I'm certain it is procrastination
If you want to be certain, you should never get married. You should never change jobs. In fact, you might as well just stay home. Because I don't know anybody who is certain. That need to be certain is just procrastination. ~Mark Burnett
Okay, I'm going to admit something hereโI am a procrastinator. There, I've said it. I procrastinate.
I used to blame my procrastination on being "lazy," but the fact is, I want to be "certain" before I dive into something.
Even as I am writing this post, I am procrastinating.
Time for another confession
I have been working on a post for my Wealthy Affiliate promotion site, but I am not "certain" if I am writing it right. So I am here, writing this blog, instead. Even though I know that writing this post might help someone else overcome a struggle, I am still procrastinating by doing it.
It's a vicious cycle.
As a journalist (in my "day" job), I have deadlines that I have to meet. Since we are a weekly newspaper, I usually have a week's time to get everything done. My editor wants everything ready to go by Friday afternoon.
Guess what I am doing Thursday night and Friday forenoon? Writing my fingers to the bone!
When I was in high school I almost failed my senior year because of procrastination!
Indulge me a moment here.
I was supposed to write my senior term paper in English class. It was to be very detailed using many sources. We had three months to write it and over half of our final grade would be based on this one paper.
Well, guess who still hadn't written her paper a week before it was due? I had to write at least 10 pages with several sources in a week and I hadn't even tracked down a single source yet!
Thank goodness I work well under a deadline because I did manage to write 15 pages with multiple sources (this was WAY before the Internet!). I don't know how I did it, but it was done and I managed to graduate near the top of my class.
Procrastination is costly
Now why did I tell you about this?
I'm not telling this to you to brag about myself. I am highlighting the fact that procrastination can cost you a lot! It almost cost me my graduation. There was no way I was going to repeat my senior year!
What things are you procrastinating on? Don't let your procrastination cost you.
There are many good resources available to help you to not procrastinate. Do a search. Maybe you will become so proficient at NOT procrastinating you will write a blog about it!
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
Recent Comments
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Karin,
Procrastination is definitely real, Iโm reading this when I know full well I should be doing my own site - so TRUE!!!
It is so easy to find a thousand other things to do instead of that which we must. I even find myself thinking about doing the dishes instead of doing my work here! Now that is pretty sad. LOL
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
I understand. Because I too am procrastinating now too. I need to be writing my posts right now.
I have had to battle that fight many, many years now. I wonder if it's because you and I both like the pressure of crunch time. That we are addicted to that.
Preparing for a task and spreading it out over time is just boring. If I was to say I love that pressure (trust me I really don't) would I still be procrastinator or would it be just choice.
I still have not come to the solution of how to change that.
I can relate to your post so much
Thank you
I think you may be onto something here... It is probably the adrenaline rush that I get when I have to meet a deadline very quickly. The longer I put something off, the faster I have to work to get it done on time or face the consequences... Hmmmm... you have given me something to think about...later... :)
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
I do it more than I want to. It's the craziest thing. I am focused and thing are clear when I am in church time. I don't like it but get stuff done. It is hard for me to accept that might just be who I am.
Yes how true this is. I am sure most of us here will have experienced this at some time or other. What would you recommend please as the best way to avoid it?
The best way to avoid it would be to do as Mark Burnett said in his quote at the beginning of this post: If you want to be certain, you should never get married. You should never change jobs. In fact, you might as well just stay home. Because I don't know anybody who is certain. That need to be certain is just procrastination.
I think jumping in head first into Wealthy Affiliate was a bit impulsive on my part, but I sure didn't put it off. I did it right away because I wanted to get things going! :)
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
Oh No, Karin, you can't have procrastination all to yourself--procrastination is my middle name. I worked on a newspaper too, and guess when I did all my writing? Well, you know- at deadline!
I think deadlines were created for chronic procrastinators otherwise, we would never get anything done! And we need an abbreviation for Procrastination, too.
Seriously, good post--We all do it.
Cool, Barbara! I am so glad we connected on WA! We have so much in common.
I think we could make an acronym for our Procrastination group: P.O.O.P. Putting Off Our Progress. LOL
Have a great day!
Karin
Glad you liked it. The first meeting of P.O.O.P. will be held soon, maybe!
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
OMG, somebody else does this? I thought I was the only one.
I have been "trying" to write a post for my blog for 5 days. I get bored looking at the screen and go for a walk.
Not necessarily a good thing. I just have to wait until it feels "right". Don't I?
Thanks Karin
I guess if we waited until things felt "right" we wouldn't get much done! :) Well, I wouldn't anyway.
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
Procrastination and I have a difficult relationship. I like organization, yet I find it... tenuous at best.
In order for me to get to step 3, for example, I have to do step 1and 2, but step one is boring, step 2 is Yabut... you get the idea...LOL
Here's to getting it together, and... can one avoid procrastination, or is that procrastination of procrastinating?
LOL! It is going to be so much fun meeting you in Vegas! No procrastinating on that!
Best wishes,
Karin ๐
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Hi Karin.
I was going to answer this post this morning, but, erm. ๐
Yes indeed, procrastination is the thief of time.
On the other hand, as James Thurber once wrote: "there is no problem so big and so complex that you can't run away from it"! ๐
I *think* he said it in jest; I have always intended to find out...
Oh, you're a journo. Excellent! I've a question to ask you, I'd be interested in your opinionโI'll shoot you a PM if I may.
Regards,
Hi Tayo... I will answer your PM in a bit. I had never heard of them and I want to do a little research.
I like what Thurber had to say!
Best wishes,
Karin ๐