If any of you know me, you know that I am a procrastinator. Ever since I came into the age of responsibility (whatever that means), I have procrastinated. I won't say who I most likely get that from, but it is one of my parents & he is probably reading this. :-) Anyway, today I was thinking about my procrastination and how many areas of my life it affects. So I have compiled a list of several examples. If you are not a procrastinator, you might ask the question, "Why would you put something off when you can just go ahead & do it? Wouldn't it be easier to just get it over with?" Well, yes, it would be easier. And it's probably more efficient. But that's just not the nature of a procrastinator. If you're not one, then you just don't understand, and we can't explain it to you. For me, sometimes I just work better under pressure - at the last minute. Anyway, back to my list. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the areas affected by my procrastination. I was going to make the list longer, but I never got around to it. :-)
- When I was in school, I always waited until the day before a paper was due to write it. I am convinced that it is because of students like me that teachers started checking students' work throughout a research paper or project instead of just looking at the final product. (I.E., you get separate grades for your note cards, bibliography, rough draft, etc.) One time in college, I had to write a 50-page paper, and I wrote at least 40 of the pages the night before it was due. Seriously.
- Ever since I started doing my own laundry, I wait until I either have no clean underwear or all of my favorite shirts are dirty before I wash clothes. Part of this is due to my tendency to procrastinate & part of it is because I just hate laundry.
- I don't buy groceries until we are just about completely out of food. Wouldn't it be smart of me to buy stuff before we run out? Yes, but that would actually require planning ahead. Which I don't do very well.
- Household projects seem to never get done. We have just recently moved into a new house, and there are still several things that need to be done. There is no reason why we shouldn't have all of our pictures on the wall, or all of the miscellaneous boxes unpacked, or the lawnmower out of the breakfast room. (Yes, we really do have a lawnmower in our breakfast room.) But if you walked into our house right now, that is exactly what you would find. Granted, some of that has to do with time constraints, but one might argue that I should be doing those things right now instead of posting on my blog. :-)
- Last but not least...the most applicable this time of year...Christmas shopping. This is the event that gave me the whole idea for this blog. And this is the one I am most proud of on the list. As of this past Friday, December 15th, I had only purchased for one of the 16 people on my list to shop for Christmas. And that was an online purchase, so the only reason I had already done it is so it would get here in time. So Saturday & Sunday, I shopped my little heart out. And what did I accomplish? Well, I now only have Baron to shop for. That's right - I did all of my shopping except for just a few gifts for Baron. In just 2 days. Some of you might think that is irresponsible. Some will think it is just plain foolish. I call it creative. Thank you very much. Hey - at least I didn't wait until Christmas Eve.
So for all of you procrastinators that might be reading, maybe you should stop playing around on the internet & go do something productive. I know I am. Ok not really.
Ouch! I know you have the verbal skills to use phrases like "Relationships are more important than tasks" and "I am making a stand against Obsessive Compulsive Disorder". What grade did you make on the 50 page paper? If you are smart enough to do in one night what takes normal people six weeks, why clutter your mind that long? Seriously, you are the least procrastinator in our family and doing better is on my resolution list for NEXT YEAR.
ReplyDeleteLOL...if I remember correctly, I got an "A" on the paper. So that is my argument - why work on something for days or weeks when you can get it done in one night? :-)
ReplyDeleteI read your blog, and must say that was the first time I saw your phrase, "procrastinators unite..tomorrow!"
ReplyDeleteToday I was at Steve and Barry's with Kenny's brothers and I saw a shirt that said that!
Two times in one day!
LOL...that's so funny that you just saw the t-shirt! I'm pretty sure that's where I got the phrase...from a t-shirt, or a mug, or something.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I have heard that from my procrastinator husband so many times: "I work better under pressure."
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just a wimp - I can't handle the last-minute pressure...
What y'all don't know is that Laura has been planning this polst for months now...
ReplyDeleteI find that I procrastinate on only things I don't want to do...
ReplyDeleteWe must have some kind of impressively weird telepathic link. I posted on the same thing one day after you and I promise I had not seen yours. As they say, "great minds think alike"...or something like that.
ReplyDelete