So, if you’re having trouble with procrastination, perfectionism, or just being a flake, come and join the fun. We’ll take the ICK out of prodICKtivity (sorry, couldn’t help myself) and show you how to actually ENJOY getting your shit done. (Yes, it’s possible.)

Btw, in case you haven’t picked it up yet, my book, Getting Sh*t Done: Stop Procrastinating, Let Perfectionism Go, & Harness Your Creative Superpowers, is free until midnight Pacific. Grab your copy now.

p.s. You don’t need a Kindle to read it — just get one of the free apps here.

Photo Credit: Jacob Skogs | www.jacobskoglund.com via Compfight cc

At the risk of regretting this tomorrow, I am hereby declaring May as Clean Slate Month (a day late, of course). I don’t like going public with this, but I need to step it up. Care to join me in the challenge?

It’s all about getting All The Things off your plate that have been weighing you down—for me, that means finances, clutter, lack of exercise, and that daily writing habit I never seem to develop. We will spend time every day in May on each of these, so that by June, we have a clean slate on which to write whatever we want.

We will start very small, so we don’t get overwhelmed and give up. As long as you are moving forward in each area you’ve chosen every day, your challenge is a success.

Here’s what I plan to have done by June first:

• The bills are paid off
• A savings plan is begun
• My stuff is pared down to just what I will need for my big road trip in the fall
• I am exercising every day
• I am writing/journaling daily

I plan to write a short blog post here every day to say what I have (or haven’t!) accomplished as well as share tips and inspiration.

This all sounds very optimistic but I know it’s going to be one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever taken on (including that time I rode a bike 300 miles in four days). I know that I will decide to give up several times a day. I will yell at myself for ever writing this damn blog post. (In fact, I’m debating clicking the Publish button right now.) But I know that when it’s all over, I’ll be glad I did it. And so will you.

Imagine not having unpaid bills or unfinished tasks weighing you down. Imagine having a clutter-free home where you and your family can truly relax and enjoy each other. Picture yourself running up the stairs, full of energy, because you’ve been exercising every day. Think of what you’ll do with all the words you will have written–an ebook, perhaps?

If you want company, join the Getting Sh*t Done Facebook group, where we post what we’re gonna do,  go do it, and come back to say what we did. We cheer each other on and make new friends in the process—we make getting shit done FUN.

Want to take the challenge? Let me know in the comments what you’ll commit to for your clean slate—what do you want off your plate by June 1?

You can do eet!

p.s. Need some tips, strategies, and inspiration to help you get going? Check out my Kindle book, Getting Sh*t Done: How to Stop Procrastinating, Let Perfectionism Go, & Harness Your Creative Superpowers (you don’t need a Kindle to read it—just download one of the free Kindle apps or read it on the Amazon site.)

I am on Facebook, Liking and Sharing up a storm, waiting for midnight so I can tell everybody that my Kindle book, Getting Sh*t Done, is free for the next three days. (Go grab it now.) I tell you this because of the irony: I have written a book about overcoming procrastination, but I have been putting off writing this blog post for days now.

What can I say? I wrote the book for myself as much as for you. I struggle with this demon every day, just like you. I have gathered together everything I have tried and learned, everything that has worked for me and others, and put it in a handy little guide so you and I can refer to it in emergencies (like now!)

So what’s working to make me write this, when I would rather go hide under the covers? The clock. Midnight is almost here. Deadline pressure that I gave myself. Also: accountability. I told all my friends that I was going to do it, and now I have to keep my word. No, this post isn’t perfect, which makes me and my OCD-level writer’s block tingle like crazy, but I’m trying to let go and accept whatever comes. I hope you will read this with compassion.

Anyway! The book! It’s free! Go get it now!

Photo Credit: Robert S. Donovan via Compfight cc

I’ve been an indoor person all of my adult life, working and reading and watching TV instead of taking part in the outside world. (I like to blame the sun, to which I developed an aversion as a kid after a series of painful sunburns—back when I spent all day, every non-school day, outdoors.) So the ‘net was a natural next step. I learned html and coded my first blog, then another one. I found a welcoming group of friends. I even got a job working online from home. The internet was my entertainment, my livelihood, and my social life.

Meanwhile, the world was passing by outside my window. I wasn’t exactly agoraphobic, but because of my extreme sensitivity to fragrance, I found myself retreating to my little apartment more and more to avoid the migraines. I stopped riding the bus or going to malls, and gave up movie theaters. The web filled in the blanks for me—the online friends, the intellectual stimulation, even glimpses of nature.

Don’t get me wrong. I know this all sounds hopelessly sad and pathetic, but it wasn’t. I love the internet! I love Facebook and Twitter and all the wonderful friends I’ve made over the years. Being online every day makes me incredibly happy, and I’m so glad Al Gore Timothy Berners-Lee invented it! But I find myself longing for nature—real nature that I can touch and smell and feel. Flowers and forests and rocks. Fish and bugs and snakes. Deserts and mountains and prairies. Lions and tigers and bears (well, from a distance). Rivers and lakes and oceans. I want to see it all first hand, not through a screen any more.

