I'm throwing out my first ever challenge to you all. The first in nine and a half years of blogging! So what brought this about?
Well, the idea began when I went to use a block of baking chocolate from the yellow pantry and found the "Use By Date" was... 2012. I couldn't believe it! There was no way I had that chocolate in there that long. But the more I thought about it, I realized I hadn't made a recipe calling for it in quite some time (obviously).
The other part of the challenge came about when I realized it was late on Friday and I still hadn't called to make a dentist appointment. My physician warned me I needed to have a tooth that had broken pulled... last August. I thought about it when it was hurting but then forgot until that area started getting a little tender again.
I think procrastination is something we all deal with but when you don't feel very good most of the time, it can become a real obstacle one needs to overcome. At least it is in this household.
Don't get me wrong, I do get an amazing amount of things accomplished considering the challenges and all. But honestly, some of the things I've put off until they become emergency status would only take a few minutes to do.
Remember I told you I recently updated my address book? That only took me a half an hour and I've been putting it off for over a year. The only reason I did it at the time was because my husband was going over the American Legion books with a friend and I stayed out of their way in the Study for half an hour (his poor health has caused him to give up being their Treasurer).
So... here is my challenge to you should you want to take it up with me. I'll report back to you next Saturday what I accomplished.
FIRST... choose at least two or three things you have been putting off that you know will take less than a half an hour to accomplish.
For me all of these have to do with telephone calls (I hate talking on the telephone!).
SECOND... choose one large project you have been putting off and then break it down into do-able sections.
For me that large project is cleaning and organizing the garage. That encompasses a lot of smaller projects so the first activity is to DEFROST THE DEEP FREEZE! It is almost empty so this is the time to do it.
We've been having to use up what is in the pantry instead of adding to it lately. So I've learned a lot (all over again) about what is essential and what I don't use even if my grocery budget is very small. It is a perfect time to put organizing the pantry on the list albeit not the highest priority. Keeping the garden alive with all the rain and storms is the main "pantry priority" now.
19 comments:
Oh my I have loads of items I need to get to and put off. I've got to think about this.
Oh I hate talking on the phone with professional people like receptionists making appointments and the like. I could let those chores go forever, if possible. Thankfully, I don't need to do that right now, but there are all manner of things that are on the list that need doing that I don't want to do. Half the battle is getting started. What are you going to do while you're cleaning the freezer? Listen to music?
I am very bad about procrastinating myself, so I will be glad to accept your challenge
What a great idea and I am going to follow your example! Updating my address book and sewing up a pair of pajama pants for each of my quadruplet grands! NOw that might take a little over half an hour but the patterns are all cut out - just waiting to be sewn - and have been since last Novemeber! They will not be needing as deep a hem now! Bigger project? Moving Sanford and Son OUT of my back yard!!! Of course, you may not even remember the Sanford and Son TV show. They live on - in MY back yard!
Great idea Brenda - and I think I can come up with some things for me to take care of. The best part is probably no out of pocket cost!
Nancy
Sigh, weeding. That would be the big thing I'm procrastinating on right now. Just plain lazy! I will need to tackle it when I get back next week. I need to make a Monday to Saturday list of all my weedy places. Six days of weeding would put me in good shape. Pam (SD)
Hmm..have you been reading my mind lately Brenda? Sigh..like you I have more than a few things I put off for "when I really have the time and feel like doing it" and somehow that time never comes around. So, I will take your challenge! I really need to get our House Journal updated (I need to add the information from Christmas and Easter yet!) and I started on our basement a few weeks ago, doing as you suggested, and breaking it down in to smaller sections. The next step for the basement is to get the new shelving we bought last night put together and get the larger pantry transferred, inventoried and a shopping list made for what we are short on.
Thank you for a much needed push to get moving!
God Bless, Marsha
We are going to be hosting our son and fiancé's wedding here in 10 weeks. My go to projects will all be outdoors related. The other thing happening is that my parents are going to sell their home, so i need to be helping them to sort through stuff, and decide what to do with it!
