DEPARTMENTS
Editor’s Notes
Procrastination

by Brooke A. Rockwell

If there’s one thing I excel at, it’s procrastinating. I can find hundreds of other projects to do before tackling the one that should have been done yesterday. Admittedly, this is a bad trait for someone who deals with deadlines on a regular basis.

Last year I resolved to be better. Tackle things early. I even bought myself a desk planner aptly titled, “Do It Later! A 2009 Planner (or Non-Planner) for the Creative Procrastinator.” I bought it in December while out Christmas shopping. It was perfect for me.

Created by Mark Asher, the planner’s two-page spreads have a place on the left for lists divided by importance: “Things I have to do but that can wait a day, or two, or three ... ; Small things I have to do before I can do the big things I have to do; Things I absolutely have to do unless I absolutely don’t want to do them; and Things people have been bugging me to do for a really long time.”

On the right-hand side is a list of the days and a doodle block. Throughout there are also procrastinator tips, such as “When you’ve fallen behind, the only way to catch up is to cross difficult things off your list;” and procrastinator wisdom “Procrastination is the art of relaxing in the face of adversity.” There are also tips for practicing mindful procrastination, a list of the real reasons people procrastinate, a list of bumper stickers for procrastinators and suggested time fillers.

There are also pages for you to make lists: “10 things that cheer you up when you’re feeling blue;” title options if a movie was made about your life; and 10 places you would rather live during the winter. All designed to keep you from actually achieving much in the way of real work.

As business owners, you know the importance of getting things done, and getting them done on time. Your income depends on it. Do you have other traits that you need to work on? Do you wish you were more comfortable presenting bids to potential clients? Would it help your business if you delegated more work to your employees, but you feel the only way to get it done right is to do it yourself? Would taking some workshops help you expand your business, but you never make the time?

Make this the year you tackle something you’ve been wanting to change. Take a public speaking class; learn more about lighting installation; pass on at least two tasks to a trusted foreman.

Now, are you wondering how well the calendar worked for me? I can honestly say that not one doodle block was used. However, neither were any of the other pages. In fact, I put off taking it to the office so long, I just found it in a cupboard at home while putting things away from Christmas. Well, there’s always this year.

Brooke A. Rockwell
Editor
brockwell@MooseRiverMedia.com