Do It Now!
I procrastinate. Things that I know to do, at times I don’t do them. I defer the action or decision until a later time. I am not certain why I procrastinate. Maybe it is because I am looking for answers from two different places. James calls it being double-minded. Maybe it’s because I am waiting for the conditions of life to be perfect. Maybe my own fearfulness has become a trap of procrastination for me. It could be because of anger or it could be because I am lazy and not diligent. It could be that I allow less important things to crowd out the most important things.
Opportunities
Time
Money
Relationships (I know that it has hurt or frustrated people that I love)
Here is a pattern of procrastination:
- I’ll start early
- I’ve got to start this project soon
- I should have started this project sooner
- There’s still time to get it done
- What’s wrong with me that I can’t start it sooner
- I can’t wait any longer; I have to get it done in a hurry
- Just get it done
- Next time I’ll start sooner
Although I am far from having it all figured out, here are some things I’m learning about fighting and beating procrastination:
- Start today
- Develop a schedule – what gets written, gets done.
- Take bigger tasks and break them down into smaller tasks.
- Focus on the gain not the pain
- Be accountable to someone
- Do it now!
Don’t allow procrastination to rob you of another opportunity, another dollar, another hour, or even your legacy.
No more excuses!
What are some areas where you have procrastinated? What has it cost you? What are some things you have done to fight it?
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: Diligence, Excuses, Laziness, Procrastination
May 11th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Procrastination has cost me several things, but I truly know it has cost me time. I procrastinate most mornings in getting out of bed at the hour I desire. I’m getting better, surely I see improvement, but still need lots of work. When I’m crunched for time, I tend to rush everybody else and I lose so much of the present moment. My goal is to get up in plenty of time before the boys so I can spend thorough time with my First Priority. Once I let dread set in, that’s it…the hold of procrastination gets stronger. The time I waste dreading a task is the time I could’ve spent accomplishing it.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I like this post, procrastination can be so difficult to fight. One thing I do is wake up at the same time everyday, whether I have to go to work or not. I’ve also learned to avoid procrastination by using a list. Check out the book “Getting Things Done”, by David Allen. His method may seem complicated but the benefit is that it can be easily adjusted for your own situation. I put every thought, task, whatever in a list. A book I may want to buy, a toy I may want to get the kids, pick up roses for my wife, verses I want to focus on, the list goes on. I try to always have a pen and pad at hand so that any thought you have goes out of your head and onto your list. Check out http://www.evernote.com. This free service has helped me immensely with tracking thoughts, articles I come across that I may want to read, etc.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Thanks for the suggestions, Marvin. I do have the book Getting Things Done. Very helpful book. Lists are very helpful for me as well. I will check out that website as well. Again, thanks for the comments and suggestions.
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 am
I appreciate your comment. I hope that the post added value to you as you attempt to do great things. Again, thanks for your comments.