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Proverbs 14:23 states: “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.“
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A couple of days ago I mowed my yard. Yes, I mow my yard!
Because I spent much of my working career inside, I have always enjoyed being outside and doing yard work.
I still enjoy lawn care because lawn maintenance has an immediate return. Grass is long, mow it, grass is short and looks better. Easy fix!
Lawn care is one of the areas where I don’t trade dollars for free time. I enjoy making my immediate environment look nice. This is a solitary time to think. Between grass cutting, edging, and using a lawn blower, I normally walk a couple of miles. So I also look at lawn care as a form of low-impact exercise.
After cleaning and prepping my lawn mower for the next lawn cutting, I remembered that I needed to change the lawnmower’s oil. This is the same thought I had the previous two times I’ve mowed the lawn. Both times, I stored the lawnmower and forgot about the needed oil change until the next lawn cutting period.
So this time, as I started to store my lawnmower, I stopped and considered, “Why Not Now?”
Why not replace the lawnmower’s oil now?
It was a reasonable question, and I had no plausible excuse for continuing to kick the can down the road.
I had no good reason to avoid changing the lawnmower’s oil immediately. I have refined the process for replacing the oil in my lawnmower, and the oil change was complete in about 10 minutes.
Working through the steps to replace the lawnmower’s oil, I wondered why it took so long to make the decision to complete such a simple task. I have never been a procrastinator, but I think Retirement facilitates procrastination.
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What do I mean?
An axiom states, “If you want something done, ask a busy person!” This seems counterintuitive, as a busy person already has a long “to-do” list. But this same long “to-do” list is the reason why a busy person is so effective. Busy people don’t have surplus time, and move from task to task, efficiently marking items off their “to-do” list.
I have always been busy, juggling multiple projects simultaneously and completing projects efficiently. Because each day was fully scheduled, I used time as effectively as possible.
When I quit working full-time, this changed!
Working 2 to 3 days a week instead of five days a week created huge blocks of open time. These blocks of open time created the space I needed and never possessed before. Space meant projects could now be spread over several days instead of needing to be completed in a single day.
I quickly found it became much easier to procrastinate!
More available time makes it easier to reshuffle projects until later.
This happened with the oil change of my lawnmower, and it happens to many projects once a person retires. It becomes much easier to procrastinate and move projects down a priority list.
Don’t misunderstand! I am not getting lazy and still accomplish several projects each day. But having unlimited free time makes it easier to delay projects. When every day is Saturday and unstructured, why not do it later?
Using that philosophy, it becomes easier to defer less desirable projects. Replacing the oil in a lawnmower certainly fits this list of less desirable projects. Failing to replace the oil in a lawnmower promptly can produce detrimental effects on the lawnmower, and procrastination can result in eventual lawnmower problems.
Are problems with procrastination limited to lawnmowers? Certainly not!
One of the first to come to mind is the failure to establish and periodically revisit estate plans. My wife and I established an estate plan several years ago. Now our estate plan needs updating. Instead of addressing the problem, I have procrastinated!
I can give you several reasons why I haven’t updated our estate plan, but the most obvious is procrastination. An Estate plan for our family was established several years ago and reflected our last wishes. It is now several years later, and our needs have changed, but our estate plan has not.
Problems could occur because our needs have changed, yet our estate plan still reflects the last wishes of my wife and me from years ago.
With little effort, I could list other items that need attention due to procrastination. This blog is not about listing personal projects that need attention.
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Instead, let’s talk about what someone can do to avoid and mitigate procrastination:
1. Break Down Tasks: Large tasks can be overwhelming. Dividing larger tasks into smaller sections can make large tasks less formidable and more manageable. This makes starting easier and creates a sense of progress as you complete each smaller step. I used this technique in dental school. Instead of focusing on everything I needed to do for the next four years to graduate from dental school, I focused on what I needed to accomplish the following day. My wife and I also used this same principle when purchasing and renovating our present home. I previously spoke of being able to eat a whole pie if you eat it one piece at a time
2. Set Goals and Deadlines: Clear goals and deadlines provide a sense of direction and urgency. This helps to stay focused and accountable. After three weeks of procrastination, my goal for replacing the oil in my lawnmower was to complete the task immediately. Updating and reviewing my estate documents is more complex, and my goal is to review these documents and schedule an appointment with an estate attorney in the next two months.
