Looking back over the year, former procrastinators, here are some of the lessons that have most helped me do what needs doing when it needs doing.
- “Comfort is the emotion that has deceived us all.”
- Spend no time in the City of Good Intent – content with the idea of what I’ll do someday but taking no action.
- My greatest impact could be in areas I feel are mundane. Life-changing character growth and influence take place in the daily duties of life.
- Instead of instant gratification (procrastination), choose the thing I want more than temporary relief. Choose the work/rest/play.
- Pause to be refreshed by moments of pleasure – little valves that relieve pressure and increase joy.
- Sometimes fun takes extra work. It’s worth it.
- Completing at least one thing every day propels me forward.
- Let resurrection power direct my daily thinking. Refuse to use excuses. Remove rose-colored glasses that keep me from seeing reality – the time I actually have, what’s priority, etc.
- The Lord, a friend, a counselor can help release the weights of unforgiveness, broken relationships, pain, crooked thinking that drag me down and feed delay.
- Straying from the path of action occurs naturally. I must constantly make course corrections.
- Priorities are the most important things for me to do – a limited number of essentials. Establish routine to accomplish priorities, the bowling pins I want to knock down at the end of the lane. Routines are bumpers that keep my ball in the lane so I hit the pins.
- Routine is a gift of time, energy, and peacefulness to myself and those around me. Lack of routine is my greatest time waster and energy drainer. When I drop routine, I drop priorities. Keeping routine with its priorities makes it less likely I will take on too much. It helps me avoid putting things off and being overwhelmed. It leads to accomplishing the most important things. I can use priorities and routine to move God-given dreams into my regular week.
- When I invest in fewer things, I make significant progress in the things that matter most. Make trade-offs. Not “How can I do both?” but, “Where do I want to truly invest?” Choose.
- Remove the plank from my own eye. I can change more than I’ve admitted.
- Move at a pace that lets me recognize God’s grace, express gratitude, and show generosity. Hurry and piled up obligations create a stingy spirit in me.
- Calculate work days needed for a project and days actually available; plan realistically.
- Margin allows more time for tasks and in between tasks.
- Misplaced worship creates stress. Worshipping Jesus relieves stress. What do I worship?
What lessons have most helped you do what needs doing when it needs doing?
Beth, I love these insights! So much wisdom and food for thought! I Need to keep mulling these over. Many are very applicable to me and I desire to apply them more thoroughly to my life! Thank you!
Thank YOU, Ana. I learn so much from you!