I have spent the entire day sitting at my desk. Staring at my computer. Trying to get my contacts from Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud into some kind of master list. I am not doing this for fun. I have to get this figured out in order to move ahead on a work project. The ridiculous amount of time this is taking has been seriously annoying. You would think with all of the glitzy new technology out there, this would not be such a laborious undertaking. But it is. Slow. And repetitive. And boring. And tedious. And I need a glass of wine.
I am plowing through this project because there is no other way to get to the other side of it. I can’t hire someone else to do it. I can’t buy some new device that will solve my problems. I can’t not do it. I knew it was going to be difficult when I decided to dive in. I am not enjoying it, but I am trying to think about how great it will feel to have it completed.
Grumpy neighbors, cranky kids, naughty dogs, bad hair days. Whatever it is, being prepared that something is going to be annoying does make it easier somehow. Maybe preparing yourself for a pain in the you-know-what situation gives you the feeling that you have a little bit of control over the situation. Or maybe anticipation makes the actual event seem less annoying. Preparing to be annoyed won’t make it fun – just a little easier to get through.
What things do you prepare to be annoyed about?
I gather my vices – wine or coffee and chocolate – it depends on the time of day! Knowing that the hardest part of a dreaded project is just getting started, I try and jump in and tackle it – in little bits and pieces. Doing the entire thing can be overwhelming and then I find ways to procrastinate. Like Pinterest!
I agree about breaking projects down. It is so much easier to begin if I tell myself I only have to work on it for a short bit. I inevitably wind up putting in more time, but this little trick helps me get started. And I agree – it is good to have a wide range of vices to rely upon depending on the time of day!
Maybe Cheetos would help?!
I like the idea of preparing for anything, but never thought about preparing to be annoyed. Great idea! Think I’ll use that as my father-in-law draws near for a visit this evening! LOL!
Cheetos!!!! I think they just might help! Let us know if preparing yourself to be annoyed helps or makes it worse! No sense in getting worked up unnecessarily, but perhaps knowing that your FIL will be annoying, and choosing to look on in amusement rather than getting hooked, will take the sting out of it. Good luck!