3. Minimize Distractions: Create a workspace conducive to focus and minimize distractions like social media or notifications. I am most productive earlier in the morning when the house is quiet and distractions are minimized. When formulating a blog or podcast, the television set is off, and no social media outlets are available. I have found that having a quiet environment helps to clarify my thoughts.
Working in a quiet environment goes back to college, where most of my study time was spent in the Reserve Reading Room (Special Collections Room) of my college library. The reserve reading room was a quiet area where conversation and noise were minimal.
4. Reward Yourself: Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, even small ones. This positive reinforcement can motivate you to continue working. Dave Ramsey is a long-term proponent of the “Debt Snowball Method,” where smaller debts are paid off first. The debt snowball method involves paying off debts from the smallest to largest balance first, regardless of interest rates, to build momentum and motivation. The action of erasing smaller debts creates positive reinforcement. Although the Debt Snowball Method is not the best mathematical debt reduction method (paying off the highest interest rate debts first is better mathematically), it is better at building positive reinforcement and motivation.
5. Be Kind to Yourself: Don’t beat yourself up for procrastinating. Acknowledge that it’s a common behavior, and try to learn from it rather than getting discouraged. In my dental office, I tried never to berate or belittle my staff for neglecting a task. I would always tell them I didn’t expect them to be perfect until I became perfect. However, they were schooled to expect I would correct them if they didn’t correct the procrastinating behavior within a reasonable time.
Practicing dentistry for almost 47 years has taught me the wisdom of showing grace to myself and others.
6. Utilize Time Management Techniques: Sometimes you need a break. If a project is especially technical or taxing, intermittent breaks increase productivity.
There is a technique called the Pomodoro Technique where a person works in focused bursts with short breaks.
I like to tackle the hardest projects first. I enjoy working early in the morning when my mind is the clearest. Using this technique increases my productivity and efficiency.
7. Seek Accountability: If your project is work-related, you may be required to submit periodic progress reports. If your project is personal, a friend or family member may act as project manager. Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to check your progress and help you stay on track.
8. Address Underlying Issues: Procrastination can be related to anxiety, fear, or perfectionism. If you consistently struggle with procrastination, consider seeking professional help.
During my working career, I ended a long-term relationship with a laboratory technician because he couldn’t get the laboratory projects back to me on time. His problem with perfectionism caused him to procrastinate and never finish the work we needed. His need for laboratory work to be perfect cost him time and money. Perfect is the enemy of good!
9. Create a Routine: Establish a daily or weekly schedule that includes dedicated time for work and breaks. This can help create structure and momentum.
I like routines, but I am not a fan of rigid structure. After many years of practicing Dentistry where days, weeks, and months were tightly scheduled, I decided to establish a less structured schedule after quitting full-time work. I have daily, weekly, and monthly scheduled activities, and a loose routine. I’m careful not to establish a rigid routine. It is easy for a routine to become a rut, and a rut can be deemed to be a coffin with the ends kicked out!
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Final Thoughts
This seems to be a blog formed on the phrase: “do as I say, not as I do!”
I did replace the oil in my lawn mower after three weeks of procrastination. To date, I have not scheduled an appointment with an estate attorney.
To stop procrastinating, break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, set clear goals and deadlines, and minimize distractions. Reward yourself for completing tasks, even small ones, and be kind to yourself when facing setbacks.
Don’t let procrastination turn little projects into bigger problems. Use the simple phrase “why not now?” to facilitate action and as a means to defeat procrastination!
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