Procrastination … it doesn’t just affect you!!

I am a self-proclaimed procrastinator. I am not proud of it. In fact, today it is really bothering me. Why today? Because I have missed a couple of deadlines this past week that affect others, and while I already didn’t meet those, I am now sick, so more behind. Sad. I did not work this into my time frame. Who would?

I also did not work into the schedule my colleague’s little girl being sick and him having to stay home to care for her … putting him behind on his own tasks, plus what I owed him. I didn’t take into consideration the schedules of others, or their family time, stress levels, work loads and their own deadlines. Very selfish, don’t you think?! Sort of rhetorical … but you can respond if you’d like.

As my throat burns like fire and my head pounds, I am finalizing details on one project. Reading through applications for another. Writing questions for a panel discussion that is to occur on Wednesday. Procrastination puts undue stress on a number of people that may be related – directly or indirectly – with what you may still have on your to-do list, but should be on their list by now … and likely much before now. It’s time to:

Get started.
Move forward.
Cross the finish line.
Write the story, the book … start with a sentence, a paragraph, a page, a chapter.
Make the call. Make the proposal. Make the sale.
Wrap it up … whatever “it” may be.
Live life, instead of worrying through it, fretting about it.

Remember Matthew 6:34 (NIV) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Psychology Today has a link on Procrastination: Ten Things to Know. Here is the link. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/procrastination-ten-things-know

Another article I found very helpful and right on target is from Entrepreneur.com.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230962#

Spend your time focusing on what is on hand today! Don’t have so many unfinished projects on the docket, that you forget to appreciate what is right in front of you.

So, I am clearing my projects, schedule the best I can. No more worrying that everything has to be perfect. (One of my friends lovingly calls me the “paralyzed perfectionist.” It was almost funny at first. Not so much now. Starting NOW (ha! you thought I’d say tomorrow, didn’t ya?) I am working harder to think of others when I have deadlines … no longer about my schedule, but how can I help someone else have less worry over their time, their projects and help them meet their goals and their deadlines.

Life is short, and I don’t know about you, but I often take it for granted. Let’s not do that any longer. Don’t waste the gift of today on “what if’s” or “I’ll get to it tomorrows.”

Here is the other thing I know. I typically excel at the things I do, not perfectly mind you. But I am a strong Christian, family member, friend, writer, presenter, encourager, employee. If I did the things in relation to those “titles” when I say I am going to do them, and spend the time on the front end rather than rushing through on the back-end, how much better could I be. Immeasurably!

With that, I have applications to finish reading, pictures to take, presentations to prepare, people to talk to and an enormously mighty God to thank now for today!

How are you spending your day?

Lisa : )