What lies behind us and what lies before us
Are tiny matters
Compared to what lies within us.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

I have two very annoying talents:  ability to fill to overflow any flat surface within reach; ability to procrastinate to the point of absurdity.   So what is it that fuels our procrastination.  (I'll leave my Flat Surface Syndrome - FSS- for another day)   Why do we happily endure the stress of the unfinished task?

John Place says there are 11 reasons for Procrastination.  He even give a possible "cure"  for each.

• Complicated-task anxiety: Break big, complicated tasks into smaller pieces. Complete a starter task, no matter how small.
• Fear of imperfection: Accept that perfection is rarely attainable and seldom necessary. You’re a person, not a robot. Use the 80/20 rule whenever appropriate.
• Indecision: Determine your decision-making criteria, then set a deadline for your decision. Ask a friend to hold you accountable.
• Priority confusion: Distinguish obligations from options. What are you really responsible for? List and prioritize tasks.
• Boredom from minutiae: Automate simple repetitive tasks whenever possible.
• Lack of focus: Minimize distractions. Check e-mail and voicemail only twice per day instead of every 5 minutes. Find a quiet room where you can concentrate. Resist the urge to keep taking breaks.
• Poor organizational skills: Clean your work area. Put tools and utensils in their proper place so you can find them when you need them.
• Laziness: Remind yourself of the consequences of procrastination. Resist the urge to be a couch potato. Try to complete several small tasks to provide a feeling of accomplishment. Reward yourself.
• Lack of energy: Maintain a regular sleep routine. Eat healthy. Exercise regularly. Do not skip breakfast.
• Early morning lag: Before you stop working each day, make a list of the tasks you want to begin first thing the following morning so you can hit the ground running the next day.
• Post-lunch fatigue: Before leaving for lunch, make a list of the things you plan to do when you get back so you can pick up where you left off. Avoid eating a heavy lunch.

So which of these impeded my finishing this article for over 4 1/2 months?   Probably Fear of imperfection is the greatest.  Next would be a lack of focus.    Then a combination of those last three energy-related problems.

The irony here is obvious.   It took me 15 weeks to finish an article about procrastination.   A short one, at that.

The importance of doing those tasks which we know the creator has designed us to accomplish is also obvious.  And never forget, the enemy of our soul knows if he can just get us to delay enough, often enough, that important task will never get done.   So what are you procrastinating about?    While you're pondering that question, I shall move on to another task I've been putting off:  Cleaning my work area.   I'm excellent at organization -- most of the time.  But there are times that my tendency to organize things in piles simply overwhelms me.   I've ordered a new filing cabinet.  In preparation for it's arrival, I shall begin with the sorting and organizing.

The difference between what we are doing
And what we're capable of doing
Would solve most of the world's problems.
- Mahatma Gandhi

Here's to efficiently getting on with our purpose and igniting that power that lies within!!

BLESSINGS,

PJ

Reality check!