How do you find the strength to go on when you have none left?
I have a project due today that I’ve done no work on (has to be submitted by midnight tonight). Despite being stressed out about it, I’ve done nothing to ease the situation. It’s now almost 4pm so I have 8 hours to get my shit together and film this video.
The past months have been so emotionally draining, and I’m just mentally to the point of exhaustion.
I’m a perfectionist, but I’m going to have to give up those parts of me and just throw something together, knowing it’s not going to be great.
So my question is this, how do you press forward, when you don’t remember why you are anymore? How do you let go of this idea of how things should be and just do enough to get by?
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28 Answers
I don’t know it gets harder as I get older, but I do, just think no one else will so it’s all up to me.
Steady, happy music – and rules. 15 minutes of working on one thing, then the next, then the third. 15 minutes of relaxation, and re-start the cycle. I also gather up distractions (books, mobile, computer) and lock them up.
Deadlines and negative consequences do it for me.
Coffee and caffeinated chewing gum help.
Is there any way we can help you? I am totally serious.
Following @LuckyGuy‘s suggestion – would you like to check in with us periodically through the evening and make a progress report?
Sure, I’ll post an update in an hour or two.
Want us to edit or proofread something? We’re here for you.
I quit and refocus whats left on to what I really love. I let everything else slide. For me it is food , comfort and Fluther.
Well what I really need to do is to write a script for my video. Once I do that, I can film it pretty quickly. So I have written a little, about half, which is good, but now I’m having non-related health issues so we’ll see how this all plays out.
@hug_of_war Need to or love to? If you love to, then you will have endless energy. You need to remember where your love and passion comes from.
I remind myself that if I don’t start, it really won’t get done and I break the task up into smaller, achievable chunks and tackle each one at a time. I find if I do that, I don’t become stressed by the bigger task. I’m in a similar situation myself. Too much work to start a project that has a deadline this afternoon. The difference is, I started it last week so I’ve got the building blocks in place. So break it up, and work on each part at a time. If you need an extension, speak to them before the deadline. Or even now. Let them know you’re running behind schedule and would it be okay to send it to them tomorrow or Wednesday. I think you’re better doing that than submitting something that’s crap.
We do way too much thinking. Strength is readily available to us at any given time, but we allow our thinking to persuade us otherwise.
Our reasoning, explanations and excuses often distract us from just doing whatever it is we have to do. In your case, a project is due. And you need to get it done quickly.
You can beat yourself up over the project not being an example of your usual exemplary work or you can put that unproductive thinking aside and do what you can do given the time you have left.
Regardless of your approach, the project will get done.
No sense making yourself feel miserable in the process.
I haven’t done anything. Back to work.
Sounds like stress induced inertia!
Drink some coffee!
Good luck! We are pulling for you! .
I like @longgone ‘s time maintenance plan. Follow cycles, and include checking in as part of one cycle. I am rooting for you! Stay focused.
I’ve written enough time-wise now to film my video, but I don’t feel confident I’m hitting all the areas on the rubric to the depth I should be. Unfortunately, I’m running out of time and I know from the last time I did this that the video took forever to upload so I can’t cut it too close to midnight.
I wish my professor had graded my last video before this one was due so I could at least know if this is even halfway what she wants.
Just do it at this point.
Yay! I am clapping my hands for you.
That is great news. Absolute deadlines… They work.
Well done on completing it!
The question still bears answering though. I do my best to rethink stress. Stress isn’t a bad thing, if you know how to think about it. But the single thing I found most helpful through my studies was keeping on top of my sleep and physical fitness. Yes, I regard that as one thing, because I don’t sleep unless my mind and body are both tired.
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