Procrastination Emancipation

It's early January as I sit down to research and write this newsletter. I launch my web browser, surf over to MSN.com, surprised to find the feature article displaying a picture of Santa Claus with the caption "It's not too late to have your presents arrive on time." Somebody's been procrastinating - either Bill Gates or me (maybe I didn't refresh my browser). Or maybe my computer is trying to give me the hint to stop procrastinating and set about the task of writing this newsletter. Nah... Bill Gates must be the guilty one!

When it comes to procrastination, most of us are quick to acknowledge the problem and are s...l...o...w... to do something about it. I surf over to dictionary.com and look up the definition of procrastination, hoping it means something other than I'm lazy.

pro·cras·ti·nate:
v. intr.
To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.

v. tr.
To postpone or delay needlessly.

Hmmm... this is getting serious. I better stop shillyshallying and get some help. Didn't realize I was delaying needlessly.

Off I go in search of solutions to my problems. It doesn't matter that it's now lunch time - no point in delaying. Ignoring my grumbling stomach, I search relentlessly for the magic pill to make me stop procrastinating. You see, this isn't the first time I've procrastinated but I'm hoping it will be the last.

Three hours later, I'm a procrastination expert. My eyes are blurry, my head is spinning but I'm committed to a ten step program to stop procrastinating. I have been freed from oppression - I have broken the bonds and liberated myself from the control of procrastination.

I stand proudly at my desk and declare my Emancipation from Procrastination, freeing myself from the bonds of laziness.

I have a dream, that one day my habitual procrastination, as noted by my mother - whose voice comes back to haunt me with labels such as disorganized, scattered and lazy - will be transformed into an empowering situation where the endless to do lists and procrastination temptations will be forever banished to the annals of accomplishment. I have a dream today where I recognize that I walk not alone on this path to procrastination but am in fact in excellent company (see Bill Gates above).

This will be the day when I sing "My list, 'tis of thee, endless list that plagues me, of thee I sing. List of tasks I don't like to do, list of thorns in my side, from every desktop, let the work begin."

And if I'm to change the pattern of procrastination. this must become true.

After hours of research, I've finally understood that one of the big reasons I've been procrastinating is that I'm focusing only on finishing. So I'll begin to concentrate on starting. All I need to do is keep starting, and the finishing will take care of itself. Which brings me to another thing my mother used to say... but I think I'll leave that thought unfinished.

Energized and ready to tackle the daunting task of writing this month's newsletter, I'm excited to have broken free from the shackles of procrastination that bound me.

Free at last! free at last!... now if only I could find my pen.

Maybe I'll do this tomorrow....

(c) 2005 Deborah Carraro,

Deborah Carraro is the Founder and Owner of Vascorp VA Services. Vascorp VA Services is the virtual support specialty company for solo professionals and entrepreneurs. We work late so you don't have to! Vascorp brings you the very best in virtual assistant services: shopping cart integration, affiliate program management, web design,ebook design, desktop publishing, business consulting services and more! She publishes a monthly newsletter Vascorp VA Advantage. To subscribe or find out more, please visit http://www.vascorp.com/va.

---

Map to a Gold Mine - Could You, Would You?

If a total stranger came up to you and said: "I've got a map", what would you think?Would you be intrigued or would you think he was... Read More

Nobodys Perfect

Being human is being fallible. Evolution determines that we all are naturally different. The one constant in our lives and nature is that things will change. A... Read More

Within You Lies All You Need

Within is the person we really are. Within lies our very existence. And only from within can we make it happen. This is where our very all... Read More

Book Summary: Self Motivation

Gail Lindenfield is a well-known British author who has written several self-help books. In Self Motivation, she does a good job of going over many aspects of... Read More

Have A Crack!

For everyone the New Year is now in full swing. There is also a percentage of us that are wondering where the last few months went. This... Read More

How To Beat Procrastination At Work

Listen. If you don´t beat procrastination at work the long term consequences could be serious. Take this example of how expensive work procrastination can be...The assignment that... Read More

Ignite The Fire In Your Belly ? How To Move From Being A Procrastinator To An Activator!

Are you sick and tired of not getting ahead and just can't get yourself out of a rut? Well, there are certain requirements (accountability, responsibility, commitment to... Read More

Power Of The Mind

THOUGHTSJames Allen in his Book "As a Man Thinketh"says Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes, and man is mind and evermore he takes ,... Read More

Your Life Just OK? It Doesnt Have To Be That Way! Live the Life You Really Want To Live!

I have some questions for you. Are you ready? How would your rate your life on a scale from one to ten; 10 being fantastic and 1... Read More

4 Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation

It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't it? Are there times in your life when you really want to callit "quits" because... Read More

The Rate of Change

There have been many discussions and grumblings in the Western world about the ever increasing pace of change and the ability of the brain to accept it.... Read More

Getting Started is the Toughest Part of the Job

One of the most challenging things about starting on a new project, goal or task usually isn't the planning, the thinking about it and the mapping it... Read More

The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement

Every week, I hear from people with the same Self Improvement questions: Where should I go for help? What should I do? Who should I listen to?This... Read More

One Last Month to Make it Count!

Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you get to accomplish everything you planned? Did life sneak up on you, such as unexpected bills, a... Read More

5 Fun & Easy Ways to Get Out of the Rut

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel less than great. Low, grouchy, fed-up and bored are all words you could use to describe what I'm... Read More

Dont Get Hysterical About The Historical

The tension was palpable in the room as I began the first marital counseling session ever for the couple who had passed their 50th anniversary several years... Read More

Need Help? Look Within First

After eating a turkey and dressing sandwich for breakfast, I am raring to go! For those of you who wrote and asked where the article was last... Read More

Motivation By Kicking Butt

Some people respond to being yelled at and even sworn at. This brings out that extra bit of effort and they become highly motivated. Others are just... Read More

Context-Free Living ... Living Without Boundaries!

I know by now that you've heard the terms Debt-Free Living, Disease-Free Living, or an overabundance of other such coined terms for various marketing ploys to sell... Read More

About Creating a New Life

1. Where do I start to create a new life?There is only one place to start, and this is by taking time out of your busy day,... Read More

Speed Reading Technique

Four Brilliant Tips to Speed Read Faster than EverMany people, particularly students, would love to be able to take in information faster. However prior to retaining information,... Read More

The Top Ten Strategies to Employ When You Feel Like Quitting

Ever feel like quitting? "Are you kidding?" you ask, "A better question would be, 'How many times TODAY have I felt like quitting?' " Sure. We've all... Read More

No Regrets

MY FOUR-MINUTE DANCING CAREERA few years ago, I decided to pursue my dream of being a dancer. I was 37 years old and being a dancer was... Read More

Are You Suffering from the Autopilot Dilemma?

An epidemic is occurring all around you, and there is a good chance it has already found its way into your life. It begins slowly at first,... Read More

Be Action-Oriented

Are you a melancholic online business owner by nature? I have something to tell you.In case you do not know what melancholy is, a melancholic person is... Read More

Motivation By A Challenge

Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something they or others think they cannot do. They don't want to do what they already know they... Read More