The funny thing about procrastination is that it has nothing to do, it seems, with how I feel about the task at hand. Rather, it’s a dread of starting the task.
Example:
Going to the gym is hard. Being at the gym is fun.
I am such an advanced procrastinator that I can even procrastinate on both the start and the finish of something.
Example:
Start of day: put off going to work
Middle of day: love love love working
End of day: put off leaving work
It occurs to me that really when people say they are a procrastinator, maybe they just don’t like shifting gears when they are in a comfortable spot. Really, I could rewrite my example above and make it read like a script to most days of my life:
I don’t want to get out of bed, I love it here.
I don’t want to leave home, I love it here.
I don’t want to start this project, I love doing this.
I don’t want to start that project, I now love this one.
I don’t want to go to lunch, I’m on a roll.
I don’t want to go back to work, it’s great outside!
I don’t want to leave my desk, I’m on a roll!
I don’t want to go home, I love my friends.
I don’t want to go to bed, I love being at home.
OMG I LOVE MY BED.
While it’s great that I love where I’m at, it’s an ultimately negative focus when I’m seeing only the dread of losing what I have, rather than the joy of moving on to something even better. I’m focused on the opportunity cost rather than the opportunity. I (usually) end up loving the next thing even more, and I need to remember that. If I wasn’t dragging my feet kicking and screaming to the next thing on my agenda, I’d have an easier time being on time as well, or letting go of the day by going to bed at a normal hour. I’d enjoy life more if I didn’t cling to it so.
I’m reminded of a quote from Princess Leia, “The more you tighten your grip… the more star systems will slip through your fingers.”
And on that note, time for me to move on to the next thing… :-)
