I know, I know – my title here is absurd – we all know procrastination is enemy number one don’t we?
All the positive thinking information tells us to take action – strive, battle, thwart overcome…take no prisoners and dominate our lives! Recently though I’ve come to think that there is another way and it happened quite by accident!
Nature works in seasons – times when everything is growing under the influence of some unseen dynamic force and times when everything dies away leaving the earth stripped, bare and sad looking. There is ebb and flow, boom and bust, life and death followed by rebirth.
In our own lives we may naturally follow these cycles and we can have other cycles too – illness and recovery, grief and healing, divorce and new relationships…or something else entirely!
Why then do we think that we can be this goal driven, possessed machine that can carry on regardless?!
Recently I was shown how this worked for me and I always like to share my experiences in the hope that it inspires someone else.
I had some deadlines looming. We were having a kitchen overhaul with new worktops, tiles, sink and hob meaning that everything had to be packed away to avoid the dust storm. It was also my company accounts time so multiple spreadsheets were to be populated, checked and re-checked.
Think of the word – Dead. Line. It fills me with dread every time. Who ever thought up a word that could be so un-inspiring?
So what did I do? I started to procrastinate. I shared witty Facebook posts about how I wasn’t doing what needed to be done. I ate chocolate. I stayed up late. I ate wheat which makes me feel sluggish. In fact, I did everything possible to hamper myself and that date, that deadline came ever closer.
Do you know what? I think I quite enjoyed it! I enjoyed the rebellion, the freedom of not doing. I delighted in my mischief and would find myself grinning when I thought about it. I shared my deadlines and enjoyed the look of horror on those around me that like to plan and tick (you know who you are!).
After a while a simple knowing came in; I knew the date when I would get to it. Thursday, two days before the builders descended boxes started to get filled and numerous trips to the office ensued – who knew one kitchen could hold so much stuff? We even did so well we arranged for the worktops to arrive a day early!
Saturday morning at 8am I found myself sitting at my computer working away like a busy thing on busy week. Facebook and E-mail were off; an alarm was set for every hour to make sure I had a walk around and a cuppa. The builders had delayed last minute until Monday giving me a whole weekend on my own, in peace and quiet where the magic happened.
By Sunday night not only had I finished my accounts, I had also given the kitchen some extra prep AND managed 2 hours with my brother when we completely nailed the Christmas presents (something else that had been suitably ignored til then).
So what had happened?
I think I had enjoyed my rebellion so much I relaxed. The mental chatter telling me what I should be doing hadn’t stopped, but my fun had turned it down to a whisper rather than a fear installing shout.
By doing something completely different and varying my usual pattern I had created the magic I needed…I had the energy, the mental space and of course the knowledge of how which had been there all along.
So as Christmas draws close and your ‘to do’ list starts to shout I challenge you to this: stand up, walk away and go off and do something rebellious! Your deadlines will thank you!
Footnote:
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