Procrastination....21 Days to a New Me

It is a well known fact I am the ULTIMATE procrastinator. Like the east coast me I love my lists and my "check" marks, but unlike her, I lack a focus at times. I would venture to say I could be compared to a bass in my ability to be lured away by almost anything shiny, almost anything that does not have a "have to do" label on it. I am not sure why, but it is a battle I have fought since the beginning of my memory. That being said, when I am against a hard deadline, I can burn the midnight oil in order to get everything necessary done. Problem is, currently, most of my deadlines are created by me, making them all flexible (sorta).

I stand here as the Queen of Procrastination, my biggest draw being anything to do with my friends or family. My Mom and Dad both consistently mocked my "social" life throughout my school years as it was always quite obvious that it took precedence over anything else in the world. This has lead me to having a very fun filled life but I sometimes wonder what I have failed to accomplish due to my lackadaisical nature. Of course this has only been compounded by having a husband. I would much rather do whatever task must be done for Chris than my own. Problem is, it often leaves me holding the bag on my own stuff because he can't do that for me, so I am now exhausted, grouchy and have no one to blame but myself.

The other person to blame is Chris, for needing help. Except did he really need it, or did I just want to jump in because I like to make him happy? Did I just use my quick computer skills to do something faster for him because it kept me from completing my dull work for the day? You can't really blame the person who needed your help if you just did it for them without them asking. Then you have to deal with the ramifications of them getting used to you doing it for them. You see, then it does become expected. But the paradox only continues as you realize you love to be needed and you love to do stuff for other people. It is way more fun to do their "must dos" than do your own. So who is really needy here? Who is really to blame for my lack of sleep and unchecked to do list a mile long? The same person who was to blame for my unfinished Calculus homework and my 4 a.m. completion of "Euthanasia, an Ethical Dilemma with no Answer," me, simply me.

I have come to terms with the fact procrastination is a choice. Supposedly it takes 21 days to break a habit. I have my doubts about this particular habit as it seems to always have a justification, but that is my version of Lent this year. 40 days of making good on what I am supposed to do until procrastination becomes a dirty word of my past. No excuses, no reasoning, just doing. Is it possible? Well this is my first step. A weekly commitment to my blog, Mondays are the day, early but never late...that's the goal. Can a procrastinator become a doer? Stay tuned to find out!