It’s right outside my window. I can hear birds chirping over the din of rush hour traffic. I could walk out the door and walk around the neighborhood, feeling the sunshine on my skin (protected by fragrance-free sunscreen, of course). But I don’t because, well, maybe there is a bit of agoraphobia going on after all. The traffic bothers me. So many houses, so many people. I want to get out of the city, away from feeling scrutinized.

Okay, so now you know my neurosis: I don’t like being observed. That’s one reason I love the web (and before that, radio)—I can communicate with you and still remain invisible, except for a headshot here and there. I’m sure you understand the feeling.

Crap—might as well come clean: I am ashamed of how I look. Being so sedentary for so long has added too many pounds to this old body. That’s the other reason I want to break free of my little self-made prison: I need to move again for my health and looks, and I can’t think of a more enjoyable way of doing it than exploring nature.

And so, I am starting my journey now. Not the travel part, quite yet. I’ve decided to wait until autumn to hit the road, and work on getting ready in the meantime. (I didn’t buy Big Bertha, btw.) Getting ready means, for me, changing how I see myself, becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be: a writer of books, an adventurous woman, and generally an ‘outside kitteh.’

That’s a huge journey in itself, and will take all of my courage and determination. San Diego is an amazing place for outdoor activities—it’s shocking, really, that I’ve lived here so long and completely ignored all that this wonderful city has to offer. So last night, I decided to take the plunge, literally, and learn to kayak. I signed up for a two-hour kayak tour of the sea caves at La Jolla Shores, a few miles from where I live, and will schedule it in the next week or two.

Here’s a video of what it will be like—looks like fun:

Right after I posted this video on Facebook and mentioned how sedentary I am, someone suggested I attend a free, introductory aikido class tomorrow (Friday) night. Talk about Put Up or Shut Up! I agreed to go (eep!) and will let you know what happens.

I plan on doing more outdoors-y things too, like surfing and scuba lessons, learning to fish, hiking… and who knows what else? It’s a way of breaking out of old habits that haven’t worked for me. I’ll be sharing my adventures with you here, and I hope to inspire you to try some new adventures yourself. They don’t have to involve the outdoors, of course. Do what you have been longing to do, whether it’s traveling or painting or writing that novel.

I’d love to hear what new adventures you have in mind—tell me in the comments below!

My soon-to-be new home

I haven’t brought her home yet, but as of sometime tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, this beast will be mine. I just have to take her to my mechanic for a double-check, sign some papers, and drive her home.

I decided to name her Big Bertha because, well, she’s BIG. I practically need a boost to get in–in fact, I should get a step-stool (or step-LADDER).

There’s plenty of room inside for living. In fact, a Facebook friend who has this exact model says he measured once and found that a Mini Cooper would fit inside!

But I’ll just start with a cot, a cooler, a Luggable Loo, and some boxes for storage, thanks. The Mini Cooper can come later.

Yes, Ms. Bertha is a gas guzzler. But since I don’t have to drive to work every day and can choose how far and how often I want to go, I can control the cost of gas.

First trip: Quartszite, AZ for the RubberTramp Rendezvous vandwellers’ meetup in THREE WEEKS. Excited! This will be a chance for me to practice in a safe place where experienced vandwellers can show me the ropes. Lots to learn!

No, my van won’t look like this, but I wish!
Photo by Brett Morrison.

Update on the sleep situation: Thanks to a commenter on Facebook (and many thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and support!), I found an organic cotton hammock from Handmade Hammocks, a British company. Even with the cost of shipping to the U.S., it’s very affordable, so yay!

But, in my desperation after writing the previous post, I found a solution that’s good enough for now: I removed the lumpy futon from on top of the cot and just slept on the cot. Duh! I thought that would be worse, but it’s actually much better. No more back pain! That gives me some breathing room financially, because:

I’ve decided to take the plunge and get a loan to buy my van now rather than try saving enough to pay cash by March.

This is a leap of faith for me. I’ve had an ironclad rule for years never to go in debt for a vehicle again. Car payments on top of rent, utilities and all the other expenses of modern life add too much stress. But worrying about how to earn and save up a few thousand dollars in the next three months has been even more stressful.

And when I move into the van on April 1st, I won’t be paying most of those expenses any more. So instead of nearly $1000/mo. in rent and utilities on my Social Security and freelance income, I’ll be paying less than $200/mo. for a van. Yes, there will be the cost of gas, but I can easily budget for that, and save on gas by what’s known as ‘slow traveling.’

Getting the van now will give me time to make it livable (setting up the hammock inside, along with the various bits and pieces I’ll need for a comfortable life) and put in a few practice runs as well.

The biggest reason to do it now is that I plan on attending a gathering of vandwellers called the Rubbertramp Rendezvous (RTR) in Quartzsite, AZ next month, and I just couldn’t see going to the trouble and expense of getting the Volvo roadworthy (new tires, among other things) and livable (where do you put a porta potty in a car?) just for one trip. Why not put that money and effort into the van instead?

