Put Off Procrastination

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Want to Order More Time and Energy?

Habits & Routines

29 Aug

Fellow former procrastinators, for more time and energy, we can stop making decisions. For repeating tasks, we can decide once – then make that routine or habit.

A procrastinator makes delay a habit. To put off doing something increases the mental, emotional, and time burden of the original task. Over and over the procrastinator has to decide how to handle delay. Over and over she spends emotional, mental, and time money she could’ve spent once by simply doing the thing. I know.

“Lack of routine is our biggest time waster.” I wish I’d paid more attention long ago to these wise words from my friend Ana. Now I’m on it!

Let’s add “lack of routine is our biggest energy drainer.”

Making a decision and exercising the will to act takes emotional and mental energy plus time. It is draining.

Wasting time and draining energy is true in small things like when to go to bed and in bigger things like whether to continue with my hobby or give it up. (It’s interesting that what often seems small is sometimes a big thing indeed.)

Routine enables us to do the most important things. So routine helps us use time and energy wisely. After dinner mom says, “Everybody, go brush your teeth.” If that is not the usual pattern, time and good humor are lost in discussion and resistance because something else is more desirable at the moment. But if it has been established that teeth are brushed right after dinner, there’s little or no debate or delay, the chore is done, and everybody can move into the next thing without any big deal.

Routine eliminates the big deal. (Yes, it may take a few weeks to establish the teeth brushing habit but three weeks beats a battle every night.) Routine eliminates the need to decide and to exercise the will to start from scratch – which takes extra thought, emotion, time and energy. With routine or habit, we don’t think so much, we just continue on “auto” as we have been.

One of the great things about routine or habit is the relief it brings to life.

Ask anybody who’s trying to establish an exercise habit. “Do I run now or not? Bed feels so good. Should I go? I need enough rest. Will I run? It might be too hot already. Am I going?” And on and on. Exhausting! Yet we do that anytime we do not have a routine. We can apply this to cleaning the kitchen, what to do on lunch break, walking the dog, etc.

The habit of doing what needs doing when it needs doing provides relief over and over.

The time and energy we do NOT use deciding and starting up is available for our use in other areas. We have more time and energy if we employ routine. A healthy habit provides relief.

In what area would you like relief – more time and energy?

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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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"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."

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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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