Procrastinate With Joy–Why Not?

Dog days of summer? Kinda wonderful.

The “sultry weather” definition in the Farmer’s Almanac is only the first one. The second definition is “a period of inactivity or sluggishness; a period of stagnation.”

What if we choose to go with that? What if we put off the guilt until September? Or later?

When we were kids, school started, and we snapped into action. Now? Oh, the guilt and shame of it. We accuse ourselves of procrastination, and we make it bad.

What If Procrastination Isn’t the Problem?

Have I got news for you! Procrastination is quite positive.

Look at the prefix. PRO is the most positive prefix in our language. Think of all the positive words that start with “pro.” (I asked audiences back in the day, and one guy shouted out, “Prophylactic.” The crowd went wild.)

Look at the dictionary definition of procrastinate: “To put off intentionally and habitually.”

This means you meant to put it off, and you put it off more than once.

How freeing is that?

Stop Feeling Guilty About What You Don’t Want to Do

Procrastinating is not the action of a helpless victim. So why do we use it to feel that way?

We beat ourselves up for procrastinating. However, when we look at it truthfully, we must admit that the thing we procrastinate is usually something we don’t want to do.

Two actions are possible:

• Cross it off your list and stop thinking you “should” do it.
• Or…delegate it.

When It Really Matters

But what if it’s important to do it yourself? What if it’s a priority?

Break the task down into smaller, doable tasks and do them one at a time. Reward yourself after each one.

For some of us, a check mark is satisfying enough. Others promise themselves a coffee break.

Be a proud procrastinator of the unimportant, unloved tasks. Put them off and stop beating yourself up about it.

But if it’s something you truly want to do…just do it.

Put It on the Calendar

Don’t even take the extra step of making a resolution.

Just get out your calendar, schedule it, and do it!

Make it happen now.

Or put it off proudly until you’ve scheduled it. Then do it.

Is Speaking the Thing You’ve Been Putting Off?

If now, even in summer, is the time you want and need to speak to grow your business, please schedule your complimentary 30-minute Clarity Call.

You’ll walk away with value, and together we’ll discover whether we’re the right match to work together.