Okay, I need help.

[e_juliana]

I have a terrible time focusing at work, primarily because I don't really enjoy the work and it doesn't challenge me. My poor job performance is feeding into and reinforcing my poor self-esteem, making it impossible to want either improve at this job or find a new one. I can't afford a shrink or a 'career counselor', so here I am.

Dear readers, please share your favorite organizational and focus tips. It doesn't matter if it seems completely elementary or obvious to you, it may not be to me. If I already know it, I'll appreciate the reminder. I need something, because we really can't afford for me to lose this job, and I need to shake myself out of this paralysis.

Thanks.

Comments

[fatoudust.livejournal.com]

I'm totally with you. For years, I had a great job and was engaged and enthusiastic about it. And then they hired my nemesis (and a completely incompetent person) to be my boss. I became the Worst Employee Ever, because I refused to let my success create a platform for the Bad Boss to crow over. This was a bad idea.

As a result, I spent the next several years in the sloughs of poor work ethic, and yes, my self-image suffered as a result. Unfortunately for this inspirational epic, I didn't change my ways until I got out of the job (although not actually out of the company, that came later). Still, I had to rebuild my organizational skills and focus and the whole bit.

Yes, I definitely got a planner (day-timer for me) and that helped. I scrupulously wrote down all my appointments, kept track of expenses, created, updated and checked off to-do lists.

All of that helped, but in the end, what I needed to do was realize that I was proud of myself, my ability, my professionalism and my work ethic. And I needed to excel in those things *for myself* not for any putative crappy boss or crappy job or crappy task. I needed to be able to take pride in my achievements, and for that, I needed to get my ass in gear.

It took a while. Be patient with yourself. Change doens't come overnight. But you can turn yourself around, and it can start with how you think about yourself, instead of the other way 'round (though that way has its rewards, too).

Oookay, I'm done with my Motivational Speaker Voice, but I do mean it. You're intelligent and capable.