Productive Procrastination: Just Do SOMETHING!
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Putting off tasks that need to be done? Well, practice productive procrastination as a way to get something done when you can’t seem to tackle the to do list.
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I have always struggled with procrastination. In college, I was notorious for leaving my paper writing until the night before it was due. Finals? Yeah, I pulled all-nighters on those, too.
One habit I developed at the time was what I like to call, productive procrastination.
Sure, I may have had a paper to write, but at least my room was clean! More times than not, I found that by working on something that I felt like doing, I found my mind going to that paper or that test and thinking it through. Often I had the paper “written in my head” by the time I’d done all my laundry.
Productive Procrastination
Today is no different. I may have some big task looming over my head, but if I can’t find the energy or motivation to do it, I try to do something that’s productive, you know, like vacuuming. It makes me feel so much better than sitting on the couch watching Food Network when I should be getting ready for taxes. At least something is getting done.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t try to do the items we have on our to-do lists. But sometimes, it’s just hard to get moving in that direction.
Sometimes there are distractions.
Sometimes there’s stress.
Sometimes you just can’t think straight.
Sometimes you just don’t wanna.
Years ago I remember explaining this to an older, wiser mom. I wanted to justify my inactivity. But, she provided an alternative.
Mrs. Cohen said, “When I feel like that, I just put my hands to the next task. Usually that’s dishes. There are always dishes to be done.”
Her words have stuck with me over the years. It’s true; there usually are dishes to be done. And I can feel productive even if I’m not doing all the things I “should” be doing in that moment.
At least I’m doing something.
What Can You Do Right Now
Here are some things you might do with the time you have on hand… at least until you summon up the courage or will power to do the top level tasks.
- do some laundry
- read a good book
- read a good book to the kids
- write in your journal
- have a breakfast plan for the week
- clean the bathroom
- delete some computer clutter
More Home Management Tips
What works for you?
Leave a comment below and let us know what works for you.
I relate too much to this… I know there is laundry to be done, but unless we’re out of clothes (or my husband asks), I often let it set for days on end. And cleaning… I fail SOO badly at that! I need to set specific periods of time in my day each day to spend “picking up” or “starting a load of laundry” or “vacuuming”. Thanks for the reminder!
Great post! Boy, I’m procrastinating right now with what else but a sink full of dirty dishes! I agree about the working on something helping me think through the bigger/more difficult item I’m procrastinating on. Thanks for sharing!
I never thought about it like this before, but yes, this is exactly what I do. Another thing I find helpful when I’m dreading a task is to tell myself I will only work on it for, say, 20 minutes, and then I can do something I want to do as a reward. Once something is started its way easier to finish, like the little saying above “once begun, half done” I love that – think I’ll post that on the fridge as a reminder.
I am so like that!! Though I do love to watch food network – LOL! Unfortunately I go on binges – especially with housework. I still have to sit down and prep for taxes – that has been on my to do list for how long now!
I am like that too!! Have something due? I will do it the night before!
I use cleaning as a procrastination method too! But I enjoy cleaning so it works out, lol.
Good timing as always!!! I gave up Procrastinating for Lent…..and I’ve done pretty well so far……Today I FINALLY cleaned and organized my closet…..including fixing a bunch of items that needed gluing….all glued and put away! Instead of thinking I need to hurry up and do EVERYTHING at once, I’ve been doing a little each day….I actually feel like I accomplished something today!
That is such great advice– Just Do Something. Sometimes I just can’t figure out what to do first or I reaaaaaally don’t want to do all the filing that I’m behind on, so I just veg out on the computer, not really getting anything done at all. I am going to try to do this… just pick something, even it’s dishes. You’re right, there are always dishes to be done. Why is that?? lol Thanks!
Wow, have you been spying on me lately? I’ve been doing a lot of productive procrastination lately. I’m a career changer, taking online college classes for teaching. And I can find so much housework to do when I don’t want to write a paper. I also get sidetracked when I have lots to do and not enough time (or so it seems) to get things done. So I’ve started setting a timer and MAKING myself do that task or assignment that I don’t want to do. I work on it for just the length of the timer then go back to cleaning or whatever. And to comment on a previous post: my kids too used to ask who was coming over when I started super cleaning (as I called it). I can find the greatest recipes to try when I don’t want to do something around the house or schoolwork! 🙂
Love this post…so true. I am the same way, but mostly with phone calls…no, not the social ones, I have no problem with them…it’s the business ones that get me. For me, I am dealing with procrastination more now because my girls are getting older, so I certainly can’t expect them to git ‘er done, so to speak, when I am putting things off myself. So, they are a big motivator for me…I’m not so into the whole ‘do as I say, not as I do’ motto! Thnx for posting!
Ditto to everyone here. My hubby, then fiance, would make me breakfast at 6 am in college and bring it over on the days I had papers due, knowing that I would have pulled an all-nighter. In fact, my Senior paper was due the Wednesday before we got married, and I got special permission to hand it in the Monday after. Guess what I did on our honeymoon? Sad, but true. We planned a nicer one for the semester break.
If I have a list, it makes all the difference in the world. Small bite-sized list. And sometimes I fudge and write things I’ve already done to give me a motivational boost. Sometimes, just having someone start the project with me is enough to get me going. They can then quietly sneak away and I’m on my way.