Put Off Procrastination

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Progress with Papers

Habits & Routines

13 Mar

Missouri ladies, welcome to our fellowship of former procrastinators! It was a lot of fun to be with you!

If you choose to tackle a big goal, break it down into smaller steps and tackle the first one. God bless you as you cooperate with His change in you and focus on your first step!

Reporting back to you ladies on my file system – I decided to tweak the tickler file based on my needs now in life. (Please see Becoming Paper Proficient February 27, 2017. Also, for an explanation of how to set up and use a tickler file, see www.homestoragesolutions.com.) For my variation, I have seven folders, Sunday through Saturday. Behind that, I have six folders: January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October, November-December. I’m calling it my “hot file” because the contents get prompt attention.

I’ll have to use my set up for a while to see if it serves me well the way I’ve done it. Stay tuned.

Here’s the bottom line: Moving paper proficiently must become part of my daily routine. I must make decisions daily about each incoming piece and each new one I generate. No delay on dealing with it. I must put each in the file or other place where it will receive immediate action. I want to tend to each while it is a simple job and before it morphs into a pile of papers that become “squatters” taking up space and making demands in our home.

For those of you who, like me, generate paper on your own, moving to more digital procedures can be very helpful. You might check out Evernote or one of the other systems available online. I have recently entered over fifty papers of notes into the computer and have more to go. Maybe I can move from envelopes to Evernote.

Sometimes – I try to make this the exception now – a pile is needed. I heard a professional organizer (read also cleaner-outer) say that when it is absolutely necessary to have a pile – or even when you are going through piles to deal with them – make just one. She pointed out that one large pile to go through is less daunting than many scattered piles and it collects all the loose papers in one place.

Experimenting is fine, but I must settle on a system that works for me and use it routinely. Right away, I need to store papers that must be kept long term in their appropriate place. Everything else, I must move through the system for appropriate action and out of the house.

Our clear kitchen counter and my clean desk top inspire me to keep moving paper proficiently as part of my daily routine.

What inspires you to keep papers moving out? What system have you set up?

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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.

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2018-08-16T14:41:28-04:00

Cindy C.

"Biblical truth ... with a lot of fun and laughter."
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“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.

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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/
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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

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