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Procrastination can be a powerful tool. Sometimes I’m so busy procrastinating something I don’t want to be doing that I get a ton of other tasks done in the meantime. Procrastinating, ironically, can provide some of my most productive days. But in the end, I’m still left with the mental weight of whatever I’m avoiding and that’s annoying.
There is something about deadlines that creates an adrenaline rush and in the last-minute-frenzy, we work hard, fast, and often more efficiently than if we had all the time in the world. I remember many all nighters during college getting projects and papers finished before class the next morning. It was almost exciting! But of course, that was when I only had myself to worry about and I could manage and control the rest of my time (like coming home from classes and taking a long nap).
Since I am suddenly reminiscing about my college days, I will try to explain this like a mathematical proof. Except, I think all the Non-Math people will be able to understand this as well.
Procrastination + Family Life = Tasks Piling Up
Tasks Piling Up = Feeling Overwhelmed
Feeling Overwhelmed = Stress
Procrastination Scenario: Let’s say every day for a week Suzy is supposed to accomplish three things, for a total of 21 important tasks in that week. These things must be done by Sunday for Suzy’s family life to function smoothly. On Monday, Suzy does two things and saves the third for Tuesday. On Tuesday, Suzy does Monday’s 3rd thing and one of Tuesday’s tasks. This pattern of only accomplishing two things each day continues. On Sunday morning, Suzy has completed 12 tasks and has 9 to finish on the last day of the week. Suzy’s six-year old gets sick and her husband suddenly remembers that he was supposed to bring food to a work party. Suzy probably feels stressed, important things get left undone, and family life does not function smoothly as hoped.
Every day we put things off, we are just piling up and making tomorrow harder. When really, we just need to tell ourselves the truth today: “I will not feel like doing this tomorrow anymore than I feel like doing it today.” Procrastination robs from tomorrow!
Sometimes procrastination is just a form of “I actually never intend to do this, but I feel guilty about admitting that, so I’m going to keep putting it on my list every day for months.” Part of being honest with yourself is admitting that something is actually a lower priority to you than feel it should be. Having your priorities properly ordered and living with your priorities in mind can solve a lot of your issues with procrastination.
I also think we sometimes procrastinate important things because we’re not sure how to get started or we’re so worried about being perfect at it, that it is stopping us from even trying to start. Sometimes I give myself baby steps on my to do list in these cases, like “research life insurance companies” instead of “sign up for life insurance.” It’s a lot easier to accomplish just looking into something. But guess what? Just looking into something is a huge first step that can grow our confidence to finish the main part of the task.
There is no such thing as the perfect time to get organized or the perfect time to get healthy or the perfect time to start living the life you want. If we wait around for the perfect time, we will wait forever. We have to start designing the lives we want in the middle of the chaos, or we will never get out of the chaos! We have to stop procrastinating making the changes we need to make. Now is the time!
Let’s stop lying to ourselves, leave our excuses at the door and just get ‘er done! You might be surprised to find out this task your dreading isn’t nearly as bad as you thought. So many times I’ve dreaded something that ended up taking less than 20 minutes in the end. Tasks we dread are almost never as bad as we fear.
What have you procrastinated? What will you change?
From my home to yours,
Mary
(Originally published on 9/4/2014.)
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Thanks for this encouragement! This is true no matter what tasks we face – family, home, work, or all of them. When I choose to be intentional about designing my life, I see success in eliminating the chaos. And when I choose to just get it done, I am a much happier person! 🙂
Me too! Definitely much happier!
Thanks! I needed to hear this, this morning.
Yesterday I “chanted” to myself
“If not Now, When? …. If not You, Who?”
This is office week so ….. I reck’n I’d bett’r get’r done! ;->
Exactly, love the “if not now, when?”!!
Wow, powerful and so true! I’m just like Mrs. ‘Stressed’ Suzy! I have to print this and remind myself daily…!!!
Christiane
I hope you have a very mellow Suzy day! 😉
I am printing this out so I can put it in my daily binder. Thanks I think if I keep reading this I will procrastinate less.
You’re welcome!
Paying bills.
That’s a tough one. Do you have a plan/ideal of when is the best time to do that?
I think I need to print that equation out!
I think I procrastinate because I think if I do it now, I won’t save time. The space will just fill up with more work I wouldn’t have to do if I was pressed to do the first chore. So it seems like I’ll actually have to do more if I do this now.
I know what you mean. I think lots of people would agree with you. And maybe procrastinating is your way of telling yourself what is really important to do? What if you looked at your to do list and expectations for yourself and you created a simplified plan and trimmed some things out? This way you don’t have the drama of procrastination, but you aren’t overwhelming yourself with too much either.
Thanks for this. I’m a terrible procrastinator…. But, like you said… I usually get a TON of other things done… Just not that ONE thing that really needs attention. LOL
Yes, I am constantly pulling myself out of that same cycle, though I’ve been known to ride it a little while to just get the thrill of being ultra-productive. 🙂