the beat of procrastination
procrastination and the art of getting things done
Let’s chat about procrastination for a minute. I was supposed to sit down and tackle my finances and complete some tasks today. Three hours later, here I am writing this post, and those finances are still untouched. I even told myself I couldn’t do anything else until I got started. Well, guess what? Bribery and ultimatums don’t work on me!
This task has been sitting on my to-do list for far too long, and I promised myself today would be the day. But in the three hours since making that promise, I’ve made coffee, grabbed water, done some shadow work, wandered around the house looking for distractions—anything to avoid the inevitable. And then I had to laugh. I realized that I’ve reached an interesting point in my life: I’ve run out of excuses and distractions, and there’s nothing left to do but face what I’ve been putting off.
So, four hours and 44 minutes later, this blog post is born. Yay! They say to find the good in everything, so here I am, extracting wisdom from this rare and somewhat ridiculous situation.
1. Procrastination Doesn’t Change If You Don't
Yes, you might think that snack will help, or that extra cup of coffee will give you the boost you need. It might, but really, it’s just delaying the inevitable. In the end, you’ll still be thinking about the task you’re avoiding.
That’s all you really need to know. Seriously!
So, how do we stop procrastinating? Well, isn’t that the question of the century? First, let’s acknowledge how great we are at procrastinating.
“Hey you! You’re a fantastic procrastinator!”
And really mean it. If there were an award or a certificate for procrastination, I’d definitely deserve it. And I’m guessing you would too! If you’re interested in becoming a certified Procrastinator, email me your procrastination story, and I’ll send you a certificate. Below is an example of what yours will look like.
2. Thank Yourself for All the Procrastination
Take a moment to appreciate all the times procrastination has served you. All those moments when it stressed you out but maybe even led to something positive. Reflect on your relationship with procrastination. Thank it for the memories, and apologize where necessary.
3. Reflect why you are procrastinating.
Ask yourself, why am I not doing these things that I said I need to do or want to do? Deeply ponder this question and allow the answer to come out in anyway shape or form. Be that through and image, a song, lyrics, words, whatever.
If other questions surface to your mind, ask yourself those questions as well. What is preventing me from getting this done?
4. Let That Stuff Go
Now, it’s time to move on. You’ve cleared years of procrastination baggage. It’s a new moment, and here’s your chance to redefine yourself. The only way to not procrastinate is to just go do it. No amount of analyzing, coffee, or breaks will magically get it done. Well, at least not yet… 😉
So, I’m off to tackle my tasks and extract the best out of the experience, even if it’s just a lesson in learning more about myself. I have the choice to decide how I feel about it, so I might as well make the best of it. Wish me luck, and may the force of motivation be with you!
Soul Sister 8, signing out.
