I'll Think About That Tomorrow
Take the Next Step
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
We're on the verge of a new year and I'm thinking of habits, some that I want to release and others that I want to embrace more fully. I have one habit that I'd really love to drop. I call it my "Scarlet O'Hara" habit: “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” You might recognize it as procrastination.
Here are a few things that I tend to procrastinate about:
Paperwork.
Writing this blog.
Keeping in touch with friends and family.
The questions for me are:
Why do I procrastinate about these things?
What impact is my procrastination having?
What can I do to overcome this habit?
It might be easy for you to understand why I procrastinate with paperwork. Lots of us hate doing paperwork. But it does impact me and others negatively and I’d love to shake the habit. Seeing a stack of papers on my desk makes me anxious and getting behind on important paperwork is never good. So how to overcome this energy-draining habit? They say “habit replaces habit” so in 2020 my intention will be to make sure my desk is clean at the end of each day. This will require a reminder to spend the last half hour of my work day in my office, which should be easy since I work from home, but for some reason that makes it even more difficult for me.
I make lots of excuses for not writing this blog, like “nothing I have to say is that important,” or “no one has time to read these things,” or “I don’t want to clutter up anyone’s inbox,” or . . . well, you get the picture. But sometimes it does me good just to write, whether I have anything worth saying or not. And if you can glean a nugget or two that helps you from what I write, that’s even better. And if people have signed up to receive my newsletter then, by golly, I need to send a newsletter, right? And this blog is a main component of my newsletter. So how to overcome my writing procrastination? My intention for 2020 will be to create a new blog post every month. Hold me to it, okay?
One thing I’ve noticed about social media is that it can give the illusion of keeping in touch with friends and family, and to some extent it does that. But there is no substitute for actually spending time with those we love. In 2019, even though she lives in New Zealand (or maybe because she does), I spent nearly 10 weeks with my daughter. What a gift! It sometimes takes more effort to spend time with friends and family who live nearby. It’s easy to think we can do that “tomorrow.” But time is precious and, as Henri Frederic Amiel said,
“Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.”
I confess that I love time alone - I love the quiet and it’s easy for me to become something of a hermit, but I also love spending time with friends and I truly value relationships. So in 2020 I intend to be intentional about connecting in a more meaningful way with those I love as well as those I have yet to meet.
What are your intentions for 2020? I’d love it if you’d be willing to share in the comments below. Happy New Year!