Procrastination Emancipation

It's early January as I sit down to research and write this newsletter. I launch my web browser, surf over to MSN.com, surprised to find the feature article displaying a picture of Santa Claus with the caption "It's not too late to have your presents arrive on time." Somebody's been procrastinating - either Bill Gates or me (maybe I didn't refresh my browser). Or maybe my computer is trying to give me the hint to stop procrastinating and set about the task of writing this newsletter. Nah... Bill Gates must be the guilty one!

When it comes to procrastination, most of us are quick to acknowledge the problem and are s...l...o...w... to do something about it. I surf over to dictionary.com and look up the definition of procrastination, hoping it means something other than I'm lazy.

pro·cras·ti·nate:
v. intr.
To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.

v. tr.
To postpone or delay needlessly.

Hmmm... this is getting serious. I better stop shillyshallying and get some help. Didn't realize I was delaying needlessly.

Off I go in search of solutions to my problems. It doesn't matter that it's now lunch time - no point in delaying. Ignoring my grumbling stomach, I search relentlessly for the magic pill to make me stop procrastinating. You see, this isn't the first time I've procrastinated but I'm hoping it will be the last.

Three hours later, I'm a procrastination expert. My eyes are blurry, my head is spinning but I'm committed to a ten step program to stop procrastinating. I have been freed from oppression - I have broken the bonds and liberated myself from the control of procrastination.

I stand proudly at my desk and declare my Emancipation from Procrastination, freeing myself from the bonds of laziness.

I have a dream, that one day my habitual procrastination, as noted by my mother - whose voice comes back to haunt me with labels such as disorganized, scattered and lazy - will be transformed into an empowering situation where the endless to do lists and procrastination temptations will be forever banished to the annals of accomplishment. I have a dream today where I recognize that I walk not alone on this path to procrastination but am in fact in excellent company (see Bill Gates above).

This will be the day when I sing "My list, 'tis of thee, endless list that plagues me, of thee I sing. List of tasks I don't like to do, list of thorns in my side, from every desktop, let the work begin."

And if I'm to change the pattern of procrastination. this must become true.

After hours of research, I've finally understood that one of the big reasons I've been procrastinating is that I'm focusing only on finishing. So I'll begin to concentrate on starting. All I need to do is keep starting, and the finishing will take care of itself. Which brings me to another thing my mother used to say... but I think I'll leave that thought unfinished.

Energized and ready to tackle the daunting task of writing this month's newsletter, I'm excited to have broken free from the shackles of procrastination that bound me.

Free at last! free at last!... now if only I could find my pen.

Maybe I'll do this tomorrow....

(c) 2005 Deborah Carraro,

Deborah Carraro is the Founder and Owner of Vascorp VA Services. Vascorp VA Services is the virtual support specialty company for solo professionals and entrepreneurs. We work late so you don't have to! Vascorp brings you the very best in virtual assistant services: shopping cart integration, affiliate program management, web design,ebook design, desktop publishing, business consulting services and more! She publishes a monthly newsletter Vascorp VA Advantage. To subscribe or find out more, please visit http://www.vascorp.com/va.

---

The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell! (3)

Me and Mao Tse-Tung!My first political experience was with Mao... Read More

How You Developed Bad Habits That Rob You Of Motivation

Bad habits rob you of your motivation.Today I want to... Read More

What Would You Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

The next time you find yourself relaxing on the couch,... Read More

People Who Get What They Want: What Are They Thinking?

Imagine being able to choose any outcome and automatically feel... Read More

5 Motivation Killers and How To Avoid Them

Motivation is an oft-discussed subject, particularly with regards to whether... Read More

Words Have Power

How many times have you heard or read that words... Read More

Are You a Self-Saboteur?

Take this questionnaire to get clear on what you may... Read More

Celebrating the Couch Potato

Ah, the couch potato, that icon of American pop culture... Read More

How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit - Part II

A friend of mine read the article, How to Use... Read More

It Is Up To You

One of the first things successful people realize is the... Read More

We Are Trying To

How many times have you heard this in your life?... Read More

Happy New Year

H appiness depends upon your outlook on life.A ttitude is... Read More

What Comes First the Action or the Feeling?

In other words, it is in the "doing" that we... Read More

Ignite The Fire In Your Belly ? How To Move From Being A Procrastinator To An Activator!

Are you sick and tired of not getting ahead and... Read More

Words that Inspire: PASSION

What is your PASSION?Dictionary says: strong liking for or... Read More

That One Thing That Guarantees Your Unlimited Motivation And Success

What can you do when you do not feel like... Read More

Your Dream Can Be Your Future

Here is a basic truth you must accept and believe... Read More

When Life Gives You Waves, Learn to S.U.R.F.

Would you like to learn a skill set and technique... Read More

The Secret to this Famous Singers Success

It seems the longer think we have, the longer we... Read More

Ever Feel Like Your Elevator Is Stuck Between Floors?

What do you do when you make a big mistake?... Read More

Motivation: 7 More Musings on Motivation

1. "If you have faith the size of a mustard... Read More

We Are Trying To...

How many times have you heard this in your life?... Read More

7 Tips For Lasting Motivation And Greater Success

Lasting motivation is possible once you adopt an outlook that... Read More

What Motivates the Motivator?

Someone wrote me an email a couple of weeks ago... Read More

Life Issues Pt.2 - Against All Odds

Against all odds. I think that should be the motto... Read More

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Before Its Too Late

Think about what you're doing each day and ask yourself... Read More

Growing Out of Your Comfort Zone

It has been said that "if you are not growing,... Read More

Within You Lies All You Need

Within is the person we really are. Within lies our... Read More

A Dollar and Some Ambition

(Excerpted from "Building Your Network Marketing Business" CD)Capital in your... Read More

How to Stay Motivated Until You Get What You Want

And somehow you knew how to stay motivated...Goals are mysterious... Read More

REST: The New Strategy for Business and Life Success

No matter how many times you have vowed to change... Read More

The Day Your Life Will Change for Good!

Many people long for a better life. In fact, I... Read More

Why Do 9 Out of 10 People Never Live Their Dreams?

When we were kids we all had dreams. There were... Read More