So the decision is made, and it feels right. Now, instead of wistfully perusing craigslist in daydream mode, I am on the hunt in earnest.

With any luck, I’ll have my first test drive today. Woot!

I’ve slept on a couch, a cot, in a chair (for over a year), on a lumpy box spring with a futon on top (with the springs poking up into my back) and back to the cot with the futon on top. I’ve bought organic wool batting and put it under the futon, which has lumps of its own, and for a while the soft wool was wonderful for my fibromyalgia. But it always flattens out and felts after a short time and I have to buy more. And lately, I’ve been getting headaches from the wool — no idea why. So wool is now out.

I’m at the end of my rope.

Photo by Inessa Akhmedova

But speaking of ropes, I had a brilliant idea: why not hang a hammock and sleep in that? I’d heard they’re great for back problems, so what the hell. I bought one, installed strong hooks in the walls of my room, hung the hammock, and it was HEAVENLY. My back nearly cried with relief. But the hammock is coated with waterproofing… a cloud of toxins filled the room. I know I could never sleep in it.

I googled for “organic hammock” and the only ones I could find were for babies. I may have to make one if I can’t buy one at a reasonable price, but I thought I’d ask for the Internet’s help first.

If you know of a solution to my problem, please tell me — I need sleep!

Stenographers by michal_hadassah

You may know that, as my challenge for this year’s Contentpalooza, I’ve been working on a new ebook called The Complete Flake’s Guide to Getting Sh*t Done (GSD). And of course, being a typical flake, I am bogged down in the details.

I have over 20,000 words written, dictated, transcribed, pasted, and compiled from past blog posts. There’s lots of good stuff in there, and more to come, but putting it all in comprehensible order is a tad overwhelming.

So I’ve been dallying, not wanting to face the hard work of organizing and writing a truly helpful book. I asked my good friend and all-around genius, Colin Beveridge, for advice:

How do I make myself do the work?

Being extra-smart, he asked the obvious:

“What has worked before?”

Um, people waiting for my stuff. And deadlines – REAL deadlines with penalties for not meeting them.

“What kind of penalties?”

Disappointing the people who are waiting. It worked great for Green Card – forced me to write a chapter (almost) every week. I’d never have finished without that mailing list of people who were waiting for the next chapter.

“Why not get some beta readers, then?”

Duh. That’s what geniuses are for, to spot the obvious and speak up.

So here’s the question: Will you be my beta reader?

You will receive an email every day during the month of November with the latest installment (a short page or two at most). My goal is to finish the first draft by the end of the month, revise during December and have the final version up for sale on Kindle by New Year’s Day.

And as thanks for your help, I will send you the completed PDF version at the end of December.

Come be part of my team of beta readers!

p.s. No worries, no spam.

― Carlos Castañeda, Don Juan: the Sorcerer

Do you punish yourself for procrastinating by sitting at your computer hour after hour, even though you’re not being productive in the slightest?

Yeah, me too.

It’s like I’m not allowed to get up until I do the work I’m supposed to be doing (a holdover from the days when Mom wouldn’t let me play until I cleaned my room — so I just sat there, too stubborn to give in.)

We know where that leads, don’t we? It leads to Facebook, my friend. Or Twitter. Or a hundred thousand other tempting online distractions. We work harder at avoiding our work than we do actually working. It’s exhausting.

In his inspiring book about conquering resistance, Turning Pro, Steven Pressfield says this behavior is an addiction to distraction.

Back in the 90s, when this World Wide Web thing was just a baby, news anchors and parents loudly worried about “Internet Addiction,” remember? You don’t hear about that any more, do you? The reason: news anchors (and yes, I used to be one) and parents (still am) are now just as addicted to the web as everyone else.

If the internet was a drug, it would be the ‘spice’ of Frank Herbert’s Dune books and everyone with a computer would have blue eyes.

Well, in spite of all the 90s jokes about 12-step programs for mouse potatoes, there is no rehab for flakes. We have to go it alone. Or do we? After all, there are millions of flakes out there — why not help each other? I’m not saying we need to organize Flakes Anonymous (let’s face it, that would NEVER work) but we can band together, two by two or more, and be work buddies.

I do this on Skype with a group of four friends (who aren’t flakes but they are amazingly understanding and patient). We meet formally once a week to ‘mastermind’ and help each other find solutions to business problems, but we also meet informally almost every day for what we call work sessions. (While I work on my ebook during Kelly Kingman’s Contentpalooza challenge, I’m calling them write-jams.)

We declare what we’re going to work on, set a timer for 30 minutes or an hour, and check back in when the timer goes off. Rinse, repeat — all day, if we’re on a roll.

This simple group effort has done more than anything else to help me become more productive and less flaky.

We urge each other on, commiserate, and encourage. We keep each other on task and accountable — without judgment. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough judgment and criticism in my life. What I need, and get, from my friends is support to help me face my fears and find strategies that help me get shit done in spite of myself.

Find a supportive work buddy or three and give it a try — you may be shocked by your results.