A TO Z CHALLENGE - S FOR STOP PROCRASTINATING

#AtoZChallenge - 2018 and S for Stop Procrastinating
Photo by BRUNO CERVERA on Unsplash

MY A-Z CHALLENGE - S FOR STOP PROCRASTINATING

The next letter of my A to Zen of Life (via the Dalai Lama) is S for Stop Procrastinating. This one is something I've gotten better at as I've hit Midlife. Time becomes more precious as you get older and wasting it while you sit around twiddling your thumbs, putting off the inevitable, just seems to be unacceptable these days.

"Suck it up Princess and get on with it" is now my motto - I might not want to do it, but the sooner I tackle a project and get it sorted, the better I feel when it's done and dusted. If I sit around over-thinking it or putting it off because it's a chore, then I still have to do it in the end but I've doubled the pain involved - simpler to bite the bullet and be done with it.

A TO Z CHALLENGE

The A to Z Challenge is a perfect example of not procrastinating - 26 posts to write in 30 days - good grief....it's enough to give any blogger a headache or a heart attack. Leaving it until March 31st to get started is just asking for trouble. The added stress of knowing you're supposed to have a post ready for the next day and you have nothing but crickets chirruping in your head is enough to give anyone a seizure.

I've gotten smarter over the years, no procrastinating for me - I get started on the Challenge weeks beforehand. I have my theme sorted and my posts started well in advance. I figure if I'm well ahead of myself I can afford to have a few quiet days while my Blogging Muse deserts me - I know she'll be back and in the meantime I can chill because I haven't left it all to the last moment.

 'A year from now you may wish you had started today.' Karen Lamb

OTHER AREAS OF LIFE

A few years ago I quit my job and walked away from the security of ongoing employment because I needed to get out of a job that was sucking me dry. I had hated that job for several years but kept putting off making a decision about leaving because I wasn't prepared to face the fallout.

It was easier to do nothing than to be brave and take a risk. It turned out that there were so many new opportunities waiting for me - I just needed to step out of my rut and open myself up to them. It's never too late to start a new career, undertake some study, try a new hobby, make new friends, or take a trip somewhere....it's just a matter of doing it - stop procrastinating, stop over-thinking, stop worrying - and Just Do It!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Are you putting off making a decision? Have you left stuff until the last moment? Maybe it's time to trust your instincts and be brave. Maybe it's time to stop putting off the inevitable and embrace what life has waiting for you.

#AtoZChallenge - 2018 and S for Stop Procrastinating


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#AtoZChallenge - 2018 and I'm tackling the A to Zen of Life (via the Dalai Lama)

42 comments

  1. Hari OM
    Was certainly guilty of this in earlier years; working toxic corporate jobs, hitting the glass ceiling but making myself properly sick to hold on to them... that was othe only way I was going to make the change - landing up in serious health territory. It was my 'miracle', the game changer. Now procrastination, if it is there at all, is about the small things in life. Like the spring cleaing. Spring hasn't sprung here yet. it'll get done... YAM xx

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  2. Hi, Leanne - I'm not usually a procrastinator. But I must admit, the photo of the relaxed woman, chilled out with her phone and her coffee, does look very tempting. Instead I am currently scrambling to consider tomorrow's "S" post. It's not that I procrastinated on this. I did not decide to join the challenge until one week before it stared (somehow its earlier advertisements had passed me by). And with my theme, I really can't write in advance or my post may not match my adventure of the day. Live and learn! 8 more posts to go!

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  3. Well I've been putting off writing my speech for my MC gig. Even though I have it in my head, other things keep getting in the way (like AtoZ for example). It is in three weeks so I had better stop procrastinating and get it done!

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  4. Interesting: Procrastination must be a hot-button for me. I saw your title and instinctively reacted defensively "don't judge me - this isn't procrastination..."

    Maybe that's because I'm visiting blogs when I have work to be doing today. In my defense, my husband is watching TV, so I can block out noises with headphones, but I can't very well do any audio recording!

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  5. Great advice. And yep sometimes you just have to take a risk before new door open.

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  6. AS I visited today & took a look back at several of your posts, they are great topics for anyone in the creative world. We all stumble, fall, get back up again.
    I'll be following. Your other blog "link parties" look interesting.

    Pulp Paper & Pigment-My Fiber Art Blog

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  7. One thing that I could not stop - Writing. Without writing I am nothing.

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  8. I'll take this one on the chin - always good to remember dont talk about it just do it. I am working on this and some days it is easy I see something needs doing fixing finishing and I get straight onto it and it feels so good, I get a little virtuous even but then there are other days and it is tomorrow and another tomorrow and .... My mum loved a stitch in time saves nine - being a dressmaker and all...

