[Icare dixit]

Do you plan more or less, given your BP? Does it come naturally or do you have to force yourself? What about keeping focus and does planning help with that?

I'd say both planning and keeping focus would generally go against our nature.

[hopeless2015]

I don't plan or focus well I'm a procrastinator. I have a job that had lots of repetition and few deadlines

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[touched by fire]

I have so many things *planned* I get over-whelmed thinking about all of them and fail to start half of them.

i don't plan (or at least, i don't plan more than a few hours ahead)

like, i'd plan what i'm having for dinner that night, or what i need to do that day, but even then the chances of it getting done and me sticking to the plans arn't that successfull, so i don't do it

(plus you don't know what's round the corner), and with my fear of instant sudden death, it does strengthen that advice

as for focusing, i'm not the best at it.

i try, but usually end up in some kind of confusion- or i start things but never finish them

[seoultous]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

I'd say both planning and keeping focus would generally go against our nature.

Why? What is our nature? Managing Bipolar takes planning: when to take meds, when to go to sleep, when to exercise, what to do about eating healthy...

I'm not good with planning in general. like, basically, it never even occurs to me to do it. My life can be summed up by that line in The Talking Heads' song Once in a Lifetime -- "How did I get here?!".

But. When I figure out a transit plan, I'll figure a ridiculous number of options. Also spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours planning a 3 week trip overseas (guess who had a very hypo trip... Lol, say it again, VERY. People commented. More than once. )

Guess if it's not obsessive, I don't do it.
All or nothing. Now why does that ring a bell?

[Coconutzo]

Whenever I make plans, I ruin ruin ruin them. No matter how hard I try. No matter which side of the coin is turned to the sky that day. Ruin ruin ruin

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[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by seoultous

Why? What is our nature? Managing Bipolar takes planning: when to take meds, when to go to sleep, when to exercise, what to do about eating healthy...

I think it can be summed up as not being good at, or feeling well, having a (strict) routine. It might be less so for people with BP-II, at least consciously, but I believe it's something that sets us against many other people and the way they like things organised, people who prefer more routine, planning, rules and deadlines, more structure.

Maybe about half of those with unipolar depression have this (possibly less so than those with BP-II), the other half having a nature which is very much the opposite from ours.

I am not saying going against that nature to be more functional, is wrong. Though finding a balance rather than completely neglecting/disregarding that need, fighting it all out, might be best.

I feel torn between needing to plan and needing to adapt according to my mood. Then there is the manic, longterm planning which is completely unfocused. I try to only "approve of" any longterm plans when depressed, otherwise risking that they are not worth it and diffusing rather than focusing: I don't have time for that.

I also like something more like "factory work" than big projects with faraway deadlines. Many companies have recognised how that is probably best for all organisations, strategy as well as productivity, giving rise to "lean" principles.

So careful longterm planning and standardised and very short-term routines may be best, for us.

[boogiesmash]

I plan well but never follow through well.

Sometimes I'm a big planner, other times, not so much. I think I'm pretty typical in this regard. I think my planning and procrastination can be a bit on the neurotic side sometimes. Most of the time, I try to plan but fail.

I believe planning consistently is something I should work on. Especially with this illness. Positive planning that is.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

Do you plan more or less, given your BP? Does it come naturally or do you have to force yourself? What about keeping focus and does planning help with that?

I'd say both planning and keeping focus would generally go against our nature.

I used to plan everything to the point where I couldn't handle changes at all. Now I hardly ever plan anything. I think it's more about where you are in life than bipolar nature.

[zepchic]

Originally Posted by boogiesmash

I plan well but never follow through well.

Me too...not never, but I struggle with the follow through. I am very organized. I can focus unless I am manic, then its from one thing to the next, to the next, and I don't get anything done.

[Icare dixit]

Is the procrastination due to fear of mania (and subsequent depression/instability), for you?

In my case it is, but also "deliberate" sabotage (worse the more people care about or expect it or depend on it), sometimes. It's all balancing and paradoxes. Doing some things more head first (ignoring any fear) and sometimes getting my head down, acting slowly, carefully planning for the short term and with very small steps.

That's why I have to work alone and with subcontractors or subordinates. My way or the highway.

[SillyMom]

Every second must be planned most days. But on my manic days nothing is planned