Procrastination is like a credit card.
It's a lot of fun until you get the bill.
So says Christopher Parker.
Christopher's comment is an amusing headline and it gets us thinking.
But then we realize that procrastination isn't even fun in the present moment.
Dear friends,
Welcome to this meditation which you are only listening to today because I didn't put off the recording until tomorrow.
Let's begin by pausing for one minute,
Leaving to one side the regrets of yesterday and leaving to the other side any concerns about tomorrow.
Welcome to the present moment,
A 60 second pause.
Welcome back.
A question,
Why do we procrastinate when we know it's not helpful?
Postponing the attention which a situation requires only adds to the problem.
When we finally get down to work,
We realize that the procrastination itself is a bigger concern than the issue that was facing us at the start.
Now,
Not only have we to deal with the problem,
But we have to sort out any problems caused by the delay.
In light of all this,
What is it that encourages us to postpone to tomorrow something that we know should be done today?
It seems there are two categories of projects which we tend to postpone.
The first would be work related,
Something to do with our job or something concerning a commitment which we've already made.
The second type will be more personal,
Plans for self-improvement,
Lifestyle changes,
Bad habits that we need to break or some day plans and ideas.
The reasons for procrastination will vary according to whether the task falls into one or other of these two categories.
Procrastination in the work area can arise for a number of reasons.
The task might be difficult or complex.
We can feel overwhelmed,
Uncertain about how to approach the issue and lurking in the background is the danger that we'll make a mistake.
Have you ever postponed a work-related task for these or any other reasons?
Let's pause for one minute.
Welcome back.
Work-related procrastination can build up trouble for ourselves.
So what to do?
It will help if we break the task down into a number of more manageable steps.
It has been said that every impossibility can be divided into a number of steps,
Each of which is possible.
If we are still uncertain as to what to do,
The remedy is to seek advice or help.
The one thing we should not do is procrastinate.
This will not help.
We may fear making a mistake but the biggest mistake and the most dangerous error is not to act at all.
If we are the type of person who seeks perfection,
Remember that the best can be the enemy of the good.
Michael Hyatt tells us perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.
If there is some task facing you,
Something that you know you should do but for some reason you feel inclined to postpone,
Just take one step,
Any step.
You will be pleasantly surprised if you do.
It's just some task in work that you've been postponing for any reason.
Have these thoughts given you any encouragement to move on with the task?
Another one minute pause.
Welcome back.
Next we're going to look at what you might call domestic procrastination.
This is to do with tasks and projects that relate to your own life.
There's no one standing over you insisting that you get on with these plans.
These tasks are up to you.
They could be postponed indefinitely but at what cost?
They could be postponed forever but what a pity that would be.
Why have you been procrastinating on this?
You may feel a lack of motivation.
An example would be a person who knows they should give up smoking or someone who knows they should begin an exercise plan.
Most of us have any number of plans and ideas just awaiting the pressing of the launch button.
Projects and plans need motivation and firm decision.
They require self-discipline.
You need to be excited at the prospect of what can be achieved through taking up the challenge.
Just think of the number of things we intend to do sometime.
There's no one to push us.
We may not have even entered the plan on the to-do list.
But every so often it crosses our minds and we think one of these days.
Let's spend one minute now thinking of some of these someday projects.
Projects that we might have postponed for too long.
Can we decide to select even one of these long-delayed ideas and firmly decide to make a move on it today?
Or at least this week and certainly by the end of this month.
There are no shortage of quotations to encourage us to break this habit of procrastination.
Edward Young tells us that procrastination is the thief of time and we can see that it is.
The words of encouragement from Zig Ziglar are you don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.
So in the days,
Weeks and months ahead can you bring more life into your life?
Look at life's challenges as opportunities.
Life's ideas as things to be brought into being.
Meet them at the door,
All of them.
Introduce yourself with confidence and show them the sign marked procrastination sitting in your waste paper basket.
Welcome to a new life of productivity.
Namaste
