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Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Do it Now!

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The Imperfect Homemaker: Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Do it Now!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Do it Now!





Today's Anti-Procrastination challenge isn't so much of a one-time challenge as it is the practicing of a habit.  I call it the Do-It-Now Principle.

The idea behind the Do-It-Now Principle is to practice Anti-Procrastination on everything that you do.  There are plenty of people for whom that comes naturally, but unfortunately I am not one of those people.  I am forever convincing myself  that things will be easier if I do them later.

 Here's an example that occurred just today.  I had been out shopping all day, and when I pulled into the driveway it was already well past the children's naptimes.  I looked into the back at the jumbled mess of bags, kids, coats, diaper bags, and who-knows-what else and thought to myself, "Right now I just need to concentrate on getting these kids down for their naps.  I'll clean the van out later." 

The only problem is that later never seems to come.  By the time everyone is down for naps and I've had a couple minutes to put my feet up, it's time to make dinner and straighten up the house.  Before I know it, bedtime is upon me and later becomes, yet again...later.  The next day I'll most likely forget all about the junk that's sitting in the van.  I'll continue to forget about it until a very inconvenient time, like when we're already late for church and we're looking for the kids' coats.  I'll then remember that they're in the van, along with a bunch of other stuff.  We'll hurriedly jump in on top of all the stuff, allowing it to get trampled under the kids' feet while they climb into the back.  I could continue to go on with the possibilities - a bottle of lotion getting squirted all over the place under a kid's foot, finding a bag of spoiled cheese (not that I've ever done that or anything), a coat that now has to be washed because it just got walked on with dirty shoes. 

What begins as an attempt to make things easier ends up creating more work and making things take longer.  And the longer you procrastinate, the worse they become. 

I am learning ever so slowly that those who always seem to have their house clean are the people who have a habit of practicing the Do-It-Now Principle.

Whatever we do, let's quit procrastinating, okay?  Let's make our lives easier by doing things now!  Will you join me?  If you're already in a good habit of doing things right away, will you cheer me on?


*By the way, I did clean out the van before I put the kids down for their naps!  Good habits are developed one decision at a time!*

If you're just now joining our Anti-Procrastination challenge, you can read all the details here. be sure you're subscribed to email updates or follow me on Facebook to receive each day's new challenge!   


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6 Comments:

Blogger Ellen said...

Yeah! So glad you did it. I ran around and cleaned up before the next crew of kids came in. At first I was just going to leave it, but just kept running. Glad I did - now I need to go again after the second crew. :) That's OK - love 'em all.

March 5, 2012 at 2:29 PM  
Blogger ~Grace and Peace said...

Hi, I found your blog thru the WLW link up. Out of the 250-something links your post grabbed my attention because, well, you know how God likes to do divine connections? He knows I can relate because you sound just like me - except I don't have small kids anymore. I'm going to look through your anti procrastination challenge (for a year, really? Brave girl!) and see what the Holy spirit wants to teach me. A lot. I know.

March 7, 2012 at 12:30 PM  
Anonymous MaryEllen@TheImperfectHomemaker said...

Well, I'm very glad you're here! And it's nice to know there are other people out there like me! I hope we will both grow in the Lord this year!

March 16, 2012 at 9:45 AM  
Anonymous Kristen said...

Hello - I found you through WFMW. This is just what I need - such a brilliant yet simple concept!! Thanks and best of luck to you as you continue! Kristen

March 21, 2012 at 7:44 AM  
Anonymous Kristen said...

PS - I often read things and feel appreciative that someone took the time to write it - but I procrastinate in thanking them (commenting) and then never get around to it! So the above comment was my first Anti-procrastinating activity:) THanks again! Kristen

March 21, 2012 at 7:46 AM  
Blogger MaryEllen@TheImperfectHomemaker said...

Ha! Well thanks for commenting! Glad to have you here!

March 21, 2012 at 9:33 AM  

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