I'll be busy!
Deanna
For me I called to get my doctors appointment. Usually I have to wait 2 months to see him. I put it off and put it off almost pass the time as I have to see him every 6 months or he is upset. Well I did call and I can see him in 3 weeks! Right in time. Oh how I hate to make appointments or professional type calls!! I was upset for weeks over the call and what a waste of time!! :(( :-) I have many plants in pots that need to get into the ground. Some have been in pots 4 years! I will do one a day till they are done. Also fruit trees need feeding..again! If I just got these things done I would feel so less burdened. ..Then on to more put off things?? Thanks Brenda for the challenge. Sarah
Well I got a little ahead of you on this. thursday is my day off work, so when my husband was napping, I decided to reorganize my pantry. And I threw away some boxes of Jello that were dated 2012.
I just found your blog a couple days ago so I have started reading from the beginning. I recently had my job downsized so I am not working & am in the middle of filing for disability due to kidney failure & cardiac problems. We are down to one income with my son helping out since he still lives at home. I worry how we will make ends meet, just to pay basic rent, bills & buy groceries! Thank goodness we don't have any credit cards so no debt there, nor do we have a mortgage or car payments. But $$ is still extremely tight so I think your blog may help us. I love that you also include inspirational musings. I feel a need to get closer to God & to basically regroup & get my life & home in order! I look forward to reading all you've written & have saved your blog & recipe blog to my "Favorites" on my laptop!! Thank you for all your inspiration!!
Terrific challenge! The Mister and I were talking about this just this week. We have several projects that we thought were going to take AT LEAST five months (ha!). We had them all knocked out in an afternoon! Sometimes, the hardest thing about a job is Just Starting! Can't wait to see how everyone does with the challenge this week!
As stated by another commenter, the weeding. Ugh. How I detest weeding, but weeds are taking over the plot of bush beans. That is on my agenda. Then, since we are anticipating a hot week in Northern MN, organizing the basement, which is a cool area of the house. My pantry is down there, and that needs to be straightened. Thank you for the motivating challenge! Lynne in MN
Thank you for the challenge!!! Sometimes, that's the motivation I need. : )
I'm very near finishing a 14-week treatment plan (with a psychologist) for anxiety, since mine had become a serious problem for me and my family. I have learned that 1) avoidance of what makes one anxious actually increases anxiety in the long-term, 2) procrastination is a form of avoidance, since we only procrastinate doing what makes us distressed or anxious in some way, therefore 3) procrastination increases overall anxiety levels. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it, yet I never connected my lifelong procrastination habit with my lifelong battle with anxiety. Now I'm working -- as part of my "homework" for treatment -- on breaking the procrastination habit. It's not easy... And one of the things I've been putting off recently involves dental work, so I feel your pain --- literally! :-/
Hi Brenda I have 2 small projects and 1 large project. I have a linen closet outside the bathroom which needs organizing, and a kitchen drawer that needs some sorting. I do not have a garage but I do have a basement to organize.
This is a great challenge.
I have many little jobs to do that I have put off, plus a couple of bigger things I must attend to. Our family are a bunch of procrastinators, so I blame the genetics lol. Thank you for the reminder "to just do it" and then it is done. I do like to see things get crossed off my list.
xTania
well, I have the big part of the challenge done- my room and closet- it look horrid- worse than teenagers. My dh only asked could I help you - bless him but when he saw me tearing it apart, I think he thought it wasn't safe for him in there. Now I need to be putting together my cookbook pages. I have taken on a huge altering project for pay- due the 15th so cookbook on hold.
Your encouragement to break down a big project into smaller bites is just the reminder I needed this week. Thank you for the encouragement. It really is the only way to cope with those things that must be done. Duty and discipline were the subjects of Sunday School recently.
But it is also nice to keep my hand in the activities and projects that are creatively pursued. It is better to take a small bite of these creative projects, now and again, than none at all. Next to reading, I always have a list of these projects "waiting in the wings."
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