Put Off Procrastination

  • Home
  • Meet Beth
  • Blog
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Speaking Schedule
  • Resources
    • You Might Be a Procrastinator If…
    • Books and More
    • Helpful Project Tips
    • Suggestions from You
    • Diligence Ditties
  • Contact

One of My Favorite People

Accountability Friend

9 Feb

As a woman prone to procrastinate, I thank the Lord for somebody who is a huge blessing in my life – my accountability partner. I embrace the idea of answering to another person because it has brought me enormous freedom and joy. This relationship is one of the major ways the Lord H.E.L.Ps me. (Blog post February 1, 2015) Please, prayerfully consider this if you battle procrastination.

I’d like to think I’m always a responsible self-starter who naturally maximizes the life God has given me. Fact is, I’m not. I usually know what things I need to do and sometimes when I should do them. I make do lists and looove to mark through finished tasks. Yet‚Ķ I often ignore my list or do other tasks and neglect the most important. I’ve tried various aids for overcoming this bent. The best for me is my accountability partner.

Through the body of Christ, our heavenly Father provides us with help for abundant living. My accountability partner helps me put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24) this way: On Monday I email her the list of “Big Rocks” – the MAJOR things I need to do that week, not everything. On Saturday I email her my Big Rock Report telling whether or not I did them. That’s it. Easy peasy. I like to send “Done.” Sometimes I email “Cleaned one closet, not two.” I have also written “Did none.”

Here are some ways my life is made more abundant through this simple accountability. It

  • Brings freedom and peace as burdens are lifted quickly
  • Helps me stay focused on what I should be doing, serving as a kind of compass
  • Helps keep front burner items on the front burner and not let them drift back. Therefore,
  • I actually accomplish the important things – playtime with the children or writing a vital letter
  • Develops more defined and appropriate goals with my partner’s input
  • Spurs me to set goals I might not otherwise
  • Helps me walk free by completing old work, and doing new in a timely manner
  • Develops humility
  • Gives me a sister who shares the joys of accomplishment and understands the disappointments
  • Provides a friend who prays for me in my struggle
  • Helps protect me from the roaring lion
  • Develops in me a taste for diligence
  • Helps me form new habits and actually change
  • Helps me fulfill my calling
  • Encourages me tremendously!

The bent to procrastinate is within me. It can ambush me anytime. Accountability is like having guards with me, weapons ready, eyes alert for what could pull me down and take me out.

Thank you, Accountability Partner!

What would you like to get out of an accountability relationship?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Print

4 Comments

« H.E.L.P.!
Choose Your Partners! »

Comments

  1. Janice Mauroschadt says

    February 10, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    I thought this was a VERY helpful post, Beth. I so need to have an accountability partner as well. I guess I should start praying about one…and not procrastinate in doing so!!! 😉

    I love reading your posts and find them all so inspirational. Thank you…it’s always good to hear from you (even if it’s indirectly in a blog post)

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      February 15, 2015 at 5:16 pm

      It’s good to hear from you, too, Janice! Thank you! You bring us to an important point – prayer. That’s critical.

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    February 12, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    I started with an accountability partner for exercise and food this month. The accountability has been helpful. When I am feeling too tired work toward the day’s goals, I often do it just because I don’t want to dissapoint her or admit to my laziness. It also helps me stay in bounds when I am tempted to indulge. It hasn’t made me perdect by any means. A good accountabiliy partner also offers grace and encouragement to get back on your horse and try again tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      February 15, 2015 at 5:13 pm

      Sometimes when I think I have nothing left, I will knock out an item just so I can report that it is done. Of course, then I’m glad! And it doesn’t extend into next week. Also, you said it well, Karen, a good AP offers grace and encouragement to get back on your horse and try again tomorrow. Congratulations on your food and exercise efforts with your AP! That brings us to a topic we’ll touch on next week.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

Learn more about Beth ≫

Join me in gaining victory!

Subscribe to receive my weekly post in your email inbox with encouraging tips for tackling procrastination and creating peace.

Privacy Policy

Browse by Category

Browse Archives

What Others are Saying

"I have loved 'Learn to discern what should come first.'"

Josie O.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-13T20:10:12-04:00

Josie O.

"I have loved 'Learn to discern what should come first.'"
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/josie-o/
"Getting things done isn’t as important as what gets done."

Megan P.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:40:50-04:00

Megan P.

"Getting things done isn’t as important as what gets done."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/megan-p/
"Biblical truth ... with a lot of fun and laughter."

Cindy C.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:41:28-04:00

Cindy C.

"Biblical truth ... with a lot of fun and laughter."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/cindy-c/
“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”

Christine B.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:41:59-04:00

Christine B.

“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/christine-b/
"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."

Julia F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:31-04:00

Julia F.

"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
"I realized [procrastination] ... hindered my relationship with Him."

Mary R.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-13T20:09:23-04:00

Mary R.

"I realized [procrastination] ... hindered my relationship with Him."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/mary-r/
0
0
Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

Copyright © 2022 Beth Sterne | Design by The Design Diva | Development by MRM | Privacy Policy