I’ve been an off and on follower of Fly Lady for years. I keep many of her general housekeeping principles each day (quick clean-up in the morning, devoting a particular day for different household tasks…including errands and bills, etc.) It helps me to have some sort of method for the madness—I am, after all, a grime-fighter. :)
One of my favorite things that the Fly Lady has instituted is Anti-Procrastination day. Anti-Procrastination days take place on Wednesday every week and we’re encouraged to tackle at least one thing that we’ve been putting off doing. This could be something like making a medical appointment, sweeping the front porch, replacing a light bulb, calling the plumber about the leaky sink, or sending in a claim form to the insurance company.
I think the concept is useful for writing, too. I definitely have writing-related tasks that I put off doing. How about you? Have you ordered those bookmarks? Postcards? Business cards? Have you put all your writing-related receipts in a separate envelope (I believe even those of us who call writing a hobby for the IRS can claim some deductions….it’s something to check into)? Have you brainstormed on a sheet of paper how to finish that difficult chapter? Was there a scene you need to go back and revise? Promotional phone calls to bookstores to make?
I have postcards I need to send out to libraries. And I’m going to tackle that chore today (just for 15 minutes.) I might be finishing up this chore next Wednesday, but at least I’ll feel better knowing I’ve made a start. And there’s also a picture I’ve been meaning to hang.
What have you been putting off doing? Can you find 15-30 minutes today to do it?
Interesting idea for improving productivity! I wouldn’t say that I procrastiinate in the sense of avoiding doing something I don’t want to do. What happens in my case is that I’ll start doing something – say, revising a chapter that’s been giving me trouble – and something else will clamor for my attention. It’s more a case of being distracted than task avoidance. I’ve had to learn to very jealous about my writing-and-related-activities time.
So here I am, reading your lovely post, instead of taking that morning walk for exercise that I haven’t done for a week.
Then I should be doing soooo many other things than surfing the net.
Ok. Today is Wednesday. It’s morning. I will tie the laces and go walk. Then the other things.
Turning off the computer!
Thanks for your advice.
You’re so organized and efficient, Elizabeth, I find it hard to believe you procrastinate. Unless you have that as an item on your to-do list.
Boy oh boy, the things I put off…! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Anti-procrastination day, hooray! Now I just have to make sure not to procrastinate in implementing this day to my week :) Oh, and as for your idea of avoiding distraction via the Internet and writing in a Wi-Fi free area, that’s easy for me: I just go to Starbucks! I don’t have an account with their provider so I can’t get on…even if I want to!
Jen
Unfortunately procrastination is something that I am very skilled at doing so I like the idea of having an anti-procrastination day. I’m going to give it a try today. I hope to mark off at least one of the many items on my to-do list (follow-up phone calls – Aargh!). Problem is that I think I need a Wednesday everyday for a year to catch up!
I haven’t heard of Fly Lady but now I want to find out more.
Jane–It helps me to think that a bunch of other people are tackling procrastinated tasks, too.
Fly Lady is a great household organizational method.
Margot–Oh, I’m the queen of distraction! Sigh. Maybe there should be an anti-distraction day where we all take our laptops and write in a wi-fi free area. :)
Thank you for introducing me to Fly Lady. And to Anti-Procrastination day. I’m going to make that call right now. As soon as I go get my phone.
I had never heard of anti-procrastination day. This is something I needed to know, as I am the queen of that particular world. I shall attempt to do one or two tasks I’ve been putting off. I love the feeling of accomplishment but I still keep finding other things to do.
Will I ever learn?
Elspeth
I am a real expert procrastination!
I like the Wednesday idea though!
My problem is not starting a project I’ve been procrastinating on doing, but choosing among the many such projects. I don’t have a day set aside for that, but I do keep an ongoing list of things I need to do. That alone helps me since I get to mark off things I’ve taken care of.
Man, is it easy to waste a day surfing the Internet, though.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I usually do this on Monday’s. I’m not sure why, but it’s usually a good way to start the week. Maybe I should put it off till Wednesday…wait…that’s not the point is it ;)
Great Idea by the way. I think I need to bust out the stick notes!
Carol–Thanks for popping by! And good luck.
Helen–Very easy! My list doesn’t, conveniently, cover things that I don’t want to do. I may have to amend it.
Marisa–Ugh. Exercise. Yes, I was going to walk the dog today. I may have to add that to my list!
