Rhymes with Procrastination
I just found myself scrolling on my phone with no destination in mind, and then I thought, I need to write about procrastination right now! I hope that this article will be a procrastination sensation by advising a procrastination cessation!
I am not sure if procrastination needs an explanation, but it is difficult to avoid! I do it all the time. The world is full of distractions, and our devices are designed to get our attention. It is not crazy if you use them. Our devices turn us into procrastianton nation!
Procrastination and unstructured time go together like peanut butter and jelly. When time ceases to be prescribed, it is easy to do nothing. Procrastination is not about lack of motivation; it is about avoidance. You may be avoiding a big project or feelings of discomfort because you do not know what to do with your time. These are uncomfortable feelings that you may be able to avoid for a short time, but they will keep coming up.
Procrastination is the one behavior I warn against because it can take the gift of time and turn it into the treacherous Fire Swamp from the Princess Bride, full of lightning sand that sucks you in and other dangers that turn a beautiful forest into a scary place. I am a big proponent of doing nothing. I highly recommend you do nothing on purpose! Make time in your day to rest, relax, stream, scroll, or sit and stare at the wall. However, don’t do nothing by accident! Rest, relax, enjoy your free time. That is not procrastination, that is liberation!
Create a Positive Feedback Loop
Completing one small task can help propel you to do more. You will clock a small win today. Even one small task will help you toward your goal. A foundation for the day that will help you avoid procrastination.
Add Something You Want to Do
Another way to make time feel more expansive is to spend it engaged in something you want to do or try an activity you have always wanted to try. Take up an instrument, join an adult choir, set up a standing date with a friend, make something with your hands, or read or write in a journal. Look for opportunities for creation. These activities will take up time, but they will make it feel more meaningful.
Practice Time Boxing
Time Boxing is the main time management strategy I use. It is simple and effective in making progress on goals, both big and small. It helps me fold my laundry, organize my garage, and work on longer writing projects. I wrote a longer post about time-boxing a few months ago.
Give Yourself the Gift of Time
The best gift you can give yourself is the gift of doing nothing. Give yourself permission to chill. Instead of avoiding tasks, do them so that you can clear your day for an afternoon or a weekend of relaxation. By diving into your to-do list, you create time to relax and enjoy your life. Block off a big chunk of your day for relaxation. Enjoy yourself!