Beating Procrastination
I heard someone once say that procrastination is usually a problem with starting something and less about finishing it.
I don't know why, but I really enjoy procrastinating. I like doing anything and everything else except the very thing I'm supposed to be doing. This happens with writing. This happens with house chores. This happens with exercise. This happens with replying to emails. This happens with preparing for talks. This happens with spiritual disciplines. For some odd reason, it just feels fun to procrastinate—at least for a while. Then reality hits. You can only ignore your responsibilities for so long. In the end, procrastinating doesn't feel that great. I usually end up feeling guilty. I feel like I've wasted precious time. And because of delaying, I may give myself so little time to complete an important task. I may end up not doing my best work with my best efforts.
I heard someone once say that procrastination is usually a problem with starting something and less about finishing it. Based on personal experience, I have to agree with his observation. I don't have trouble finishing something. But I may have trouble starting it. If I can just start something, I'm likely going to see it to completion. If I can just start vacuuming the living room floor, I'm likely going to finish that chore. If I can just start writing that email, I'm likely going to send it. If I can just start exercising, I'm likely going to complete the workout session. Procrastination is usually a problem with starting, not finishing.
Procrastination also happens with spiritual disciplines. We might find ourselves doing anything and everything else except the very thing that we need and want for the good of our relationship with Christ—spending ample amounts of quality time connecting with Him every day. There are times when it seems so hard to enter into prayer or open the Bible to read Scripture or worship God through singing. We find ourselves doing other things—things that usually aren't that important—such as scrolling through social media or watching television or browsing the internet. Before we know it, the day is over and we didn't get to spend quality time with the Lord in prayer and contemplation.
The problem is usually the same: actually starting the spiritual exercise. I've found that if I can just start reading the Bible, I'll actually complete reading the passage and I might read even more than I intended. If I can just start praying for people on my prayer list, I'll actually get through everybody I wanted to pray for. If I can just start worshiping God through singing, I'm actually going to sing several songs to God. Starting the spiritual exercise is usually the problem that I face. And so, finding creative ways to just start the activity is helpful because once I get going, I know I'm likely going to finish it. In the next blog post, I'm going to share some ideas on starting so that we can procrastinate less and actually do the things that are important to us.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
