Beating self-sabotage by... making a list
If you read my last post, you know I'm almost done with my Master's degree's academic year. My final test is done, and I've got two presentations left, one next Monday and one the Monday after that.
It's now Thursday, and I want to do E V E R Y T H I N G except the presentation (and report!) I have to present next Monday. It's a mockup pitch for a thesis project, and I've sort of got the theme and question, and I've sort of read through literature, and I've sort of figured out the sample I want, and I've sort of decided on a method.
But "sort of" ain't done! And it sort of needs to be done by Sunday. And I'm working Friday and Saturday, so... yeah.
It's not like I'm not doing anything. I had a looooong meeting with the professor orienting the thesis project, and another meeting on the other project, a case study rehabilitation plan, and I had a lecture on cognitive rehabilitation materials, and I thought a lot and read and socialised with my classmates.
But it's still not done, and when I got home, I tried to keep working, but no dice.
What I've found as a way to try and not think about the million things I wanna do is: write a wishlist for when I'm done with all this. The logic is that I'll put it "out there" (into my pocket notebook) and I'll stop thinking about it.
What's on my list as of now:
- Read the clinical cases book I bought
- Create a workshop, at least brainstorm some ideas
- Draw / doodle / sketch. Get back on it!
- Read "The brain injury rehabilitation notebook"
- Make some psychoeducation material for some acquired brain injuries
- Read the António Variações book I bought
Did I finish my work after writing this list? No. I came to write this blog post and then I'm going to have dinner and rot on the couch. Or... rest on the couch. Today was a long day, so it's okay if my head can't really process anything further.
Sometimes, self-care is giving yourself some grace, cutting yourself some slack, and playing Mewgenics on the couch for a couple hours, with a blanket and with Taskmaster on the background.
11 days to go. Wish me luck!