone well. I was at my desk by 8:45. Leechblock is configured, and the sticky notes are out.
The only thing that I've tried to implement that hasn't worked properly is a visual and audio alarm on my computer. I've got a Mac—does anyone know of any good alarm programs that will do both kinds of alarm? I was trying to use Aurora, as I've already got it, but it failed to play the alarm since iTunes (which is what it uses for audio alarms) was already open and playing other music.
I significantly lower the lights and avoid unnecessary light at night. (kathrineg)
That's such a good idea. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:30 AM on January 11, 2010
The only thing that I've tried to implement that hasn't worked properly is a visual and audio alarm on my computer. I've got a Mac—does anyone know of any good alarm programs that will do both kinds of alarm? I was trying to use Aurora, as I've already got it, but it failed to play the alarm since iTunes (which is what it uses for audio alarms) was already open and playing other music.
I significantly lower the lights and avoid unnecessary light at night. (kathrineg)
That's such a good idea. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:30 AM on January 11, 2010
I have many of your problems, and can help you with a few of them:
Nighttime: WARMTH. If it's cold, I can stay up indefinitely wasting time, and I don't notice or easily ignore the fact I'm tired. If I grab a blanket or turn up the heat, I soon can't ignore the sleepiness. I could push past it, but it gets to a level of "oh, yeah, I'd better go to sleep", so if I'm not trying to pull an all-nighter or something it works great even if I'm in front of the computer. Although using my iPhone and setting it to full dim works even better to tell me it's time for bed.
Sticky notes: If you are indeed like me, these sticky notes will not work for you. I hope they do--but they wouldn't for me. I'd just stick it in my pocket and forget about it. I'd probably hang onto the accumulated notes for weeks, and maybe get to it but more likely just have this pile of guilt. The key, I think, is to set up a designated time to deal with it. Set an alarm at your work desk in the morning to (if you're allowed) enter your weight from the work computer. That's how I got to remembering doing my timecard at the end of the day.
Breakfast: Bring cereal and milk (or granola, or trail mix, or oatmeal, whatever) to work, eat at desk. Maybe not for everyone but it works great for me.
Morning routine: lay out/decide on clothes the night before. It's easier for me to do this at night than in the morning I guess. Basically remove any decision making from the morning. You want to be on autopilot, and you want to be fast. The faster you get out of the house, the faster you leave its temptations behind.
Errands: I'd have to recommend taking a lunch to do things like this. Only thing is, you have to be getting in on time to do that. Can't have it both ways. :)
Time: Get into work by 8:30. This gives you time to (a) mess up and go a bit later, (b) deal with minor unexpected things and (c) do the weight log and eat breakfast at the desk, keeping the routine. If your workplace has a gym/scale you could consider weighing in there, although I understand if that isn't an option for various reasons. It might cut down on how long you have to hang onto the sticky note, though.
Other ideas: You seem to have a mac at home. If you decide to do the weight log at home, what you can do is use something like Fluid to create a "site-specific browser" just for that weight logging site. This way it's easier to just open the one app that's only going to the one site. This can be enforced with different programs administratively, but it might be good enough just to know personally that you're only going to open that one app (that goes to only one site). Similarly, if there's some sort of widget or phone app or something look into that so you don't have to open that browser.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 2:57 PM on January 11, 2010
Nighttime: WARMTH. If it's cold, I can stay up indefinitely wasting time, and I don't notice or easily ignore the fact I'm tired. If I grab a blanket or turn up the heat, I soon can't ignore the sleepiness. I could push past it, but it gets to a level of "oh, yeah, I'd better go to sleep", so if I'm not trying to pull an all-nighter or something it works great even if I'm in front of the computer. Although using my iPhone and setting it to full dim works even better to tell me it's time for bed.
Sticky notes: If you are indeed like me, these sticky notes will not work for you. I hope they do--but they wouldn't for me. I'd just stick it in my pocket and forget about it. I'd probably hang onto the accumulated notes for weeks, and maybe get to it but more likely just have this pile of guilt. The key, I think, is to set up a designated time to deal with it. Set an alarm at your work desk in the morning to (if you're allowed) enter your weight from the work computer. That's how I got to remembering doing my timecard at the end of the day.
Breakfast: Bring cereal and milk (or granola, or trail mix, or oatmeal, whatever) to work, eat at desk. Maybe not for everyone but it works great for me.
Morning routine: lay out/decide on clothes the night before. It's easier for me to do this at night than in the morning I guess. Basically remove any decision making from the morning. You want to be on autopilot, and you want to be fast. The faster you get out of the house, the faster you leave its temptations behind.
Errands: I'd have to recommend taking a lunch to do things like this. Only thing is, you have to be getting in on time to do that. Can't have it both ways. :)
Time: Get into work by 8:30. This gives you time to (a) mess up and go a bit later, (b) deal with minor unexpected things and (c) do the weight log and eat breakfast at the desk, keeping the routine. If your workplace has a gym/scale you could consider weighing in there, although I understand if that isn't an option for various reasons. It might cut down on how long you have to hang onto the sticky note, though.
