Are You a Procrastinator?

When I was a kid, my dad faithfully cut up fruit, made toast, and fried each of us an egg for breakfast every morning. Eating the yolk, which gagged me, was not optional in our house. So I’d cut around it, eat everything else first, and sit with that yolk in my mouth until we absolutely had to leave for school. Then, to my family’s horror, I’d swallow it with a big gulp of orange juice!

As an adult, however, I’d like to think I am pretty self-motivated and not a procrastinator. I’ve learned that procrastination sucks my energy away, and I’ve proven to myself that I can prioritize and establish good habits. For instance, I meet my self-imposed deadlines at work. And at home, I regularly force myself to exercise, frequently tackle the weeds in the yard, and throw my clothes in the laundry basket, not on the floor.

On the other hand, can I take credit for not putting off certain activities when I actually enjoy exercising, am passionate about having beautiful flowerbeds, and just don’t like tripping over my dirty clothes? And what about that to-do list on my counter that I just had to rewrite last night because it got too long and messy? It contains several items from last week or even the week before. Ugh. I am a procrastinator! Is there hope for those of us who put off the less desirable tasks?

Yes, says Grant Duncan, another a self-proclaimed procrastinator. He gives some gross but great advice…well, I don’t want to spoil it. You’ll have to read his short blog post for yourself. I promise you, you’ll never forget his suggestion, and the next time you look at your to-do list, you just might be motivated to tackle that unpleasant to-do you’ve been putting off! Click here to read what works for Grant.

Do you struggle with making effective to-do lists? Read more…

By Marcianne Kuethen