stop procrastinating

that I need to start thinking about and prepare for. I usually do everything so last minute. Sometimes I’m out shopping the same morning. I really want to get better at this. I always say “I work better under pressure” but that’s really not true at all. When I start early to prepare for something, I always do a better job :-)

Oct. 23 – My niece’s bridal shower (I’ve already bought the gift; just need to wrap it). And I need to figure out what my daughter and I are going to wear.
This is also my son’s birthday. My husband’s taking care of his present – he’ll be getting a new bike. He’s having a big party in November but on this day we’ll have a cake – and I’ll have to think about what else we’ll do.
Oct. 31 – Halloween: figure out my kids costumes.
Nov. 4 – My daughter’s chorus singing at Providence Bruin’s hockey game – need to order tickets and make sure she has proper dress attire.
Nov. 6 – Daughter’s dress rehearsal for dance recital – make sure costumes are prepared and ready. Get case ready with make-up and hair supplies.
Nov. 13 – Son’s birthday party – need to write out guest list and send out invitations (and think more about what else needs to be done)
Nov. 18, 19, 20 – Daughter’s dance recital
Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving; at my house this year – need to plan everything
Dec. 2 – Daughter’s chorus concert
Dec. 18 – Niece’s wedding
Dec. 25 – Christmas
Dec. 26 – Daughter’s birthday – we’ll most likely have her party sometime in January

at the top of my list has really helped with this. I’ve been doing pretty good keeping up my list of ‘to do’s and doing them. Also keeping up with my calendar; putting in appointments when I make them instead of putting them on a slip of paper and then misplacing it…
Still sometimes get overwhelmed with all the papers that need to be looked at and signed that my kids bring home from school, but I’m getting better at taking care of them right away. I called today to make reservations for my son’s birthday party. It’s not for 5 weeks – now need to sit with him and make a list a friends to invite and write and send out invitations. :-)

to get back on track with this. I was doing pretty well for a little while. Keeping a list of things that need to be done, keeping up with my calandar, and filling out paperwork right away (especially papers my kids bring home from school) It’s such a good feeling to not have things that I have to think about getting done – so why do I still procrastinate?

doing much better with this goal.
I work third shift and every morning, when I get home, I have an hour before I put my son on the school bus.
I’ve been using this time to check my calendar – be prepared for anything that’s coming up and put in any appointments that need to be put in.
I’m also checking my ‘procrastination’ list – doing anything that can be done then, and writing down what I need to do in the afternoon after I sleep awhile.
I get my son set for school and if I have any time left over I try to get a little housework done or work on another one of my goals.
Making progress :-)

I’m finding that keeping a daily list of things that need to be taken care of helps me alot with this goal. I have a running list of things I’ve been procrastinating about and doing a better job these past few days of doing them. It is a good feeling to not have so much in my head thinking about what needs to be done. I’m trying to write out my list at night for the following day -

Call Aetna (long story)
Get car insurance information, and send out car registrations
Start planning for my son’s 9th birthday party
Organize grocery coupons
Get dates and times for my daughter’s dance recital, and rehearsals; put them in my calendar
Write out check for daughter’s dance class and son’s guitar lessons

has cost me in different ways.
It’s caused me stress.
I’m sure it’s cost me $$ along the way.
It’s caused me embarrassment – missing appointments by being too lazy to keep up my calandar.
It’s cost me my health – by procrastinating about working out and getting my prescriptions on time (synthroid for thyroid condition)
I’m sure there’s more.

I’m going to make a goal of looking at my calandar every morning, putting in appointments as soon as they are made. I work third shift. When I get home in the morning I’m getting into the habit of making a list of phone calls that need to be made and paper work (bills, etc) that need to be filled out.
(after I get a little sleep) :-)

I seem to procrastinate about the most are paperwork and making telephone calls. I had the night off work (I work third shift), so I’m going to spend some time today taking care of some of these things-

filling out all the papers my son brought home from his first day of school yesterday.

filling out and sending out insurance form.

balance checkbook.

calling my daughter’s dance teacher to find out what I really owe. (I recieved a bill that I’m questioning)

check to see if there’s anything else hanging around that needs to be taken care of :-)