Work and getting started with it!

maggiem

Hi all,
I would really welcome advice although this is not strictly money saving. However if I lose or feel I have to leave my job it could turn into a money saving problem. I work in a very busy job with constant demands on my time and often work with people. That part is fine and very interesting but I continue to find it so hard to do the necessary admin, writing reports and letters. I try to work at home to do this - sometimes very successfully but recently have spent days on the internet instead of completing work. This in turn makes me feel very guilty so today I have got up very early to write an urgent report.

My back log is now so long it is embarassing and yet I am still really finding it hard to make myself do it. It's crazy because I know it would be better for me as well if I kept up to date - instead it just gets worse and I feel dreadful. I am also turing into grumpy old women at home snapping at the family.

HELP - any suggestions

fernliebee

I used to be a bit like this with my uni work, I found that writing down everything I had to do in order of importance, then tackling a few things a day helped. Also why don't you go to work to do it instead of home, I found I would be more productive in the library as no distractions. Also reward yourself when each thing is done by doing something little, ie a cup of tea, a little walk, 10 mins on internet. Apart from that all I can say is crack on with it! You will get there in the end. good luck.

catherine_h_2

I agree with fernliebee...however if you've got a huge backlog that you can't see yourself getting through and need a quick fix solution how about looking into a Virtual Assistant??

They're very good and very fast, although you may have to haggle a bit on prices:rolleyes:

roxalana

Definitely do what work you need to do at work rather than at home. That way you should have less distractions and you have more motivation - i.e. I'll need to finish this before I go home (rather than 'I can do this later')... Also even if you have access to the internet at work you are likely to feel more guilty if you start to stray onto non-work internet searching if you are physically at work.

Try to do a little of the admin stuff each day because it is easier to bring yourslef to do it when the stack is less huge - and do your filing as you go too!

I am assuming if you work from home it is harder for people to contact you. If this was the reason for you working at home (i.e. won't be interrupted) perhaps put an out of office message on and don't check your emails etc during teh time you have set aside for admin - at elast til the backlog goes!

FINLAYSMUM_2

I don't have any solution for you but just offer my support as I have exectly the same problem. - In fact I am on this website now instead of getting on with my work!
All suggestions for improving motivation gratefully received
Carrie

Nicki

Do you need an internet connection when actually writing the reports and letters? If not, then just turn your router off, so that you will physically have to make an effort to turn it back on again if you want to skive off and browse, which will make you think twice about doing it.

When you have done and saved all you need to do, then you can turn the router back on and send them all on to their recipients, or to your work server, in one fell swoop.

Otherwise use a timer. Set the timer for 1 hour, and don't allow yourself to stop for any reason until the timer goes off. Then set it for 10 mins during which you can check emails, make a cup of tea, loo break, etc. Then another hour and so on.

TotallyBroke

FINLAYSMUM wrote: »

I don't have any solution for you but just offer my support as I have exectly the same problem. - In fact I am on this website now instead of getting on with my work!
All suggestions for improving motivation gratefully received
Carrie

Snap.......:o

skintchick

I work from home and have the same issues a lot of the time!

My suggestions are:

* Work from the office if at all possible, as you are more likely to actually work rather than be distracted. Some people do work better from home, but if you're not one of them then go into the office and act as if you're out - put on the out of office reply, turn your phone to silent, and just get on.

*Make a list of everything that needs doing, then divide it up into sections. How you do this bit is up to what suits you, but some people do it by urgent, later and delegate, and I like to do it by how long something will take me. I then do all the short jobs so I can tick a load off.

*Have some admin days where you block out the time, warn your colleagues, and just do your admin.

*Get a process in place so in future you do all your admin as you go along. I used to have to raise purchase orders in my last job, and I kept a spreadhseet with all the info, and once I had all I needed to raise the Po, I would raise it immediately, so I knew it was done. Those people who did them 'once a week' invariably got very behind on them.

Really the only way round it is to just do it. try not logging onto the net when you work, so you can;t be tempted to look at MSE or other websites.

And if you really can't cope and need someone to do some admin for you as a virtual PA - PM me!

minimoneysaver

Just a thought, but if you are contracted to work x amount of hours and your work is taking significantly longer, surely you should be bringing this up with your line manager?

princessamy86

I second the idea of giving yourself a treat! Whenever I'm revising or doing coursework, I do half an hour then make myself a cup of tea/have a biscuit. Funnily enough, I put on loads of weight during this time!! Can't help it though, I feel like I need it just to get through but even clearing your mind for 5 mins at the end of a task can help.

maggiem

Thanks everyone for all the advice - read, thought carefully and still not getting started with catching up. So, inspired by debt free diaries and hoping to give myself the kick up the a***e I need thought I would try to make a list and make myself post.:rolleyes:

So today must:
1. Make list of outstanding reports
2. Sort out around 17 files listing what needs to be done on each file
3. Arrange in priority order

I'm going to try and be reasonable rather than trying to complete everything in an unrealistic time frame so I end up exhausted and then stop - thereby drifting back again!

I am getting on with work as well as trying to do the catch up thing so not quite as bone idle as it sounds. In fact must leave now to go to horrible meeting followed by even more horrible meeting - - ain't life fun at times. It sounds as if I hate my job when there are times I love it and feel I have made a difference but feeling ground down and tired at present.

It will get better, then I'll feel better and have more energy - :rotfl:- can't wait.