Procrastination is a very common habit. We can all sense when we’re doing it: It means deferring or avoiding a task by focusing on some other action or task.
Procrastinating can cause you to feel stressed or even guilty. It can create crisis and bring others’ chagrin down upon you because you haven’t fulfilled your responsibilities or commitments.
It’s normal for people to procrastinate to some degree, but when the habit impedes normal functioning, it’s a problem; chronic procrastination could even indicate an underlying mental or physical disorder.
For instance, I start off my day by hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock three or four times each morning.
Now, does that mean I’m lazy, or just plain tired? I also defer from a regular exercise routine, but does that signal that I don’t care about my health or does it mean I am busy with other things?
The point is that we all procrastinate about one thing or another, and as with all of life, you can’t sweat the small stuff or you’ll go crazy. But realizing when the problem is too big for you to conquer on your own is apositive step; help is available from social workers, psychologists and professional organizers.
My clients — in a display of procrastination-induced guilt and embarrassment — apologize to me for their mess before I even walk in the door. I always reply, “Don’t apologize to me, I am not here to judge you, I am here to help.” But a little mess intervention can go a long way.
Try decluttering and organizing your personal living space first. You’ll see and feel the results instantly and that will give you the momentum to progress. Take baby steps everyday towards the goal and you’ll start to see positive changes. Have a productive day.
Brenda Borenstein is your professional organizing guru. Look for her column every second Thursday. For more tips and ideas, visit www.organizedzone.comor call 416-665-2165. Brenda has organized over a thousand homes and says, “There is nothing I haven’t seen and nothing that can’t be overcome.”
