Suddenly, there’s a bright flash so closely followed by an enormous crash that it seems as though light and sound have raced each other to our house. Then the room goes dim, the jug goes off, bread rises slowly out of the toaster.
Power is out!
And then the rain starts, dropping from the lowering grey clouds in sheets, overwhelming the guttering. Water splashes over the paving and garden foliage bows beneath the onslaught.
Uh-oh… the question now is not, “what will I blog about” but “will I be able to blog at all!” Which makes me feel a bit guilty because I’ve known that this is my date for blogging so several days – I set up a calendar to send timely reminders!
But even knowing that, have I scheduled the post? Nope!
Why not?
Well, I’ve been distracted, there’s lots going on at the moment. It’s a social time with Christmas around the corner, I’ve got a club newsletter to put together, I’m dabbing about at a de-clutter (now there’s a blog topic for another day!)… the list goes on… and on... and on.
And I realise that although there is lots on the to-do list, there’s not that much actually being “done”! I’ve been procrastinating! It’s annoying and inefficient – and I think it’s time it stopped.
So I’m asking you… do you procrastinate? Do you have any great tips for getting procrastination under control?
Oh and you've probably noticed... the power has now come back on so I can chat today after all!
Do I procrastinate, you ask. Well, here I am checking the blog and posting even though I SHOULD be at my writing desk (I should have started work an hour ago!) I am the last person who should be giving tips on avoiding procrastination but I will say that the only thing that helps me is starting work first thing. No checking email first, no short check of Facebook over my morning coffee. I have to take that first coffee straight to my work desk or I am doomed to a late, procrastination-driven start.
ReplyDeleteThe rain is forecast to arrive here late this afternoon, Sharon, and while the garden could do with a proper drenching we are one day away from the end of harvest. It would be nice if the rain can procrastinate on arriving until the last of the crop is in the silo!
argh, Bronwyn! I feel your procrastination! I hope you have hastened to your writing desk and that words are flowing!
DeleteSo you're advice is to hit the ground early (coffee in hand) and don't allow temptations such as Facebook, email or blogs on procrastination! Excellent advice! ;)
Oh, I'll keep my fingers crossed your rain is late in arriving so you can get that crop into the silo!
Ah the weather, Sharon. We had hail a few weeks back, so there are two very sad looking cars in our driveway.
ReplyDeleteI hate wasting time, so always have a list of things to do which I update each day and then prioritise. I put the hardest or most important things on the top of the list. I take great joy out of crossing things off. I'm so sad, that if I've done something that wasn't on the list, I add it just so I can cross it off!!!
I also get up extra early (than my natural time clock thinks is reasonable) so I can get more done in a day.
So basically, I force myself not to be a procrastinator!
Ouch, Jennifer, that must have been a terrible hail storm!
DeleteHey, I'm a list person, too! Love lists! But I'm not good with the prioritising... I find it way too easy to let myself get lured by the less important items.
Note to self: apply self-discipline!
LOL Sharon I know exactly how you feel and I do it all the time put things of till the very last minute and I have no ideas how to get better sorry I am just about ready for Christmas though so that is one good thing I just need to wrap now and finish writing the Christmas cards out to post on Friday hopefuly :)
ReplyDeleteHave Fun
Helen
Well done on your Christmas preparations, Helen! That's one that I tell myself each year that I'll be better organised for the following year - sometimes I am, mostly I'm not!
DeleteMy life is one big procrastination! I do have a lot on my plate, but I really need to get organized. My house is a giant mess, and I want to put up the Christmas tree & decorations.
ReplyDeleteSharlene, it sounds like there are a lot of us procrastinators out there! I hear you about the Christmas tree - haven't done ours yet either and since we're having dinner at our place this year, I do like to have the tree up! How about we both do it this weekend!
DeleteSharon, sometimes I feel procrastination is my middle name. I find lists help. Like Jenn I love to be able to cross things off! But so often it's just such an effort to get stuck in. The only other thing that helps is that I hate running late for things, so I do try to build in some extra time by doing the important things in advance. I know that sounds contrary to my procrastination tendency but strangely, the two impulses co-exist. Don't ask me how.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Annie! I understand completely about those two contrary impulses. I procrastinate AND I hate to be late! It's a real tug of war at times... I think maybe I need to get to grips with that prioritising that Jenn spoke about.
DeleteAh, procrastination... It's funny, when I'm working on a book to a deadline I don't procrastinate. I have a routine that I stick to. It's become such a routine I don't even consider procrastination, but when it's to do with anything else like (OMG) tax or cleaning the house or groceries or... Well, you get the picture. And I find December THE hardest month to focus. Good luck with overcoming your procrastination, Sharon!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! I must say, I'm terribly impressed that you don't procrastinate about your writing! And you say it's because you have a routine... so you know that I want you to share that now, don't you?!
DeleteAs for (OMG) tax (gulp) or housework or groceries... I sure do get the picture! LOL
Sharon, as you know, I'm very naughty with the procrastination, though the lists with things to tick off definitely help.
ReplyDeleteI want to be Jennifer St George when I grow up!
hugs to you, Rachel, my sister in procrastination! I think we both need to be Jennifer St George when we grow up... or a Barbara DeLeo - I seem to remember she did an awesome organisation blog not to long ago!
Deletelol - loved reading the internal ramblings of your mind Sharon :-)
ReplyDeleteMust blog today, hmm what about, hmm toast, ooh look lightning, hmm, newsletter, ooh rain, hmm Christmas.... hmmm...
Just loved it :-)
LOL, Amy! I must say, when you summarise it like that, I can see my mind is doing a rather good grasshopper impersonation! Still it would be so much more effective if it did a "mind" impersonation!
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