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  9. You are definitely right about not procrastinating while doing the A to Z Challenge! It has certainly been a good motivator. Sounds like you made the right decision about quitting your job after it was taking its toll on you. I have a tendency to procrastinate when there is a task that I don't enjoy doing. Seems easier to find lots of other more enjoyable things to do than doing what I don't like to do. :)

    Ann
    https://harvestmoonbyhand.blogspot.com/2018/04/hobbies-that-begin-with-s-blogging-from.html

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  10. I'm definitely a procrastinator. There is always something better to do when something needs to be done. I've definitely procrastinated with AtoZ.

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  11. Waving hand high in the air. Yep! I'm guilty of this one. On my (R)oadblocks post for my Vintage Daze blog, one of the roadblocks was procrastination. I admitted there that I'm a Master Procrastinator. I've gotten better over the years, but still struggle with it on too many things. Loved your post!

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  12. Oh arent we all guilty of procrastination in our lives? I know I am . If you talk about the posts, I had it sorted with 13 written by the time A rolled in and today I am left with another 7 to go - talk about being lazy! ;-)

    S is for The Indian Sherlock Holmes #atozchallenge

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  13. I don't think I could have survived the A-Z challenge if I'd procrastinated on it, Leanne. I've got two posts left to write and plan to get them done today.
    But yup, I do procrastinate on other things, usually creative things. The way I know I'm procrastinating is that I suddenly have this intense desire to 'clear the decks', organizing everything in my already highly organized home and life!
    Enjoy your weekend, Leanne. Just one more big week, and a day, to go!

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  14. I'm with you for the everyday stuff. I like to get sh** done do I can move on to what brings me joy.
    Now the life changing decisions that inevitably bring along consequences... I may be that monkey that covers its eyes with its hands sometimes 🙈 It's probably more denial than procrastination. Once I make up my mind I tackle it whole heartedly.

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  15. While I think we can all relate to times when we simply have to "suck it up and get on with it," I'm more inclined to trust in the natural rhythms that seem to be part of my life. So when those times of creativity frenzy show up I do my best to take advantage of them, and when the energy ebbs, I trust it's time to let go. The beauty is, the cycle always returns, and the challenge is, remembering that's true.

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  16. Leanne, you've hit the nerve with this post.
    There's always things that I put off (being so very moody). Now days I use micro tasks and plan for the next 2 or 1 hour, to avoid procrastinating.
    Inspired by your planned approach to the #AtoZ challenge. I'm going to try it next year for sure :)

    Do stop by my #AtoZChallenge post for S and share your thoughts:
    https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/20/salam-singh-ki-haveli-a-house-of-luxury-and-decadance/

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  17. Procrastination was always my nemesis. Many an assignment in school was completed using the 'iffy' powers of desperation in the sweat-soaked moments before it was due to be handed in. Sigh. But I am doing better now. I guess, like you, I've learned to appreciate time.
    Great post!

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  18. "Suck it up Princess" LOL. I got in the habit of saying "I'll do that someday". Breaking that habit and realizing NOW IS SOMEDAY is something I am working on. Otherwise, I use check lists and daily schedules to try and avoid procrastinating. And then I look at what I keep putting off and try to understand what is keeping me from doing that - is it fear? Or is it something I really don't want to do and just feel I should? But I think "Suck it up Princess" might be a new phrase for me to use!

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  19. I like "Suck it up Princess" too! Can I use that? Found you from another A to Z-er and am following you now. I look forward to going back to read the other words of zen wisdom you have. I am at one of those crossroads places in my career and at 63 am a little hesitant but hesitation shouldn't turn into procrastination so thanks for the push.

    Janet’s Smiles

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  20. I would never have been able to do the A-Z challenge if I'd waited until April to start! At least I wouldn't have been able to do such a time consuming topic. Visiting other people's blogs takes most of my time. I'm only done through the letter T though so...EEKS!
    http://melaniecrousesblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/s-is-for-sorry-not-sorry.html

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  21. I'm glad I'm not the only one who began in advance. I worried that I might have cheated. Thankfully, several bloggers worked in advance. I think some of the best blogs are done that way. It takes time to have good content. Your blog is a great example of that. It takes plenty of time to read other blogs in April. Facing Cancer with Grace

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  22. Unfortunately, procrastination should be my middle name. I am behind on several projects at the moment.
    I'm impressed that you finished your posts ahead of time. I love to research and I found myself spending hours on finding information for my posts.

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  23. Fortunately, I am not a procrastinator. I get more stress from leaving things undone so am always motivated to get started. I have always loved the phrase "eat the frog first" and used that with my kids a lot when they were growing up. Do what you least enjoy first and get it out of the way. Works for me! Weekends In Maine

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  24. I am the worst procrastinator. Even when I know better. I'm not sure how to get past that. I think I work best when I'm up against the wall. Maybe it's just a personality - hmmm, I want to say flaw - but that's not it. We all just have a different way of coping. My way is to feel the pressure, I guess. Doubt this will change...
    This is my first AtoZ, and I've struggled a few times. (Like today, when I've had other things going on the past few days...) It's been challenging, but fun and I needed the push.
    Kimberly
    Passing Down the Love #AtoZ

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  25. I am actually caught up A to Z speaking, I don’t really procrastinate as much as distract myself. Too many things going on that I love to do and when I don’t feel like doing what I should, there are always six other things I can also attend to.

