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Are You Disguising Your Procrastination with Productivity?

My husband is convinced that I don’t know how to relax.  I tend to agree.  I think some of us just feel like we must always be productive.  Productivity is constantly being pushed upon us and I think some of us don’t know how to turn it off.  But is it possible that the need to be productive all the time is a symptom of a bigger problem? 

Sometimes busy work is just an excuse to procrastinate on something that we really don’t want to do.  Our mind is constantly telling us we “need to do something.”  We know what that “something” is, but we don’t do it so, we do something else.  Then we keep doing something else.  Because let’s face it, there is always something that needs to be done.  There is always a pile of laundry or errands to be run. It is true that there are things in life that need to get done. Those things will never go away.  But are you using everyday life to propose doing something that you need to do that you don’t want to do?   

If we were to just do what it is that we need to do, then maybe our minds won’t nag us constantly that we “need to be doing something.”  What you need to do is that thing that you have been putting off.  What is it that you need to do?  Is it starting that exercise program?  Is it making that difficult phone call that you dread?  Is it that big renovation project that you have been putting off? 

Procrastination can be its own type of stress.  Your mind constantly thinks about what it is that you are putting off.  Not to mention the stress that procrastination causes if you end up missing a deadline or opportunity.  It’s okay to postpone things sometimes.  For instance, if you are too tired after a busy day or something truly more important came up.  However, we cannot make it a habit to keep putting things off.

How do we combat procrastination? One way is to just take the task head on. But we don’t all have that type of personality, plus not all tasks are suited for that approach.  I am sure we all wish we could just take a renovation project head on, but we can’t. That takes planning and hiring contractors, etc.  This example of renovation project leads me to another solution.  Just break the big task into little task. 

Let’s take the renovation project as an example again.  But let’s be more specific this time.  Let’s use the example of renovating a bathroom.  We know we want to renovate the bathroom, but there is so much to doing that project and we are overwhelmed where to start.  Let’s start with gathering a list of three contractors in the local area. That’s it.  That’s all. That is step one.  Next step let’s call the contractors and set up appointments for estimates.  Do we have enough money to get started?  Good, let’s weigh the pros and cons of each contractor and pick one.  After that, you can choose colors, tile, facets, tubs, etc.  The main thing is getting started is not so hard when you start one piece at a time.

Let’s take the dreaded phone call for example. Do you need to apologize to someone?  Are you not able to come through for a client like you thought you would?  Do you have to cancel a meeting, and you hate disappointing that person? This is one of those things where you must go all in.  Procrastinating is just making the situation worse.  Take time to gather your thoughts.  Think about how you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.  What do know about the other person?  How would they want to be treated? Take a deep breath and make the call with all of this in mind.  I would even say pray before you make the call that God would give you the right words to say.  Sure, the other person may still be mad or disappointed, but you would be surprised how far sincerity, and an apology will go with someone.

Let’s have a final example.  Maybe the task is not important, and it doesn’t need to be done.  A simple “no” will do.  Or you can just flat ignore it and stop thinking about it.  For example, you would like to have a garage sale, but you don’t really need to have a garage sale.  Just say to yourself, “I won’t have a garage sale right now.” Donate the items to a charity or just leave them where they are. If it isn’t urgent or necessary to have a garage sale, then let it go.

In conclusion, sometimes the cure to procrastination is just to start. Whether it is going all in at once or dividing the task up into little pieces. Sometimes, the cure is just to say “no” or just move on.  You don’t want to stress yourself out by avoiding what it is that needs to be done.  Your mind will just keep nagging you, and if the task is important, it will not go away.  Ask yourself. What do you need to start today?

Fashionably Yours,

The Gospelnista

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