If You Are Going to Procrastinate, Do it With Intention!
If You Are Going to Procrastinate, Do it With Intention!
Ah, the art of procrastination. We've all experienced it. I have been amazed at the lengths my creative self will go to in order to avoid a task I really don't want to do. I've cleaned out closets that haven't been touched in years. I've rearranged furniture, bathed dogs, run errands, washed cars, ironed my underwear.
Having tasks that we really don't want to do will always be a part of life. Therefore, the temptation to procrastinate will always be around. For most of us, procrastination is a negative word. But, since it will always be around, we might as well embrace it! You know that old saying, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"
So how do you "join" procrastination? Stop fighting it. Seriously. Procrastinate with joy, with intention, with abandon!
Here's what that looked like for me on a dreary Monday when I just could not get motivated. For the first couple of hours in the morning, I did some of the things that many people do when they are procrastinating. I checked email. I played on Facebook. I surfed the Internet. I turned on the TV (something I never do during the day!) I made the bed. I did laundry. I rifled through the pantry and ate mindlessly. Anything to avoid the task at hand. (Sound familiar?)
Now, in the above scenario, imagine my mindset. I was on the computer (email, Facebook, Internet), thinking, "I really shouldn't be doing this. I am just wasting time. I really need to go do. But I don't wanna!" Those thoughts created feelings of anxiety, defeat, and failure. And guess what? Feeling anxious, defeated and like a failure are not conducive to getting "the thing" done. In fact, those feelings lead to more negative actions, which lead to more negative feelings, which lead to more negative actions - see the vicious cycle here?
What I needed was a way to break that cycle of negative thinking and feeling.
So, I "joined" procrastination. I made a good cup of Starbucks coffee. I snuggled up on the couch and watched Desperate Housewives. I took a hot shower and lingered as I got dressed and applied makeup. I made a healthy lunch. I picked five people I really wanted to connect with on Facebook and went out and said hello.
Was I any closer to getting "the thing" done? No. I was still procrastinating in that I was not doing "the thing." But. (And this is a huge but. Like a "Baby Got Back" but.) But....
I did each of these things with a different mindset. I savored a good cup of coffee. I gave myself permission to watch a TV show I love. I let myself enjoy it. I literally set an intention to enjoy Desperate Housewives. I was avoiding the task. But it was a choice. I was not a victim to procrastination. I became its friend. I did not beat myself up as I did the things I wanted to do in the moment. The reality was I was avoiding "the thing." But that was happening anyway. So, I just went with what was. I quit fighting and went with it.
And the most important part? I did it with compassion toward myself. I had a mindset of compassion and the freedom of choice. My thoughts as I did those things were more along the lines of, "I love this show. It's horrible and hilarious. Starbucks coffee is one of my favorite things. Dang this is good. I love me a hot shower! Let's try eyeliner today. I really want to connect with x, x, x, and x. What can I say to brighten their day?"
Can you see the difference? I was in the moment, doing things I enjoyed. I was aware I was procrastinating, but I was procrastinating with intention. The result of all those thoughts? I felt relaxed, calm, and peaceful. And when I feel relaxed, calm and peaceful, guess what? My actions are very different. When I felt anxious and defeated, nothing got done and I had a horrible experience of the day. But when I felt calm and peaceful, guess what? I took a step toward "the thing." Yep. I stopped procrastinating.
The act of procrastinating with intention led to the end of procrastination. Isn't that cool?
Now, I didn't get "the thing" totally done that day like I had hoped. But I got part of it done. And, more importantly, I did not spend most of the day hating my life. I gave into procrastination and found compassion, care, and even progress.
Life is not just about getting things done. It is about enjoying the ride. Is it worth hating yourself for not completing something? Let yourself have a cup of coffee with Procrastination. And really enjoy it. You may be surprised to find that Compassion frequents the same coffee shop. And she may be the best friend you can ever have.
~~Thoughts~~
What is your relationship like with procrastination? How do y
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