Happy New Year! This is the time for many to make their New Year's resolutions. Have you broke any of yours yet? Yes, that's usually what happens. A few days into the the New Year & most resolutions have been broken already. Been there, done that.
How many of you made a resolution to quit procrastinating? Unfortunately procrastination is one of my biggest weaknesses. I've been thinking about that quite a bit lately, trying to figure out why this is such a problem for me. How did i get here? Well, i think that i first allowed procrastination to get a hold of me after i quit working a "real" job. It was the first time since i was 16 years old that i didn't have to punch a time clock anymore. My life didn't revolve around a schedule, that was set by someone else, that i had to answer to.
But a change in my life has opened my eyes, that i have to quit procrastinating....or...put off procrastination. Osteoarthritis is putting up hurdles for me at this point in time. So, no, i'm not jumping in to get everything done ASAP. But will be doing things....like how you eat an elephant....one bite at a time.
What about you other procrastinators out there? Have you figured out why this is an issue for you? Some people say that they are "born procrastinators". But according to scripture, that's impossible.We were all made in God's image. Does He procrastinate. I don't think so. Procrastination is a form of bondage & our Lord wants the best for His followers. He didn't design us to be enslaved. So let's look at some causes of procrastination.....
"A double minded man is unstable in all he does."
James 1:8 (LB)
INDECISION causes you to post pone things, like beginning a Bible study, continuing education, writing a blog =), contacting a friend or family member. And i'm sure you've heard "you snooze, you lose". Indecision causes missed opportunities.
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done!"
Ecclesiastics 11:4 (LB)
PERFECTIONISM. This one is pretty much self explanatory. No human being is perfect! There was only one perfect man & they hung Him on a cross.
"The fear of man is a trap."
Proverbs 29:25 (LB)
FEAR. What are you afraid of? Failure? So what!! I believe that the only way that you truly fail, is if you do not try!
"A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive."
Proverbs 18:19 (GNT)
ANGER. Procrastination is passive resistance. We don't really like someone telling us what to do. And yes, it causes us to put things off.
"Lazy people want much, but get little, while the diligent are prospering"
Proverbs 13:4 (LB)
LAZINESS. This reminds me of the "Easy Button". If something seems to difficult, we don't like it. And things we don't like, go to the bottom of the To Do List. Or, we do only what we have to to get by, the extras get pushed aside. According to this scripture, we are only robbing ourselves of prospering.
Do any of these procrastination causes ring true to you? Next step? Ask God to help you overcome so that you can move forward & prosper. This is exactly what i'm going to do. I'll be asking for God's wisdom to help me prioritize & His strength & energy to get things done. I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
I wish you all a prosperous & happy New Year!!!
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WELL now, look at you! You posted on your blog...Congratulations...Well, I will have to think awhile as to WHY I procrastinate, that is IF I procrastinate, I'm not too sure that I do procrastinate...I don't know...MAYBE I can let you know what I decide later today, or tomorrow, or MAYBE even next week...xoxo =)
ReplyDeleteYes, i did a blog post & will be doing my best to get back to a weekly posting. =) This was my first step to Putting Off Procrastination. lol.
DeleteI tell ya what.....after you think about it for a couple of weeks....you let me know the decision that you make....IF you make one. LOL
{{{hugs}}}
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Yes, I am a procrastinator! LOL Sometimes it's simply b/c I know I work best under pressure. I have made goals for my biz this year & wrote them down with action steps! It's not always the goal that is the problem. It is not defining clear actions to get where you want to be. :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you there, Trish! I can set all kinds of goals. But especially this coming year, when i'm changing up my creativity a bit, i'm not sure what to do to get there. I keep researching ways, but then i get bogged down with which way is better. Sometimes i DO think there is too much info on the internet. =)
DeleteI researched procrastination for a speech in college and it changed my life forever! I thought the most interesting reason was fear! I take that into account to this day as I take on tasks! Here's to a year filled with no procrastinating!
ReplyDeleteThanks Evie! I realize that i HAVE to be my own boss & listen to myself instead of making excuses. =)
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