Seems like I should have learned this lesson by now. Why postpone until tomorrow what can be accomplished today? Why delay the inevitable and make it more painful in the end?
Just today: didn’t I just pass – not just one – but TWO gas stations right off the highway as my car was already blinking on empty? And why? Because I was on the phone talking business while on my way back from an off-site, travelling in the fast lane.
All the while promising to myself ”Alright, I’ll take the next one for sure”. Except I had under 10 miles left in the tank … and this is when the fast & furious moved over to the slow & infuriated lane. Waiting for the next exit. Praying I would not have to call triple A. Because who has time for this, seriously? I know what everyone thinks when spoting a car out of gas on the side of the road “Who, nowadays, can actually run out of gas? How foolish!”.
And finally here it was, the sign with the little gas icons! Only half a mile away, yay!
Little problem – the map on my GPS did not display those lifesaving icons: I was in trouble. These were no easy-off, easy-back-on type of gas stations. Try: merge and take two other highways, exit, merge again, make a U turn, then find a gas station that’s actually not distributing gas — no I’m not making this up, it really happened to me today. By that time I’m running on “0 miles left”. Sadly, a familiar feeling. Somehow, my prayers were heard, and I was able to turn around and locate the next nearest icon… and fill up.
For the record, let me say advertising gas that’s EIGHT miles away from the highway should be illegal.
So here is the point: why choose the aggravation? Why not fill up just before the gas gauge even tickles the fat E, when you have at least 30 miles left, why? This is called being proactive.
Proactive sounds great on a resume. But it’s got the biggest impact if you effectively apply it to your everyday life.
It can, among other things, avoid you to pay $50 in gas in one shot (this is the largest tank I’ve ever had to fill with this car!).
A few other things I’m quite good procrastinating at:
- cleaning the dishes (I’d rather save the pile of dirty plates for the next morning! Not really, but sleeping is way more appealing!) Truth is I secretly wish my husband will have an epiphany and actually free me from this chore. Sigh.
- folding laundry (husband’s epiphany applies here too),
- putting clothes away (deciding between the wash pile and the toss pile, which I will eventually go through again to decide in the end that, yes, these pants deserve being washed…)
Notice how all of these relate to daily chores that inevitably repeat themselves? If I could just flip that “do now” switch, it would save me so much time. And spare me the negative anticipation that comes with procrastination — until it HAS to be done: say it’s already 9am, you’re late for work, but you can’t possibly leave the dirty pot and pans in the sink. That’s plain gross.
Selfishly I’m somewhat relieved to know I’m not the only one. We all procrastinate at some things. And we all would find great benefit in quitting this bad habit!
On your marks…
It's so good to have you back! Share your thoughts, I LOVE comments!
Not to worry, we all do this. And yes, I list proactive on my resume as well, but you can’t help procrastinating on some things. You are only one person and can only fit so many things in a day. We live in a fast paced life and we try to do too many things. Remember when you look back a year from now, you will not remember the dirty dishes or the laundry. You will remember all the wonderful moments you saved for your family and friends. I am still working on listening to my own advice because I still like to have my gas tank hover around the red E and I will still drive myself crazy with anxiety if the laundry, dishes, and cleaning aren’t done, but we can work on this together!!!!
Agree on the things we’ll remember when we look back. Though I still get worked up over things that are just waiting to get done… I can’t help it!!
I know… too few hours, too many things to do… sigh… Such is my life. It would be good to not worry about the mundane (laundry, dishes, etc.), but it is in my genetic makeup. I just can’t relax until it is all done (which it never is), so it’s tough to ever relax. Ugh. I will say though that getting something done early does make you feel good (no procrastination!).
How about outsourcing? To the kids or husband
“Hey baby, you mind emptying the dishwasher?”
[...] I am so ready to declutter. But first I need to admit I’ve got this slight hoarding tendency; confessing shall help me move passed it, right? Hi, my name is Maryline, I’m 29 and I’m a pile maker. I pile high for no other reason that I like to procrastinate and I already know it’s not a good idea… [...]