Aargh - Why cant I concentrate?

[Bev2007]

Working at home, dont know what wrong with me. Ive been trying to write a report for 10 days now and havent made a start. I know what to do, its interesting but Im careering towards the deadline and just cant get into it. Im struggling to even open the files. Just keep surfing, pottering about and making cups of tea...the usual stuff.

Please help - sure fire methods of shaking myself down and getting my teeth into it. !!!

[4getmenot]

disconnect the internet

[melons]

have you had some lunch yet?
If not get something to eat & drink (non-alcoholic) follw 4getmenots advise and then knuckle down for an hour or 2 and then have a break and try again!

[4getmenot]

nah on second thoughts stuff the report, have a laugh with us lot :-) dont follow my advice its cr@p :-)

[badgerchops]

im probably not helping by replying but i think you need to stop surfing now, go and make some lunch for brain power and then sit down with the files and begin.
Have your drink / lunch away from the desk and then once eaten begin the report

Just make sure there are no distractions and just start.

[Bev2007]

OK I am getting an interesting level of anxiety at the prospect of actually disconnecting the internet - maybe I should write a thesis on this instead! Just joking.
Im going to give it a go, follow all of your advice and will post later to confess how far I got.

Thanks all.

[AniaSM]

Dont do it at home. Go to a library or a quiet cafe. Good luck.

[juliet704]

If you live anywhere near a railway station, go and take a slow train ride and see whether you find it easier to work on the train. It works for me.

[Panic Button]

Sorry, were you saying something?

[Karen2005]

Hi Bev. Hopefully you've made some headway with your report, but when I was a student and kept procrastinating, I would sit down at my desk and tell myself that I was going to work solidly for 30 minutes (or 15 or 10, depending on how I was feeling!). That concentrated my mind and the thought that I was going to "allow" myself to stop after the alloted time meant that it felt easier to get started. I would invariably work for longer than I'd intended to, but even if I didn't, at least I got some work done!