Procrastination! My favorite topic! Thanks for choosing it today. :-) For me procrastination is a by product of simply not wanting to do something. I actually really don't want to do it all or I don't want to do it right now or I don't have the mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical energy to do the thing. This is a daily experience I have. I have it with the smallest of tasks - feeding myself, dressing myself, writing an email, etc. Of course, I also do it with bigger, more consequential tasks. Kirk has a strategy that mostly works for him. He does a countdown 5,4,3.2,1 and then says launch and starts the thing. I don't seem to have that kind of determination or fortitude. I mostly cave to puttering and know that sooner or later I will be forced to do the thing - especially if it is getting dressed and out the door to work! LOL.
Interesting! l also procrastinate on things I *don't* want to do. But I'm more frustrated by my inclination to procrastinate on activities/tasks that are aligned with my creative goals. I like Kirk's countdown; it reminds me of Mel Robbins and her "five second rule."
This entry reminds me of Mary Poppins and the fact that on her tape measure she is "Practically Perfect in Every Way." This is my goal. It's become the joke at work for me. I have a hard time accepting compliments and I don't want to be seen as perfect, that is far too much pressure. I do my best. I expect the best effort from people around me (my kids, my coworkers, society). However, even when we give our best. We are all human and none of us is perfect. My least favorite people are those who act perfect or display perfectionism. That seems fake. So, I will continue to emulate Mary Poppins (also because she is Julie Andrews and I LOVE her!).
The last paragraph reminds me of what we have been talking about with Ellen starting her first post college job....'fake it till you make it'. I am sure you felt it some when you started your new job. We don't always have the experience or deep knowledge when starting something, but with good attitude and confidence, we eventually figure it out and no longer need to pretend.
Yes - absolutely, Sara! Those qualities of being open to new experiences and then believing in our ability to learn new things are so important. It can feel really hard, but with that challenge comes growth.
Also I love that line about using our finite time for what truly matters to us. So many things matter so deeply to me, it can still be hard to decide how best to "use my time." BTW, have you read Jenny Odell's book Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock? I haven't. I've heard good things about it.
I'll look for that podcast. Was it an interview? I listened to an excellent interview of Jennifer Eagan (author of the A Visit from the Goon Squad and Candy House neither of which I've read yet. Or at least I don't think I've read Goon Squad, though it sounds very familiar!) I think it was on the City Arts and Lecture podcast.
Procrastination! My favorite topic! Thanks for choosing it today. :-) For me procrastination is a by product of simply not wanting to do something. I actually really don't want to do it all or I don't want to do it right now or I don't have the mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical energy to do the thing. This is a daily experience I have. I have it with the smallest of tasks - feeding myself, dressing myself, writing an email, etc. Of course, I also do it with bigger, more consequential tasks. Kirk has a strategy that mostly works for him. He does a countdown 5,4,3.2,1 and then says launch and starts the thing. I don't seem to have that kind of determination or fortitude. I mostly cave to puttering and know that sooner or later I will be forced to do the thing - especially if it is getting dressed and out the door to work! LOL.
Interesting! l also procrastinate on things I *don't* want to do. But I'm more frustrated by my inclination to procrastinate on activities/tasks that are aligned with my creative goals. I like Kirk's countdown; it reminds me of Mel Robbins and her "five second rule."
This entry reminds me of Mary Poppins and the fact that on her tape measure she is "Practically Perfect in Every Way." This is my goal. It's become the joke at work for me. I have a hard time accepting compliments and I don't want to be seen as perfect, that is far too much pressure. I do my best. I expect the best effort from people around me (my kids, my coworkers, society). However, even when we give our best. We are all human and none of us is perfect. My least favorite people are those who act perfect or display perfectionism. That seems fake. So, I will continue to emulate Mary Poppins (also because she is Julie Andrews and I LOVE her!).
The last paragraph reminds me of what we have been talking about with Ellen starting her first post college job....'fake it till you make it'. I am sure you felt it some when you started your new job. We don't always have the experience or deep knowledge when starting something, but with good attitude and confidence, we eventually figure it out and no longer need to pretend.
Yes - absolutely, Sara! Those qualities of being open to new experiences and then believing in our ability to learn new things are so important. It can feel really hard, but with that challenge comes growth.
Also I love that line about using our finite time for what truly matters to us. So many things matter so deeply to me, it can still be hard to decide how best to "use my time." BTW, have you read Jenny Odell's book Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock? I haven't. I've heard good things about it.
I heard Jenny Odell on a podcast lately but haven't read her book.
I'll look for that podcast. Was it an interview? I listened to an excellent interview of Jennifer Eagan (author of the A Visit from the Goon Squad and Candy House neither of which I've read yet. Or at least I don't think I've read Goon Squad, though it sounds very familiar!) I think it was on the City Arts and Lecture podcast.
I heard Jenny Odell and For the Wild: https://forthewild.world/listen/jenny-odell-on-the-attention-economy-330
Thanks! I'll check it out. Sounds like maybe she talks about her other book, How to do Nothing. :-)