“Curiosity is not a sin ... But we should exercise caution with our curiosity ... yes, indeed.”
-- Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This month I've been questioning why I do things and behave the way I do, but I've also noticed that it's very easy for me to get bogged down in thinking and not move forward with action. How easy it is to wonder why I feel compelled to wash a few dirty dishes in the sink instead of waiting until there are more and doing the job efficiently, and why I often consider others' needs before my own (usually to my own detriment). The thing that aggravated me on Saturday was my own procrastination and wasting several hours when I needed to grocery shop, and then I was further irritated with myself because I ended up shopping when it was crowded, I had to carry the groceries inside in the pouring rain and then ended up having to mop the kitchen floor afterward because I tracked mud in while carrying groceries to the kitchen. It sounds silly now, but this put me in a poor mood for much of the rest of the day.
It's much harder to stop wondering why, even if I haven't arrived at an answer to the question, and simply take some definitive action. If I just do something different, I can evaluate my actions and sometimes it will even become a better habit (like not wasting water doing just a few dishes and instead doing them in two or three batches). I know why I procrastinate grocery shopping (it's a chore I really, really dislike) so my goal for the next month is to figure out ways to conquer my procrastination. This one is a bit tougher; wish me luck!
Your owl is so perfect for your post! I'd love to know why I procrastinate doing things for longer than it takes to actually do them (not grocery shopping -- that always takes a while), but like you, I really need to stop the wondering and just do it. I wish you luck!
ReplyDeleteSometimes (and those sometimes are few) my procrastination allows me to work out a solution. Most times my procrastination is simply putting off what I really dislike doing. Now, one would think that in identifying this... I would solve the procrastination issue. Ha! However, as Ellen DeGeneres says... Procrastinate now, don't put it off! I have perfected her advice... XO
ReplyDeleteSomething that I started before Covid, but which became a priority once we were in the thick of lock down is what I call "mood management". A lot of the things I do are based on that. For example, I do not shop at our local Kroger unless it is for a few items that are easiest to get there (say once every 6 wks.) The store is cluttered, unmanageable, the people are rude and you take your own life into your hands in the parking lot. In the past, every time I came home from there I would be in a terrible mood, and dh bore the brunt of it.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I shop weekly on Tues. AM's (senior day) at two smaller, local grocery stores. It's a tad pricier, but for me that's the cost of mood management.
Same with household chores: if it makes you feel better to just wash up those couple of dishes, then do it. Don't beat yourself up about it.
I try to think ahead and see what the consequences will be and that usually makes me just get the chore out of the way.
The last thing I do is break onerous tasks down to manageable chunks. I have been working on clearing out clothes, shoes, and household linens since the beginning of the year. We have a textile recycling service that we can schedule to pick those things up. Instead of roaring through my closets the way my younger self would do it, I pair it with another activity: vacuuming our walk in closet? That's the ideal time to sort through the shoes. Putting away laundry? Let me just go through this drawer while I'm in there. My goal is to schedule a pick up at the end of April. I may not be completely done....but there's currently 3 bags filled. And that will be enough for this round.
This doesn't mean I don't procrastinate....the dust on the living & dining room curtains will testify to that :P
You may be anonymous, but I also think you are brilliant! I thank you for sharing your wisdom and explaining "mood management" so well. I think this may be a much better approach for me to try because ultimately this is what I'm trying to do. I can't honestly say I care about ending procrastination so much, but more about what it costs me in my mood and extra work. I've been looking at things from a financial point of view, but if going to a different store is slightly pricier but better for my overall mood and well-being, that may be worth the cost. Breaking down overwhelming and tedious tasks is a very good idea and something that I'm going to try in my clean-out of the living room and all of its various hidden drawers and cupboards full of junk. I'll start with my own pile of books, cables, and knitting accouterments, and proceed from there. Sometimes good enough is good enough. Thank you!
DeleteIt is so very easy to procrastinate at times, isn't it? So good luck with that! I, too, wash the dishes when there are only a few in the sink. I want a clean kitchen. Plus, my work space is limited and I don't have a dish washer so for me it works better to just do them! Fletch, on the other hand, would let them pile in the sink all day (or perhaps for days!).
ReplyDeleteI can procrastinate with the best and sometimes it's really tough on a day off to decide whether I'd rather stay in my PJs & putter a little longer or go to the store. I don't have my choice of time most days, but on weekends I do, and I can't tell you how often I'll rush out of the house a little earlier on a Sunday morning to get to the store "before the church people"!
ReplyDeleteIf I knew the answer to that question I'd be famous! I wonder why I do things the way they are and I guess I am being as efficient as I think I can be??? Grocery shopping is not fun unless someone else is paying for it.
ReplyDeleteI think questioning our habits and behaviors is a huge part of figuring out how to make them better. So, to me, you are on the right track here.
ReplyDeleteLuck! I have always been an A type refolding folded towels because they weren't folded correctly. I still find myself doing it now and then but I have for years been trying to take a deep breathe and just walk away. I saw year because changing such behaviors are not done with the snap or our fingers but a lot of effort. So go easy on yourself.
ReplyDeleteI love the little owl. Asking questions and examining habits is the first step to deciding what and if changes need to be made. Procrastination is such a bear. Often if I can just get started, I find the task isn't as onerous as I think and I look forward to being able to check it off my list. Right now my fridge needs a good cleaning and I am procrastinating. I think I'm going to dangle a carrot in the form of a coffee shop latte in front of myself.
ReplyDeletewishing you luck! I am a fantastic procrastinator and when I notice it, then pause to think about why (!!) I'm doing it, it helps. I also really enjoyed Anne Bogel's Don't Overthink It, which came out in March 2020. She has some great strategies to overcome the overthinking (my favorites are decide once and if you wake up in the middle of the night, don't even think about it - chances are yes, you do need to pee - so just do it!) anyway, my bookshelves and my yarn room need to be put back in order after a few months of willy-nilly not ... and instead, I spring cleaned (the rest of my house) AND spent an entire afternoon ironing. clearly I'm not offering advice, merely encouragement ;-)
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