Giving Procrastination the Heave-Ho
Some days, I don’t feel like doing any work. It doesn’t matter how far behind I might be on my own blogs, client accounting, or writing. I can’t seem to get myself motivated. Procrastination wants to short-circuit my progress. There was a time I’d say screw it and grab a book, or plop down in front of the TV, but thankfully, I’ve developed more discipline since then.
As a writer, one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten was to sit down and write every day, even if I don’t feel like it, or feel the muse speaking to me. Many is the time I’ve sat down to add content to one of my own sites with nary an idea in my head. But once I put my fingers to the keys and start dumping the contents of my well-stocked brain, a nugget eventually falls and I have a topic to, at the very least blather on about for a thousand words or so.
This was one of those times. I sat down knowing I was a day or two behind my self-imposed schedule; knowing this post needed to be somehow writing or business related but my mind was too busy swinging from the trees to offer any assistance. Knowing the signs well, I gave it a figurative banana, which in this case meant to start typing until something useful dropped. Thankfully, I’m never disappointed, and wasn’t this time either.
Imposing Your Own Deadlines
When you’re working for someone else, they expect you to show up at a certain time and 
occupy a desk in their office during a specified time frame. Theoretically, you’re also expected to produce something in those 8 hour spans, but I think there are too many times you’re occupying the space, but you’re mind is elsewhere, especially if it’s a job you’re not entirely fond of, or if there’s just not enough work to keep your mind and fingers occupied.
I know I did my last employer a disservice in the last year I was there. My heart was no longer in the job. They were losing contracts so the work load shrank, and even proposal activity had dwindled. To put it mildly, I hated dragging myself into the office every day by the time I made the decision (not entirely well-thought out) to leave and focus on my writing. Unfortunately, by the time I left, my work habits had deteriorated. I’d become a Master Procrastinator.
As a result, I had a tough time getting myself back into any kind of productive routine, and in fact, spent the first 3 years or so meandering through life, making little to no effort to improve my skills or my means. Even sloth gets old after awhile.
Ending Procrastination Begins With Small Steps
Yet it was self-care that I resurrected first, and maybe it makes a weird kind of sense. Once I established a thrice-weekly gym routine, I found the motivation to set up schedules for my writing as well. Soon, I was becoming more efficient about writing and scheduling blog posts, editing and updating my WIP’s, and even working on my marketing skills.
Of course, the changes didn’t happen overnight, and some took better than others. Like anything else, getting into a productive routine took a certain amount of trial and error, and frankly, will continue to do so.
Client work was never a problem as I’ve always been more considerate of my clients than of tasks which benefit me alone, or at least initially. I know I’ve mentioned this before (probably more than once), but recognizing myself as one of my best clients after seeing it reiterated by many other entrepreneurs was the single most important factor in prioritizing my own work and making it stick.
Putting Yourself First
I cannot emphasize the importance of putting your own needs first enough. When you see 
yourself as the best and most important client you have, your work isn’t really work any more. It’s a privilege and an honor to check things off your own project list.
I won’t lie and tell you I’m current on all my own tasks or that I’ve completely kicked my tendency to fall victim to procrastination. That’s still a work in progress. But I’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple of years. Blog posts are always at least 2, if not 3 weeks ahead. I’ve re-edited several chapters of Rebuilding After Suicide, even if I haven’t touched it in a couple of months. I’ve edited and uploaded 25 chapters of Sasha’s Journey to ChapterBuzz. I’m behind on my schedule there too, partly because of computer and internet malfunctions in October and November, but more because of self-imposed slippages.
Above all, I’ve learned to refrain from beating myself up when I miss self-imposed deadlines. Instead, I show gratitude for what I’ve accomplished, and promise to do a little better going forward. It’s amazing how far a little praise, even for myself as opposed to self-flagellation and verbal abuse go towards helping me meet my goals. I may slip for awhile, but ultimately get caught up and even ahead, because I treated my failures with kindness and understanding.
Delays Aren’t Always a Bad Thing
I read something recently about releasing toxicity especially what you hold within yourself. Self-abuse for slippages would fall into that category. I, for one do not miss the times I made myself feel about an inch tall for failing to live up to my excessively high standards. I’m so much easier to live with when I relax those standards and cut myself slack when I still miss the mark by a bit. In fact, I’ve learned sometimes the delay it causes is for the best as it allows new information to come in exactly where it was needed.
Delays are sometimes put in our way for a reason. Think about the guy who missed the train the day the World Trade Center was brought down, or the woman who got stuck at home and didn’t get on the ill-fated Metrolink train that derailed on September 12, 2008. But for the delay, they might not be here to see their kids or grandkids graduate from high school, or to see another Christmas.
Delays in completing a writing task have often allowed my mind to process something which needed to be said, but wasn’t ready when I thought it “should” have been. Getting stuck is my mind’s way of saying: “It isn’t the right time. You have more to experience before you can properly articulate this thought.” In other words, a delay isn’t always procrastination. It’s breathing space.
I’ve learned to trust the road blocks and delays. If nothing else, they end up making for better copy, and my ultimate goal is to educate, enlighten, and entertain. How am I doing?
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri 
believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming releases of ” Rebuilding After Suicide” and “Sasha’s Journey”.
