This week, I tried writing today’s post six times, but I had writer’s block.
You see, I’ve spent the past week procrastinating. I haven’t done a thing since getting home. I’ve caught up with emails and I’m getting back into responding to blogs. Plus I’ve done a bit of goals planning. All in all no more than a couple of hours a day of work.
All week, I’ve been wracking my brain for reasons for the procrastination. I blamed it on jetlag then on fear about National Novel Writing Month starting tomorrow. I then tried money worries. I even explored the idea that I’m moving in the completely wrong direction and that my subconscious is telling me that I shouldn’t write/do a blog/be a Someday Mentor.
None of them fit (especially not the melodramatic last one).
Originally today’s post was going to be a summary of the Canada trip, with funny anecdotes and someday lessons learned, but when we got back, I realized there were no lessons learned. It was just a good time and that I didn’t need to analyze it nor discuss it.
This morning in between Internet-TV and naps, the two thoughts came together and I realized that I don’t need to find any reason for my procrastination either.
I’m simply procrastinating.
That’s it. No big excuses, no long-winded pop-psychological explanations.
Suddenly I felt free. There was nothing to get over, to get past, or to work on. It just was.
Which meant I could just stop.
And then the writing started flowing again.
Someday Lessons:
10 Responses to “When Procrastination is Just Procrastination”
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Sometimes, we just need to unplug and do absolutely nothing.
Maybe procrastination is the mind’s way of telling us this.
(I know it is for me.)
Brett Legree´s last blog post..viking fridays - tears in the rain.
Awesome! Maybe I too need to stop trying to analyze things and find out why and what’s behind it all. Really, all that does is compound the issues and then I get down on myself. Maybe I can say I’m just procrastinating. I just don’t want to do whatever it is I’m trying to make myself do. I’m forcing myself rather than choosing to do it.
Also, it’s very common to feel what you felt after a vacation. Many people find it quite hard to get back into the swing of things after being away and enjoying themselves. You handled it well!
Great point, Brett, too. It’s also a good way to discover that what I’m trying to force is not something I’m actually interested in, and if I don’t have to do it, then why am I forcing myself rather than pursuing something else? Because in general, I’m actually not a procrastinator. I’m too impatient for that!
steph´s last blog post..Wednesday Night
@steph,
Good counterpoint about interest level and procrastination. I know that’s why I procrastinate at work - it just is not something I like at all - nothing interests me - so I seek something else…
Brett Legree´s last blog post..viking fridays - tears in the rain.
In other words, you don’t need to get your knickers in a knot about having your knickers in a knot?
Your knickers just are.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..Theme Fiction Friday - At last
I’ve got a post or two about our last week’s trip that I haven’t gotten around to as well as some other stuff online I want to do that I’ve not got gotten around to.
I keep blaming it on the current reality show that’s been playing on a lot of the networks.
You know — our American presidential race. I’ve never followed an election as close as I have this one — on TV and online. Great time waster if you’re interested in it, especially for a natural born procrastinator, and we don’t normally watch much TV.
One thing I’m not going to procrastinate on, though is voting, we did it on Wednesday.
Mike Goad´s last blog post..Just Grazing Away
@UrbanPather - lol on the knickers!
I’m hoping that I can claim that I’m having a well deserved rest up, or that my body is telling me to stop pushing so hard by giving me this stupid ear infection (yes, I’m writing about it everywhere - this is a total pity party at the mo
Is it procrastination when you think you might be using the “I’m ill” excuse a little too much?
James | Dancing Geek´s last blog post..Photoshop money for charity - it’s legit!
I think “It was just a good time” IS a lesson. We often get so caught up in our work that we forget that fun and relaxation also play an important role in our lives. I learned that lesson when I went away a couple of weekends ago.
Janet Barclay´s last blog post..Introducing OA’s NEW Events Calendar
@Brett
Oh, way to go and give me a great reason to procrastinate more!
@Steph
So many friends always tell to me stop spinning circles in my head and just accept things at face value. It’s so hard to do for those of us whose favourite question is “why?”
@Brett & Steph
I’m so there with the procrastination and interest thing. When I was near to ending my business as a hands-on organizer, I would be late for appointments (as an organizer!) and it was totally because I no longer wanted to do the hands-on stuff and I would procrastinate about leaving for appointments.
@UP
“Your knickers just are.”
And what awesome knickers they are!
@Mike
Good for you for voting early. I have a feeling that the “world’s greatest democracy” will experience voting irregularities again this time around.
@James
When I suffered from a misdiagnosed yeast infection (they thought it was Fibromyalgia) I lived with constantly low energy levels and I had no idea if I was procrastinating or actually needed to rest.
@Janet
So true, that is a lesson and one that many of us need to remind ourselves about regularly!
Alex,
LOL just came over here to read and procrastinate a bit more before I revise a document
I’d rather hang out here but I’d better go do what I get paid to do!!!
Brett Legree´s last blog post..viking fridays - tears in the rain.
It seems to be going around this week.
I find that sometimes it is best to just lie down so things don’t get worse and I can find the way out.
Miriam Ortiz y Pino´s last blog ..Back to School Interview