I starting writing this post last year. Posting it now.
I chose to hold it back. For no particular reason.
I recently read a blog post about this subject. Procrastinating.
The author said we all do this. His answer to correct is simply to:
Just…do…it.
I think he’s right but sometimes that’s too hard. For me anyway.
I admit I do procrastinate. Sometimes.
Maybe a lot.
It’s always about something I really don’t want to do.
I know there are always some things I have to do but still… I just don’t want to do them.
Call people back, return emails, pay bills, clean off my desk. There’s more.
Sometimes I wait to begin those projects until right before the due date.
Why do I do this?
Because I’m very busy.
Yes, that’s right, I’m too busy.
At least that’s what I tell myself.
Yes, too busy doing the things I want to do or I rather do the things that are easier to do.
I know life is all about choices so what if I choose the easier things to do?
Who am I hurting, other than myself, but am I really?
If I’m trying to reach a resolution and I “choose” to do something totally unrelated because its more fun or easier, it’s harder to reach resolution.
But who’s keeping score? Me? Then I don’t really lose, do I?
Eventually I realized I was falling more and more behind in getting ahead.
How to avoid all the last minute rushing around?
Here’s a way I work on those items I really don’t want to do.
To ease the rush times, at least somewhat.
I simply list out all the things I need to do, I don’t want to do, or I should do.
I write this out every week.
But that’s not all.
No, I have to do something about the list.
Then I commit to working 15 minutes on one of the items. It doesn’t matter which item either.
I work on one of them for 15 minutes. Each day.
I can change the item each day, too.
The key is that I’m working on something I really don’t want to work on, but I only do it for 15 minutes.
There are 1440 minutes in one day and use 15 of them on any one item on my list.
Or about 1% of my very busy day.
That’s it.
When I do this, a minor miracle happens. I find that when I begin my 15 minutes, I begin my work and I end up completing the task in 15 minutes.
Or
I’m now so involved in the work that I continue until I complete the task I originally didn’t want to do!
And if I don’t complete the task in my allotted period of time, I still feel better about myself because I worked on a project I really didn’t want to do!
I used to think I didn’t have much in the way of self discipline.
It’s been a relief to finally realize I have just enough. I have at least 1%!
In doing so, I’ve begun to overcome my penchant to put things off.
Turns out part of the problem was my lack of desire to…start things!
And now I get to spend 99% doing the things I’d rather do.
Win/win!
Just had a thought.
Maybe, I should start spending 20 minutes a day on the list.
Maybe.
Maybe, Someday.
JT
click the vid link below.