Procrastination.
That terrible word that is a very real part of
most everyone’s life.
You may deny it, but on some level, we all procrastinate. It can be a major issue, or a minor one, but
it’s there.
I will be the first to admit that there are
times where I procrastinate, particularly when I’m tired or bored.
Challenge this week: be aware when you start procrastinating. Figure out the why and determine the best way
for you to tackle it. This will be
different for each person, as there are so many variables involved. For chronic issues, you may try different
things through the week. Like many of
the challenges, this will not be a one-off, try it and find your perfect
solution forever situation. You will
benefit from working on this long term so be kind to yourself this week. Aim to stop some of your procrastinating,
learn as you go, and realise it is a part of our lives and will come up
continuously for most people
For a lot of people, procrastination centres on
simply not wanting to start something.
Whether they do not have the tools for the job, the job seems too big
and overwhelming, they’re not sure where to start, or they simply can’t be
bothered dealing with it. Its simple
avoidance, and being told to harden up and just do it, doesn’t help.
For some people, it’s not about starting, but
actually finishing. Some people are
comfortably in limbo, because finalisation means not only bringing ‘safe’
negotiations or dreams to an end, but commitment to the next phase.
Some of these issues are easily fixed, I
think. I know if I find myself delaying
starting a project, I have to sit myself down and ask what the fuck I’m doing.
Do I not have the tools to do the job? No?
well get them. Stop mucking
around.
Is the job too daunting? Well, break it down into smaller jobs, and
tackle one at a time.
My garden is a perfect example of that. I’ve procrastinated on a lot of work in the
garden because it’s simply so overwhelming.
I have twenty-six garden beds at home. Twenty-six spread across an acre. When I look at that number, I shit
myself. Twenty-six. It’s completely overwhelming to know that I
have to manage all of that, and hold down a nearly full time job. It’s a massive challenge.
So, instead of procrastinating and stressing
myself out, because ignoring the garden just makes the job of maintaining it
even harder, I broke the garden down into sections of priority.
Whatever needed the most urgent attention got it
first. Some gardens, like the veggie
garden, need constant planning and attention.
Others like the rose and perennial gardens don’t, but they do need it at
specific times of the year.
It was simply a matter of mapping out a plan of
management, and following it; one garden bed at a time.
The other thing that really helped in this
situation was eliminating the pressure I put on myself. Did it really matter if I didn’t do any
gardening this weekend? What’s the worst
that could happen? A plant may die? As terrible as that is, shit happens. Plants die, and you pull them out, replace
them, and move on. That’s the beauty of
a garden: it’s constantly evolving.
If you’re not sure where to start a project,
simply list down what you think needs to be done, and work out priorities.
If you can’t be bothered starting, then you have
to ask yourself if the task is really that important at all?
As for procrastinating on finishing, well
eventually thinks must transcend. You
need completion to move forward, and if you’re afraid to move forward, then you
must ask yourself why. It then becomes
something more than just a matter of procrastination.
As I said before, I find myself procrastinating
most when I’m tired or bored.
I could have ticked all the boxes (have the
tools, have the plan, know where to start), but am really tired and can’t
focus. I become easily distracted, and
end up travelling down another tangent that has nothing to do with what I’m meant to be doing!
That where the lessons from a couple of
challenges comes into play. Is it really
that important? Can it wait? If it
can’t, then I have to remove all distractions and commit myself to what I have
to do, and just do it.
However, if it’s not important, then I just walk
away. If my life is not going to end, or
the world is not going to be swallowed up into a big black hole, then I can
give it a miss for now.
I think that’s what it all comes down to. How important is the task that you want to
do? Is it even worth doing? Does it fit in with the big ‘life’ picture
for yourself, or is it just a meaningless task?
Is it something that someone else wants or needs
us to do, and I use work as a perfect example.
Sometimes it can be hard to find the motivation to do the things I need
to do at work, particularly if I’m bored or tired.
I find with work though, that if there is a task
that is stressful, or requires a considerable time commitment, that I clear the
schedule and just get into it straight away.
Face the ‘fear’, and do it. More
often than not, after I have finished the task, my mind is at ease, and the
stresses or concerns are gone.
There are, however, some big issues in my life
that I know I am procrastinating on. I
won’t go into them here, but I know fear of change is what is making me
hesitate, amongst many other things.
These are serious, life changing decisions… and
perhaps procrastination is the wrong word.
I’ve made the decision I need to make; it’s now just a matter of timing.
Even though, fear still holds me back.
So, this week I have to recognise
procrastination when it rears its head, ask myself what’s going on, and get my
shit together.
Could be a confronting week.
Peace out.
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