Procrastination – How can I overcome it?

There is no way around it, procrastination is procrastination.  And I seem to be an expert.  It is 2014 – a brand new year, and all I seem to want to do is – well, is to do nothing. 

I wouldn’t exactly say I’m lazy.  The truth is I can be a very ambitious person.  However, today I’d rather be lackadaisical.  Doesn’t that sound just a tad better than lazy?

I’m a self-motivated person.  In fact, many motivational tips work the opposite for me.  I once attended a meeting for a popular plastic ware company that did sales demos in the home.  I was thinking about becoming a demonstrator.  I never signed up to start selling.  Their motivational program scared me away.

I wasn’t so wise when I signed up for another type of sales company that shall remain nameless.  I respected the person who recruited me, so I signed the dotted line before attending their meeting.  My mild-mannered friend became a cheering lunatic as the motivational speaker made his presentation, while my motivation dimmed.

I don’t scream at sporting events, though I do softly say a few hurray’s for good plays.  Obviously, neither do I get into shoving matches when someone says their team is better than mine.  I simply believe they have a right to their opinion, and that maybe sometimes their team is better and at other times mind is better.  That’s why it is called a game.

Perhaps my problem has less to do with procrastination a more to do with lack of motivation.  I need to feel the fire of motivation!

Yes, I need to be motivated to achieve a goal.  An example might be cleaning my home.  We can go weeks without anyone besides my husband and I (and our dog) passing through our doors.  In the case of my husband he may only be awake for an hour after returning home and an additional hour or so in the morning.  Why go to a lot of work when he’s not there to see it.

On the other hand, if I know my mother is coming to visit, I will make my home sparkle.  You might wonder what the difference is between these two examples.  Well, it’s fear.  I can’t handle my mother’s reaction to my messy home.   She seems so very disappointed in me.

I guess what I need is a healthy case of fear to motivate me to stop procrastinating.  Thinking about it, I do have a fear of impending disaster in my kitchen.  The Leaning Tower of Dirty Dishes seems to be leaning just a little more outward of the sink.  I can’t help but think of the mess if would make should they tumble to the floor. 

I’m feeling much more motivated right now.  I think I will go and wash some dishes.  Then I’ll make a cup of coffee and return to my writing chair and procrastinate a bit more until I’m motivated enough to start dinner.

Oh wait!  My granddaughter is coming for dinner.  Now that is a good reason to frighten the procrastinator right out of me.  I can’t have her thinking her grandmother would starve her.  She should be greeted with the loving scents of spaghetti and meatballs and hot garlic bread.

That’s two battles with procrastination won in one day.  I’ll tackle more tomorrow.  There’s supposed to be a snow storm.  I think I’m already feeling motivated to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed most of the day.  What do you think?