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As humans, we are apart of a club with the notorious reputation of procrastination. If we didn’t procrastinate then there would be no need for deadlines and schedules.
It isn’t that we don’t want to get things done, we just prioritize things poorly. This begs the question: what are you putting off until “later?”
That “Later” Word
Few words are as perfect for the procrastination arsenal as the word “Later.” Later is a great way to commit to doing something without having to do it. It makes you look good, responsible, and committed. Is “later” a common word in your vocabulary? When you say “later” does your husband, wife or kids walk away rolling their eyes, saying “sssuuurrreee.” If this happens to you, then you may be a procrastinator.
What Are You Avoiding?
A lot of people are avoiding different things. People are avoiding exams, home improvements, and meetings. Many other people are avoiding basic things like saving money. We don’t know why, and we have yet to hear a good reason why, but people have this need to put off saving money!
People also like to put off planning for the future. Maybe it’s the reality that today is here, and tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet, or maybe everything happening today is just more important, but it’s important that we stop avoiding the necessary things in life just because they are further up the road.
Ask any elderly person how fast their lives have passed by and they’ll typically snap their fingers. While retirement may seem far off, it is no excuse to put it off any longer, because before you know it you’ll be using a walker talking about the way things used to be.
Planning Isn’t Your Enemy
As tedious as it might be, planning isn’t your enemy. In fact, planning is your ally and can be your jail-break buddy if you plan correctly. Anything can be accomplished with a good enough plan. You might have heard the phrase “The only thing worse than a bad plan is no plan.”
Show me a successful person and I’ll show you a person who planned. It is true that everything will rarely ever go to plan, but imagine how good things would be if even 25% of the plans worked out? Just remember, each day you procrastinate is one day that you’ve lost, and will never get back.
As much fun as it is to fly by the seat of your pants, when disaster strikes it really is destructive. Make a commitment today to make some plans and stick to them. Anything will do. Make a short term plan and a long term. Commit to eating a salad. Just get started with a baby-step and you’ll be sprinting before you know it!