Marybeth–I like the *idea* of doing these things on Mondays, but Mondays are hard enough for me already!
Love this idea. And Wednesday is the perfect day too – “hump day” – lol. Me? I had been putting off an author feature post that’s supposed to go up TOMORROW for two weeks now. Today I put everything aside and got it DONE before doing all my usual blog-hopping and email correspondence done – then on to some editing and writing this afternoon.
The Old Silly
Add the Ann Arbor district library to your list. I’ve been trying to get my hands on your books and as of yet, it is through the interlibrary loan (IL) because the district doesn’t have them. I can only request IL when one is IN, which it never IS…. (good for YOU as it means people have them checked out, bad for ME, as I can’t get one!)
My current personal procrastination is revising my query and synopsis, but I just CAN’T currently face it… needs to stew… think you’ve heard that from me before…
Normally I am a great one for procrastination. Today I am quite satisfied with myself. I was tired after work (teaching), took a nap, but instead of resting on the sofa afterwards, I pulled myself together and took a closer look at an inherited disease I have to research right now. I found some good sources and wrote down a full page about how I am going to use this in my next book.
Well, we can now add motivational speaker to your list of skills and accomplishments. I have a line of to dos a mile long…I actually did one today, install a light switch. Oh, make that two, went through some filing and shredded it. So, some progress. My problem seems to be *when* I get to those put-off-chores, I pick the least onerous ones. Therefore, some stay on the list forever. Maybe I should just go straight down the list or pull them from a hat.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Alan–I’m not a huge fan of detail-oriented paperwork…and I have some of it on my desk. It’s been sitting there a while. :) But I’ve started tackling it today.
Marvin–When I cut it too close to the wire, my internet connection automatically goes down! :) It’s Murphy’s Law.
Jen–Going to Starbucks sounds like a great plan! Our hometown coffee house is a little too wi-fi friendly to be an anti-distraction zone.
Carol–You sound like me! I did my promotional postcards, then realized I didn’t have any stamps. But I’m proud of myself–I went to the post office!
Hart–I’ll add that one to the list. I went to publiclibraries.com and was overwhelmed–again–at the sheer number of libraries. But yours I’ll be sure to send a card to!
Ugh…synopses. My most unfavorite thing to do.
Elspeth–It’s nice to know there are other people like us out there…fighting against procrastination. :)
Galen–That’s actually a very good idea. I’m with you…I pick tasks I think I can knock out pretty quickly. Maybe if I put them all in a hat I could target some that I *really* hate.
Dorte–Now *that’s* hard to do! I never wake up fresh from a nap…I’m always grouchy and disoriented. I’m really impressed!
Great idea :) Sense of accomplishment is good. Now I just have to figure out a way to remember what day it is…
Oh man, here I am procrastinating, reading your blog instead of filling out business related paperwork. Thanks for reminding me, maybe Anti-Procrastination Day is what I was meant to see.
I always have a long list of detail/business stuff, but things come off it pretty fast. (It’s the actual writing I need to work on!)
I’m actually an un-procrastinator. I hate anything hanging over my head!
Elizabeth–Blog reading is my favorite way to procrastinate! :) Good luck with your paperwork.
Diane–I can imagine that about you! Very organized and together, which is great. I tend to put off business related things…sometimes because I don’t understand it! And I don’t have time to figure it out. Sigh.
I love procrastinating.
But since I can’t get by with it, I’ve stuck up a list called “Bucket list” on my office softboard. All the things that need to be done in two weeks go there, and it gives me immense pleasure to be able to physically scratch them out.
Jemi–I lose track of days, too!
Rayna–That’s a good idea. Maybe I should put all the things I don’t want to do on my bulletin board so I can see them and not have to think about it.
You have made me stop and think. I am going to write a list of ‘must do’s’ and do at least two a week. Thanks for an encouraging post.
I saw “anti-procrastination day” and I thought, “Could it be? Somebody who would get the Flylady reference?!” You have won my cold, black heart.
I am currently on hold with the medical office (anti-procrastination day!) and I’m returning all writing related email. My “to do later” list is out of control. It feels fantastic to tackle some of it.
-Mercedes
Glynis–Lists are what I live by!
Mercedes–I feel so much better knowing that I tackled the nastiest bits of my to-do list: the stuff I *hate* doing. Flylady rules!