Other ideas: You seem to have a mac at home. If you decide to do the weight log at home, what you can do is use something like Fluid to create a "site-specific browser" just for that weight logging site. This way it's easier to just open the one app that's only going to the one site. This can be enforced with different programs administratively, but it might be good enough just to know personally that you're only going to open that one app (that goes to only one site). Similarly, if there's some sort of widget or phone app or something look into that so you don't have to open that browser.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 2:57 PM on January 11, 2010
The more global solution is that you have to have an annoying-ass persistent parental supervision part of your consciousness that doesn't have any problems telling you "no". And you have to listen to said voice. I find that if I get to the point where I remember to ask if I'm supposed to be doing something, I can generally get back on track. It's just remembering that's the problem.
Excepting this response, I can now generally keep reminding myself without external stimulus, though even with meds it's not ever perfect/easy. I would slip off into internet Soma bliss at the slightest provocation, usually a delay or a problem that required sustained thought. There were (and still are rarely) some days where I'd have to say, "No." [wait 15 seconds] "No.", [wait 15 seconds]...etc. For. The. Whole. Day. It's really stressful, as you fight with yourself. But it's still way less stressful than missing deadlines consistently, for years. And it's like exercise--you're sore afterwards, but it's a good sore, and you've gotten stronger. When you look at every "no" as a victory (you didn't get distracted) rather than a failing ("Why do I have to keep fighting? This sucks"), then a day with thousands of "No"s isn't nearly as bad.
One thing you can do to increase mindfulness is set a recurring timer. I've used just regular timers, or I've also used music. When the song changes, it's a good time to ask "am I doing what I should be?"
A frequent problem I find myself having is waiting. If something takes more than a few seconds on the computer I'm off to la-la land. So I've gotten better at catching that and saying, "Isn't there *something* you could be doing here that isn't time wasting?" And it turns out there usually is, and I can get something little done. If you force yourself to just sit there doing nothing (No!) if you can't find something constructive to do--you end up finding something constructive to do.
If the worst happens and you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Seriously, if it's the internet, get up and go away. Get a drink, go talk to someone (interaction with people for me--especially work related--easily sets me back into productive mode), do something--anything--to snap out of it. It's a lot easier for me to get back in the groove when I get back to my desk and I'm not knee deep in Wikipedia or something. Or Metafilter.
Anyway, I'll take my own advice and leave. Good luck; mail if you'd like.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 3:14 PM on January 11, 2010
Excepting this response, I can now generally keep reminding myself without external stimulus, though even with meds it's not ever perfect/easy. I would slip off into internet Soma bliss at the slightest provocation, usually a delay or a problem that required sustained thought. There were (and still are rarely) some days where I'd have to say, "No." [wait 15 seconds] "No.", [wait 15 seconds]...etc. For. The. Whole. Day. It's really stressful, as you fight with yourself. But it's still way less stressful than missing deadlines consistently, for years. And it's like exercise--you're sore afterwards, but it's a good sore, and you've gotten stronger. When you look at every "no" as a victory (you didn't get distracted) rather than a failing ("Why do I have to keep fighting? This sucks"), then a day with thousands of "No"s isn't nearly as bad.
One thing you can do to increase mindfulness is set a recurring timer. I've used just regular timers, or I've also used music. When the song changes, it's a good time to ask "am I doing what I should be?"
A frequent problem I find myself having is waiting. If something takes more than a few seconds on the computer I'm off to la-la land. So I've gotten better at catching that and saying, "Isn't there *something* you could be doing here that isn't time wasting?" And it turns out there usually is, and I can get something little done. If you force yourself to just sit there doing nothing (No!) if you can't find something constructive to do--you end up finding something constructive to do.
If the worst happens and you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Seriously, if it's the internet, get up and go away. Get a drink, go talk to someone (interaction with people for me--especially work related--easily sets me back into productive mode), do something--anything--to snap out of it. It's a lot easier for me to get back in the groove when I get back to my desk and I'm not knee deep in Wikipedia or something. Or Metafilter.
Anyway, I'll take my own advice and leave. Good luck; mail if you'd like.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 3:14 PM on January 11, 2010
ocherdraco: "The only thing that I've tried to implement that hasn't worked properly is a visual and audio alarm on my computer. I've got a Mac—does anyone know of any good alarm programs that will do both kinds of alarm?"
I use Awaken, but that isn't free.
posted by subbes at 5:25 PM on January 11, 2010
I use Awaken, but that isn't free.
posted by subbes at 5:25 PM on January 11, 2010
Response by poster: Okay, after a week of the new regime, some thoughts:
posted by ocherdraco at 6:28 PM on January 17, 2010
- So far, it seems like I don't need the alarm at night; all the browser windows flipping to LeechBlock seems to be alarm enough.
- I need to have LeechBlock on at the weekend, too. I'm going to try 11:30 or 11:45—not as early as weeknights, but still early enough to keep me from sleeping until noon.
- Post-its and/or noting my weight on my phone are working for me to remember the number until I get to work and can log it in.
- Getting to work at 8:45 is good for me; I'm more prepared for the day to start. However, I'm not leaving work any earlier, so I'm totally wiped out at the end of the day. I need to figure out how to kick myself out of the office.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:28 PM on January 17, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you routinely stay late at work, why must you arrive early? Or is it that you don't need to stay late at work but have trouble with transitions? You should probably find a time other than mornings for errands.
posted by Obscure Reference at 5:46 AM on January 9, 2010 [1 favorite]