Inspired by NaBloPoMo writing prompt for Friday, January 3, 2014:
Do you have a tendency to procrastinate, or do you like checking things off your to-do list?
I’d have to say that it’s a little of both for me.
I do love making lists. I mean, I really love making lists. Especially checklists. Remember the “Blog Post Promotion Checklist” I wrote about yesterday? Well, after I’d finished that one I got caught up in listmaking fever and created another one – a more general “To Do” list this time, for regular daily, weekly, and monthly tasks – to use in my new Filofax. (As you can see, I’ve been having a lot of fun with Excel spreadsheets over my holidays!) And I’ve been using the lists, taking great satisfaction from adding a checkmark to the items as I complete them.
But I’m also a real procrastinator – a terrible one sometimes (or perhaps I should say a GREAT one, as I have the ability to procrastinate very, very well). When I have a job or a project that I just don’t feel like tackling – even if it’s a simple task that will take minutes to complete – I’ll put it off for as long as I possibly can. In the meantime I’ll stew and fret about it, until the job becomes far bigger in my mind than it actually is… when it would have been a whole lot easier just to get it done in the first place instead of wasting all that time and energy on avoidance.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, really – not “official” ones, anyway – but one of my aims in 2014 is to strive for less procrastination and more of an organized, balanced approach to my day-to-day life… including getting the things that need to be done, done – and in a timely manner – whether or not I actually feel like doing them.
Here’s hoping my checklists will help!
Do you procrastinate, use checklists, or a bit of both?
Please share!
Good luck becoming more organized and procrastinating less! ♥
Kathy recently posted… In the Middle
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 3, 2014
Thanks, Kathy!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Blogging strategies for 2014 (and beyond)
Great article, I have had to deal with procrastination myself and making to many commitments. I also read Laurn Midgley book on Successfully Failing at Procrastination that helped as well.
Andy Lockhart recently posted… What makes people successful?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 3, 2014
Good to know – I’ll watch for that book. Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Blogging strategies for 2014 (and beyond)
Twitter: mcaworkfromhome
January 3, 2014
I am a huge procrastinator. It is definitely something I need to work on in 2014. I have gotten a lot better at not procrastinating, but I still need some work.
Stacey Brooks recently posted…
Revive your Work at Home Business in 2014
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 3, 2014
I hear you… I am definitely in a similar position!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Blogging strategies for 2014 (and beyond)
I think we all procrastinate over one thing or another. I know I do.
I love to make lists and crossing things off my to do list. I started the list to help keep me focused because I’d walk upstairs to get coat hangers to hang we laundry and notice beds needing to be made and 15 minutes later I’d go back downstairs, beds made, but no coat hangers in hand. Now I write “make beds” on the list, collect the coat hangers and come downstairs to (hopefully) finish what I started. I list day to day stuff, work stuff, and long range stuff. It doesn’t all get done but I can always go back and revisit the stuff that’s not crossed off. Phew! Long response. Anyway – good luck getting things done!
Joanne recently posted… Parenting is…
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
Sounds like you’ve figured out a great way to stay organized – good for you, and thank you for the good wishes!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Blogging strategies for 2014 (and beyond)
Twitter: BatteredHope
January 4, 2014
Thank you for this post and your sense of humor! Always a list maker. Never a procrastinator. Wrote a couple posts about it because my father instilled something in me that is part of partial to my very existence – “Do it right and Do it now.” In some ways it is almost a curse because I never stop until a job is done. http://blogs.adlandpro.com/post/2013/12/lessons-learned-from-father/
Carol Graham recently posted… I May Be Small — But I Dream Big
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
I think that’s a good way to be – I wish I was a little more that way myself!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Mindful Writing Challenge January 2014: Small Stones 1-4
Twitter: alihawke
January 4, 2014
I use Wunderlist on my phone as a to do list, and it’s helped. My annual New Year’s resolution is “to not stab anyone in [year]” and it’s been one I’ve kept for every year I’ve made it.
Ali recently posted… Back and forwards: 2014 resolutions.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
LOL, I LOVE that resolution! It’s one I could easily manage to keep as well! 😉
Laurel Regan recently posted… Mindful Writing Challenge January 2014: Small Stones 1-4
I have to keep a checklist and editorial calendar…my blog would be a mess without it. One thing I love about blogging is that I have been forced to leave procrastination behind…that is my tendacy, but I cannot pull off all that I do without being organized, thoughtful, and for sure on a list!
Pam recently posted… Owned by a 90 Year Old!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
I am moving more and more towards that way of thinking myself, particularly when it comes to blogging. There’s just so much to remember and keep track of, that checklists and editorial calendars are invaluable!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Mindful Writing Challenge January 2014: Small Stones 1-4
Twitter: lyndalippin
January 4, 2014
I am doing the NaBloPoMo precisely to get away from procrastination! Checklists help, but I can manage to procrastinate those too…
Lynda Lippin recently posted… Winter Snow in NYC
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
NaBloPoMo is a GREAT help, isn’t it? I love it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Mindful Writing Challenge January 2014: Small Stones 1-4
Twitter: 1951
January 4, 2014
I’m a major list-maker. Of course, sometimes I don’t remember WTH I meant by the abbreviations I used. 😉
Carol Cassara recently posted… He showed me the way
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 4, 2014
Ha – I know what you mean! You need a list reminding you about your lists! 😉
Laurel Regan recently posted… Mindful Writing Challenge January 2014: Small Stones 1-4
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