[Seaswept]

Does anyone have any tips for structuring one's day?

I wake up around 9am, groggy and unmotivated. I am also a procrastinator and get distracted easily. Sometimes I wonder if I also have a.d.d or could it be a symptom of Bipolar?

Anyways, I'm just having trouble getting through my day I seem to only accomplish 1 or 2 things and then wind up feeling like I wasted another day.

Anyone else struggle with this? Anyone overcome this and have advice?

Thank you in advance

[faerie_moon_x]

Actually being highly distractable is a symptom of Bipolar. Both in depression and mania it is easy to lose your concentration.

My best advice is to have a plan or a list. Try to stick to it. This is easier said than done. People always tell me to make a list and it still really doesn't help me. But other people it helps, so maybe that's just me.

[missbelle]

Structuring the day might for a while be a good idea. Then when you accomplish something you cross it off...A good feeling!! Anything left over gets put on the next day's list. I used it in my work all the time. I wrote what I needed to do before I left at nite. Then in the morning I could instantly see what my priorities were. Again things at the bottom of the list got switched over to the next day

One thing though, don't make it so strict etc that you are depressed over not having done something. Also a list and structuring could seem overwhelming and you want it to be used as a tool only..it shouldn't depress or make you feel in a panic or more stressed!!!!

[BuggsBunny]

I've always found that an imposed structure (outside influence) is what I need to keep myself from falling apart. Lacking that, you can contract with yourself to get up at a certain time (set your alarm), eat meals at a certain time, etc. Make yourself a little schedule, and give yourself a reward for following it. I find I need incentive for getting up, beyond the fact that it's time to get up.

One thing I did once was put myself on a schedule and for every day I followed it, I got a sticker = to $1.00 toward a concert I really wanted to attend, but couldn't really sanction spending the money on those few hours of music. So I made myself "earn" the concert money. It worked really well, and I enjoyed the concert even more because I'd had to work for it.

[Miss Laura]

I have tried drafting up a schedule. Oh god I do not bode well to that. I can't focus at all. The only thing I can suggest is doing activities that occur weekly. I play Badminton on Mondays and Swimming on Tuesdays and now Yoga on Wednesday. I just can't focus long enough. But am hoping it will come eventually

[thinker22]

I have a very structured day starting at 3:45 or 4pm, which makes me feel good and like I accomplished something (as simple as exercising and showering). However, the mornings have no schedule so I kind of dread them. I go to college on Tues and Thurs, but it's at 1:30 in the afternoon. Mornings are still a problem. Not sure how to structure those hours. Feel like going back to bed.

[Seaswept]

Lists...I forgot all about lists. Back when I was "my old me" and working full time I used lists and it did feel great when you got things crossed off.
I'm going to give it a try again that way I'll also remember things I have to do lol.
Bad memory.

Buggsbunny I like the reward idea too and Thinker I hear ya on the mornings. yuck.
Having something to do on different days of the week- I was thinking about that today. I go to weight watchers every Thursday and get my grocery shopping done after. It's comforting to know what lies ahead. When my kids were small, we always had a strict routine for them, they knew what to expect and it worked.

I want to have certain days and times set aside for housework chores and going to the gym. I have a membership but have not gone all year even though I really need to and the housework I do it when it needs it- quickly - but I just feel like if I have a schedule I'll do a better job.

Thanks you guys for your help

[hanners]

I work from home, so motivation is especially an issue for me. I try to structure as much as possible, and set goals for a set number of hours each day, but it doesn't always work out. Some days I just crash and can't focus at all.