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  26. I was mad at my husband this week, because he puts off getting stuff to our accountant EVERY YEAR at tax time, and then he's getting it to him a few days before the deadline and suddenly, HIS emergency becomes everyone else's emergency. Ugh! He doesn't know it yet, but NEXT year, he's starting on February 1 to organize the tax documents the accountant needs. Putting them off doesn't make it any less painful when you have to pay taxes!

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  27. We really waste a lot of our lives putting things off instead of hitting them head on. I think as I have gotten older I am more aware of how limited our time is and don't want to waste any of it.

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  28. Oh Leanne, I'm so in awe of you for so many things - the A-Z challenge and for managing procrastination. Great to read this. have pinned to my Embracing Midlife board :)

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  29. Hi Leanne, another great #MLSTL I've shared on social media and thanks for co-hosting. xx

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  30. I've been too busy to procrastinate! I admire you and others who participated in the A-Z Challenge. Thanks for hosting this new link-up, Leanne!

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  31. I love what you said about procrastinating an unpleasant task only stretching out the misery. I tend to procrastinate telling people something I think will be perceived as unpleasant. I tell myself I'm waiting for the right moment, but really it's so much better to just get it over and done. Each day I ask myself what is the most important thing I need to get done, and I do it first. I'm going to try adding, "What is the thing I am least looking forward to doing?" If it really needs to be done, I will do that next, instead of pushing it down the pile.

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  32. I'm in awe of your ability to be organised enough for a post a day during April. I struggle to do two posts/week! I walked away from a job that was making me miserable too. I walked out in the middle of the day not knowing that I would never go back adn in fact never go back to that corporate life again. I have sacrificed that very good, steady income for a happier, more balanced and healthy life.

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  33. I often procrastinate and when I do so, I always have to stop and evaluate whether it is something I really want or need to do or not. Sometimes procrastinating means it is something I probably shouldn't be doing - procrastination is a sign for me that I might want to reconsider the thing. I don't mean something like laundry, which I don't love but I just go do it, but something like committee work I keep putting off which tells me I might not value that committee.

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  34. I often do it but I am getting better. The thing I know is that when I make a decision. I stick to it. #MLSTL

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  35. I don't procrastinate - I write lists - Hahaha! If I get to do all the things on the list is another thing altogether, and I will procrastinate over the things I don't really want to do. Mission incomplete ;)

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  36. I am very much a procrastinator when it comes to things that I do not want to do. But lately, I have fewer and fewer things that I don't want to do! So, either I am getting better at this, or my attitude has changed a bit, or my life is just that much better. Maybe it's all three!

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  37. Do you remember when Garfield cartoons were the big current thing, flip, I think we are going back to the mid 80’s here... anyhow I had a poster, that I thought hilarious, never do something today that you can’t put off to tomorrow! It’s only taken 30 odd years to grow out of that!

    Sonia AKA Losing the Plot
    #crestingthehill link up x

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  38. Taking that first step toward action instead of doing nothing or putting it off can be the hardest one for me, but once I'm on it, I feel better that I'm moving forward. Great post, and I so admire everyone who has done the A to Z Challenge!

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  39. I didn't even know about the A-to-Z Challenge until about a day or two before it started. I've never blogged consistently but decided to jump in and commit to it. I created a website and hit go. Then my April schedule decided to go crazy on me -- with unplanned travel, long-planned conferences, client project deadlines all piling up. But I've been faithful and written every day. I thrive with deadlines, so having a daily deadline has been beneficial to me. I have proven to myself that I can write every day - if even just a short post. As a strategy coach for small nonprofits, I do know the benefits of having clear goals and actions steps, but am also very clear that the best laid plans fail if they are not put into practice. So, no more procrastinating. Off to do my laundry...Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

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  40. Just scrolling through everyone else's comments it would seem that procrastination is a mini-epidemic (can you have a mini epidemic?) I definitely procrastinate and I know that when I do it is usually due to fear of failure; what if I don't do it well enough. I have to remind myself that not doing the task is the greatest failure of all. Sharing on SM.

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  41. I am a terrible procrastinator and frequently leave things to the last minute. Sometimes I just need to unplug myself from technology and isolate myself for a few hours to get things done. The worst thing I do is put off writing because of my insecurities that my work isn't good enough. I'm working on tackling that because I know my negative attitude is holding me back from achieving and becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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