Although I don't always do this (obviously), I've found that the solution to procrastination (putting something off to have more free time) is precrastination (doing it right away or early to have more free time without the stress and anxiety of waiting and knowing it still needs to be done).
That said, sometimes procrastination is the smart tactic because the issue resolves itself and the task no longer needs completing. I love when that happens!
On a more serious note, this reminds me of Britt Frank and "The Science of Stuck." I encountered her on David McRaney's podcast (twice I think). If I recall correctly, she advised "microsteps" that were all the better for being absurdly small. Her example was throwing running shoes next to the door, the idea being to use the cognitive dissonance in a way that resolving the situation (eventually picking up those shoes) will essentially feel more absurd to put them up than to just finally put them on (and more absurd to have them on and not run than to just DO it [or then again, maybe this was all just a Nike commercial that came to me in a fever dream {or some third parenthetical}]).
Unless it's for my kid, I try not to push through procrastination anymore. If I'm feeling really blocked on something, I just walk away from it for a while and tell myself that I'll come back to it when it feels right (or when there's less resistance). I almost feel like things get more intimidating, the more you try to force yourself to do them. It's not always the case (and there are some things... like cleaning out my water heater... that I never really seem to get around to, no matter how much I think about them), but most things eventually get done. When I give myself a little grace and tell myself I don't 'have' to do it, then my resistance ironically calms and I normally am able to at least begin the task.
That picture of you and me needs to go in my mood booster file because it always makes me happy. And thank you.
I'm a little aggreived that writing about me was so painful you kept avoiding it 😜
Hahaha! No, it wasn't that. It was that I wanted to do a good job and rise to the level of the material!
I know! Just joshing around.
Six words of advice in the
Thank you for the very wise and
I can always finish the sentence
Do something today that future you will be proud of, even if it’s just for two minutes. 😊
Although I don't always do this (obviously), I've found that the solution to procrastination (putting something off to have more free time) is precrastination (doing it right away or early to have more free time without the stress and anxiety of waiting and knowing it still needs to be done).
That said, sometimes procrastination is the smart tactic because the issue resolves itself and the task no longer needs completing. I love when that happens!
I need a to do list if I’m going to be productive. I get a feeling of accomplishment when I finish a task.
That check mark / crossing out does feel good
On a more serious note, this reminds me of Britt Frank and "The Science of Stuck." I encountered her on David McRaney's podcast (twice I think). If I recall correctly, she advised "microsteps" that were all the better for being absurdly small. Her example was throwing running shoes next to the door, the idea being to use the cognitive dissonance in a way that resolving the situation (eventually picking up those shoes) will essentially feel more absurd to put them up than to just finally put them on (and more absurd to have them on and not run than to just DO it [or then again, maybe this was all just a Nike commercial that came to me in a fever dream {or some third parenthetical}]).
Interesting! I do like David McRanye's podcast. AND I like the multiple parentheticals/brackets. (What is the name of he third type?)
I believe they are called "aside muffins."
Unless it's for my kid, I try not to push through procrastination anymore. If I'm feeling really blocked on something, I just walk away from it for a while and tell myself that I'll come back to it when it feels right (or when there's less resistance). I almost feel like things get more intimidating, the more you try to force yourself to do them. It's not always the case (and there are some things... like cleaning out my water heater... that I never really seem to get around to, no matter how much I think about them), but most things eventually get done. When I give myself a little grace and tell myself I don't 'have' to do it, then my resistance ironically calms and I normally am able to at least begin the task.