Procrastination

Started Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – completed Friday, February 01, 2013

What is the definition of procrastination? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary gives the following definitions for the word “procrastinate”: 1. To put off intentionally and habitually. 2. To put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.

I chose this as my subject this week because I am a master procrastinator. So much so, that I half-expected to find a picture of myself next to the definition! Why am I a procrastinator? I have a little bit of an idea. How do I stop being one? That is the quest I am currently on and am open to any thoughts you may have to help me beat this thing.

Let’s go over one of the reasons that I am a procrastinator in the hopes that it may help some of you out there who have the same affliction. I saw a counselor when I was in my twenties to deal with some depression I was having. During one of my appointments, I revealed that I was a procrastinator. My counselor immediately asked which one of my parents was an alcoholic. I was completely taken aback and wanted to know how my counselor could possibly know this about me and wondered if she had been doing some information digging outside of our sessions (since I live such an exciting and dangerous life!).

Anyway, she said that children who grow up with one or both parents who are alcoholic often become procrastinators because alcoholic parents usually make many promises that they never keep. Because of these dashed hopes and expectations, the child starts to expect that promised events never really happen. I’m guessing this is a self-preservation mechanism to try and minimize the disappointment . This translates into putting off tasks as because subconsciously we don’t believe there will be any consequences for not doing something that we have planned to do or are required to do. This thought process spans many areas of my life including paying bills, planning for school activities, important events in my family’s life (holidays, birthdays, graduations, etc.). Suffice it to say that I am sick of this habit and want to start facing life head on and just do what needs to be done.

The thing that puzzles me about this whole situation is that I feel fear when I think about completing some of the things that I know need to be done, and I can’t help but wonder why that is. Is it because I’m afraid I will fail or that I won’t be able to do what needs to be done and end up with the desired results? Those are some of the questions I must work through so I can get past this sometimes deliberate, other times subconscious, and (without a doubt) debilitating habit. The other piece that comes into play is the fact that I almost surely have undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder but that’s a subject for another day.

I like the idea of ending my posts with a quote that relates to that day’s subject so I’m going to continue that trend. I am choosing two today – one a lighter view on procrastination to make us laught, and another that is more serious and thought-provoking. Mary Poppins did tell us that “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”, did she not?

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” –Mark Twain

“You may delay, but time will not.” –Benjamin Franklin

I am open to any suggestions about what has worked for you in overcoming procrastination and any other thoughts you have on the subject.

Until next time!!

Cheryl

Here I go….again!

Okay, so today begins my foray into the world of writing.  I have been procrastinating for way too long and I know there’s a creative writer hidden deep in the recesses of my brain…somewhere.  I think I just put way too much pressure on myself to write something “perfect” and a good friend told me recently that I just needed to start writing consistently.  So my goal right now is try write 500 words per day no matter if it’s gibberish or not! 

I tend to be the kind of person who gets really excited at the beginning of a new venture and then I sort of fall off after awhile and move on to something else.  I’m not really sure what causes that but it’s really beginning to bother me.  I just want to finish something meaningful in my life and something that can help inspire other to go after their dreams.  You see, one of my dreams is to become a published writer and I certainly will never get there if don’t start writing!

There are many subjects that have come to mind as possible book material.  Here are a few:  my daughter with special needs, my grandparents, a children’s book about a squirrel (or maybe bunny rabbit).  My thoughts at this point are to try to write a memoir about my grandparents to capture the memories I have and the life lessons they instilled in me.  I did make a feeble start to that project and have a couple of stories started but never did pick that back up so I will probably be bringing those in here in the near future and expanding on them.

I see the word counter on my document is currently at 286 and I’m thinking to myself, “what in the world am I going to write about to get to 500?”.  I guess my hope for today’s exercise is just to see what 500 words looks like on paper; however, I must admit that I’m feeling the creative juices starting to flow in my brain just by the simple act of typing out my thoughts.  I know they may not be very exciting but they’re my thoughts just the same! 

Incidentally, the reason I’m even writing at all is because one of our machines broke down at work and we are hardly able to do anything; so rather than surf the net or waste my brain on Facebook, I decided now is a good time to start writing.  My philosophy is to seize the opportunity when it’s sitting right in front of your face!  I suppose I could be taking an online class (yawn) but I’m pretty sure I would end up falling asleep at my desk and at least it looks like I’m doing something productive!

I’m on the downhill slide to 500 words and feeling fairly good about my first attempt at writing.  Now the key will be to keep up with it consistently no matter what I feel like.  I think an inspirational quote would be the perfect way to end today’s efforts.  After a short search on the internet, I decided to go with:

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” –Harriet Tubman. 

Until next time,

Cheryl

P.S.: My word count was 561 – what an overachiever I am!

Blogging for dummies

Well, here is my first foray into the world of blogging.  I came upon it quite by accident as I was reading a blog that one of my friends had shared on Facebook.  I had to sign up for this account to be able to post a comment on the blog I read (at least I think that’s how I got here) and I figured now was as good a time as any to start blogging.  I still really am not sure what a blog is or what I will write about so this is going to be a learn-as-I-go process.  I tend to be a procrastinator and have been putting off writing a blog because I didn’t feel like I knew enough about it to start.  Tonight I just decided that enough was enough, I really want to start writing and there’s no time like the present!  I hope to develop a blog that is interesting, entertaining, and that strikes a chord with people and maybe make a difference in their lives.  Now – back to the tutorial the creators of this site have so kindly created so I can learn a little more about how all of this works!