Outwitting Procrastination

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we, as women, sabotage and

undermine our best efforts to become all that we're capable of being. 

I think that one of the most powerful ways that we do a number on

ourselves is by procrastinating.   What exactly is procrastination and

how do we use it to sabotage ourselves over and over again?

Well, let's start with a definition.  I just did a websearch for the

word "procrastination" and found the following definitions:  

"To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or

laziness.

To postpone or delay needlessly."

I tend to agree with the first part (i.e., putting off doing something

or postponing, etc.), but disagree with the second part (i.e., out of

habitual carelessness or laziness).  I've worked with enough women to

know that the majority of us are neither habitually careless or lazy! 

My Goddess...I only wish I could be more careless and lazy!  Don't you?

I find that most of us are so busy trying to do so much and trying to

do it all so well, that if we end up putting something off, it's

usually because we're so burned out from everything else we're trying

to do and we can't face that 'one last thing' on our ever-expanding "TO

DO" list!

I think that we end up procrastinating many things in order to actually

take care of ourselves.  Unfortunately, however, I often see women

putting off the exact things that would be the most beneficial to them

(I'm guessing that you, too, have skipped your exercise class in order

to sleep in for an extra hour).  How can we learn to not put off those

things that give us the most peace, relaxation, and sense of

accomplishment?  By putting them at the TOP of our list!

Here's something that I use and share with clients with great success. 

Write up your regular "to do" list for the coming day and include in it

one major self-care activity (yes- ONE A DAY!).  Examples can be: go to

the gym, get a haircut, have a bubble bath, watch a funny movie, etc.) 

The possibilities are endless! Then prioritize the items, making sure

that one self-care activity is one of your 'top three' priorities

for the day. (I can hear you screaming, "I can't!  I could never do

that!" ) and blah, blah, blah. I'm choosing to ignore your protests

and you should too.  Just try it for one week and see if you don't feel

a whole lot better...

Then you can try procrastinating stuff that really can wait (i.e.,

washing the car, reading over your insurance policies, etc.) and

practise making yourself your priority!  And yes, even women with

children can do this successfully.  In fact, kids benefit greatly by

learning that mom also has a life and deserves good things (it's called

"modelling behavior" and it's definitely something you want to teach

your kids).  Were we taught self-care growing up?  Not many of us were

for sure... Why not teach your kids by modelling self-care behavior? 

They'll thank you later!

And lastly, when you stop procrastinating YOU; you're not being

"selfish": everyone around you benefits when you're happy, healthy, and

calm.

What are you going to do for yourself today?

I've gotta go- my meditation cushion is waiting!