stop procrastinating

I had 90 days to fill out an application. I was due by September 25th. I mailed it off yesterday, FINALLY, sent by Priority Post so that it will arrive at the destination on time and with a signature proof of delivery.

It was close, but at least I made the deadline on this one!

The HEPA filter machine that has been sitting in its box, unopened, blocking up my doorway for .. hmm .. how long .. is now out of the box and IN USE in my bedroom! HA! Take THAT damned Procrastination! I WILL beat you! LOL

This has been sitting in my inbox for a while, I kept procrastinating about posting it! LOL

Do you succumb to laziness?

If it is to be, it is up to me.
- Author Unknown

We commonly procrastinate or put off an activity altogether by saying “It will get done eventually” or “Someone else will do it.” Wrong! Being lazy and not taking responsibility are wastes of time. Often the power for change is within us, but without our efforts things would fail or go awry. You cannot rely on help from others, only what your own two hands accomplish on their own. Hard work is a habit that needs constant attention. But be mindful that you are giving your full effort to a project. Apply yourself, value your time, and don’t squander it hoping for help.

‘stop procrastinating’ is the second most popular thing on my list, second only to ‘lose weight’.

I have a problem with prioritizing my to-do’s. I remember a boss explaining to me that there are four ways to describe the to-do’s, it went something like this:

*Urgent and Important
*Urgent and not important
*Not urgent and important
*Not urgent and not important

I never could understand how something could be urgent and not important. LOL Maybe I missed something while he was explaining it?

Valuing time before it is too late

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness…never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
- Lord Chesterfield

Often our days are busied with worry, stress, complaining, work, and a general wasting of time. Once we finally realize the value of our time, often for many of us it is too late. While your life might seem like a long time in the midst of it, truly it is a blink of an eye. Today, make more time to be present in your life. Even small moments – enjoying a cup of tea, calling a friend, reading a favorite book – should be enjoyed. Restructure your day so that you can get all of your work done, but allow for extra time to be spent on personal matters. Stop procrastinating!

Hey team,

Here’s another email article that I hope you enjoy.

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Tackling big challenges with small actions*

“We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.
- Calvin Coolidge, American president

This is a perfect illustration of tackling big challenges with small actions. It also shows the power of focus. There’s a growing tendency for people to want to have it all. Not wanting to sacrifice anything, they run themselves straight into the ground – sometimes literally – only to end up frustrated, unhealthy, and tired, with nothing to show for it. What they don’t realize is that you can have it all (or close to it). You just can’t have it all right now. Does it feel like you’re always busy, but you never seem to get anywhere? That’s because when you try to do everything, you don’t do anything well. Your child may force you to learn this lesson anyway. Instead of living your life all at once, try doing one thing at a time. Choose one goal and, through some small “things” every day, focus in on it until you’ve succeeded. During the day, put your full mind and efforts on one task at a time. You’ll be much more productive (and calm) in the long run.

Okay .. have to post on this one, I am sure one of you will relate out there, out of the over twenty-two thousand people with this same goal?

Knocked a tube of hand lotion onto the floor in the bedroom. Ah well, I will pick it up later. Later never came. Go back into the bedroom, hear a POPPING sound. Look down .. stepped on the tube of lotion and sprayed it all over the floor. Nice one Julie. LOL

Hello my fellow procrastinators. I have been away from the computer lately. I am working on catching up today and came across this email article, sent to me via SparkPeople’s Healthy Reflections. Hope you enjoy it.

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Is procrastination curable?

You can’t escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
- Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

Procrastination. Putting off until tomorrow what you could do today. Is there a more counterproductive habit? It causes more stress and anxiety than the Grinch in December. Procrastination solves nothing and usually makes things worse. It piles up unfinished business and preoccupies the dark corners of your brain. You hope the pile will disappear but for some reason it doesn’t. The worst part is that once we put off things we’d rather not do, we start to delay the fun stuff as well. How many times have you said “no” to an opportunity because you had to take care of something you put off earlier? How many lost opportunities can you accept? Let’s make action a habit instead. Tomorrow, focus on your toughest hurdle first. Get just that one thing out of the way and enjoy the rest of the day. Be firm and don’t let yourself off the hook. After all, it’s not going away. Follow that one strategy and you’ll be surprised how the momentum carries through the rest of the day. Do it now!!

What are you procrastinating?

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.”
—Dawson Trotman

Procrastination seriously drains our energy and our morale. What remains undone nags at us.

What are you avoiding? Make a list of items and then review each one. Does it really need to be done? After you’ve reviewed your list, prioritize it and start one task today.

Please do not procrastinate taking one minute to write down your answer to this question. Capture it on paper and this will help build awareness, commitment and discipline.

“How soon not now, becomes never.”
—Martin Luther

“Talk does not cook rice.”
—Chinese proverb

“Do you know what happens when you give a procrastinator a good idea? Nothing!”
—Donald Gardner

Never have time for what you really want in life? Take control of the time of your life by changing your mind. Understand time from a higher perspective.

Hey Team, how are you?

I’ve been away for a couple of days, spending time with my mum at my childhood home. On Friday, we went to H&R Block and filed the taxes for her and my deceased Dad, plus two years worth of mine. Yup, death and taxes, only two sure things in life. I feel so much better, like a huge burden has been lifted from me, once again. Good news, almost $1,000 in refunds for me! Woo hoo .. happy dance. We also gave a small mountain of stuff to the Salvation Army, with more to come.

Today, we went over to Quebec for a bit of shopping. I didn’t buy ANY clothes. :-)

When I came home this afternoon, to my apartment, it was such a lovely feeling to walk in the door and see the difference – no dishes waiting, kitchen tidy, laundry all done, some actual floor space starting to show.

I’m beginning to notice the differences that ‘stop procrastinating’ is making in my life. I think that it is now much easier to get things done because I can see the reward! Yes, this donkey needs a carrot and stick in front of her.

My goals for tomorrow are:

• do up any bits of laundry remaining
• tidy out the car, dust the dash, vacuum the floor
• clean out email that has piled up while I was gone
• water the aloe vera
• complete my ‘usual three’ daily routine

Tea time for me, then bed. Good night everyone.

Don’t put it off until tomorrow ~ Love yourself, TODAY!