Kicking the Procrastination Habit

February 27th, 2008

Procrastination is an easy habit to fall into. Once you get there, it can be hard (if not impossible) to dig your way out. Procrastination is a lot like an avalanche, the longer it goes, the bigger it grows.

My uncanny ability to procrastinate reached almost infamous proportions when I was in school. I was so adept at waiting until the last second to start and complete major projects that I began to convince myself that I did best under pressure. This “gift” followed me through college, and into marriage (much to the dismay of my husband).

Now I have children who are looking at me to see what is the correct way to act. Procrastination is no longer my friend or a gift. This curse is hindering my ability to be the example I want to be. Plus, I have now discovered that ever time I put something off there is just more to do the next time I come around to it.

My procrastination mess just keeps growing and growing and growing.

I know all the reasons NOT to procrastinate:

• You never know what tomorrow will hold, but you do know there is going to be something that happens to interrupt what you had planned to do.

• Sicknesses (or injury) always seem to occur when there is the least amount of free time available.

• If something is getting put off then I am not doing what I know to do.

• “Do it now” has little meaning to my children when I spend all of my time waiting to do it tomorrow.

Yesterday I was joking that cable hasn’t been run out to my house so that I could have high speed internet service. “I know I have learned patience.” Since I keep putting off projects and getting stuck with a connection that is slower than Christmas, maybe my problem is procrastination.

The only way I know to break the habit of procrastination is to start doing things right now – this instant – no matter how small. Doing a little of what needs to be done, with out question or hesitation, will get me well on the way to living a procrastination free life.

I am determined to start first thing tomorrow!

Entry Filed under: Attitudes