|
BY BONITA JOYNER SHIELDS
 ne may wonder what relevance the topic of procrastination holds
for the average person. What importance does it hold for the Adventist Christian?
If I were to draw on my experience alone, I could make a strong
case for the relevance of this topic. I bought fabric to make a set of curtains
in 1999; fortunately, the design is still in style. I have people in my life
whom I need to call, but I wait to contact them until I have "more time
to talk." The perfect time never comes. And I just cleared from my desk
financial statements that should have been taken care of before the fiscal year
2003 ended.
But, of course, I can't draw on my experience alone. So I went to the Internet
and placed the word "procrastination" in the search engine. To my
surprise, 90 pages of Web sites appeared on the screen. The titles ranged from
"The Seven Day Procrastination Plan" to "There's Always Tomorrow"
(that Web site must have been written by a procrastinator). Countless people
are trying to avoid, measure, structure, and overcome procrastinating.
What's the Big Deal?
On the basic level, an anonymous author has stated it well: "Procrastination
is a thief of time." It can add unnecessary stress to our lives, as well
as to the lives of those close to us. On a deeper level, Ellen White states
the danger that procrastination gives to our spiritual lives. "Beware of
procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking
purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred
to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty
of life; but there is a terrible danger-a danger not sufficiently understood-in
delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's Holy Spirit, in choosing to
live in sin; for such this delay really is" (Steps to Christ, p.
32).
Some of you nonprocrastinators may be wondering why people would even be tempted
to procrastinate. "Just do it!" is your motto. Well, I do have
those areas in my life in which I "just do it," as I know other procrastinators
have. But the reasons for procrastination in other areas can be complex, ranging
from thinking that the tasks are too difficult, too time-consuming, require
more knowledge than the person has, to other emotional blocks such as fear of
failure, fear of success, anger, perfectionism, low self-esteem.
What can we do to overcome procrastination?
Scores and scores of advice are available for people to help them overcome this
habit. Since space is limited, I don't think I will quote from all 90 pages
of Internet Web sites. However, I will share several tools that, in my "expert"
opinion of procrastination, will be helpful.* While these tools are written
directly for students, the principles can be transferred to other areas in our
lives.
- Make the tasks look small and easy in your mind. ("I've
written lots of excellent papers; this is just one more paper.")
- Do only a small part of the task each time. ("I'll just
check out the books tonight. Later on, I'll glance through them.")
- Five-minute plan: Work on something for just five minutes.
At the end of five minutes switch to something else if you want. Chances are,
you'll get involved enough to keep going.
- Advertise your plans to accomplish something, and let peer
pressure push you forward. ("I told everyone that I was going to finish
this tonight.")
- Modify your environment. If you can't study at home, find
a place where you can study; or change your study situation at home.
- Plan tomorrow and establish priorities. Some students find
that simply writing down reasonable starting and stopping times helps them
get going.
- Expect some backsliding. Don't expect to be perfect even
when you're trying to get rid of perfectionism! So occasionally, your plans
will not work. Accept setbacks and start again.
"Tomorrow's Another Day"
While we know this phrase can be abused by the best of procrastinators, it's
still a truth to be embraced. Procrastination is a thief of time, and a habit
that can rob us of many valuable opportunities and experiences, but we need
not lose hope to change: "For his compassions never fail. They are new
every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22, 23, NIV).
*Taken from http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/procrastination.html.
|
