The Top 3 Excuses and Solutions for Procrastination

I’ll just write this post a little later… WAIT! I’m just kidding. But it sounds familiar doesn’t it? It certainly does in my world.

For years and years I put everything off until the absolute possible last minute. And if I’m being honest, often times much too late. Costing me countless problems like late fees and arguments with friends and family. Eventually it caught up with me because my children learned this same bad habit.

Time to turn the tables! Here are 3 of the top 3 excuses that procrastinators often use and immediate ways to combat them.

“I’m too tired.”

First of all, are you? Honestly? Are you tired or are you bored? Ask yourself that every time you use this excuse. If you truly are tired then this isn’t an excuse, it is a legit reason! But no worries – I have the solution. If it is just boredom though, then you are using this as an excuse and the only true way to fix that is simple. Just stop. Seriously. If you are bored and just don’t want to do whatever it is you are putting off then you should take a page from the old Nike slogan and just do it!

If you are truly sleepy, then here are a couple of solutions:

• Take a power nap! They are the best! It is amazing what 20 minutes of snoozing can do to revive your energy!
• Drink a big glass of water! Something about the cool water moving through you jolts your system with a little restart.
• If you don’t have a full face of makeup, you can splash a little cool water on your face. I just run my hands under the cool water and then rub them on my face. Works like magic! *Admittedly I only do this one first thing in the morning. Once my makeup goes on this one is off the table. 😉
• And finally, the most important, try and get on some sort of regular sleep schedule. When your body gets the right amount of rest you’ll wake up feeling ready to go. But for many, this just isn’t an option. So you need to find your magic number. How many hours of sleep does your body need to get its full charge? It is not the same for everyone. I don’t care what Dr. So-in-so says. In my 20’s my magic number was 3! I’m still not sure how I did that. But my magic number is currently 6. I need 6 hours of sleep a night. Too little and I’m doomed to a couple of cat naps during the day. Too much and I’m groggy and lethargic all day. But 6 hours and I’m good to go! And no matter what time you actually go to sleep if you try and sleep the same number of hours each day your body usually takes the hint and will let you know if that number of hours works for you.

The next excuse procrastinators use all the time is,

“I have plenty of time.”

My answer? Plenty of time for what? We only have so much time. I’m sure you’ve heard “Why put off today what I can do tomorrow?”, but again I argue, “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

For example, you decide to wait to pay your electric bill because you get paid one more time before it is due. Why? Why not just pay it now? It’s one thing if you need to use money you have now for other bills or an emergency. But if you are waiting to pay the bill until the last minute simply because it isn’t due until then, you are opening the door to a ton of bad juju. If at that last minute you aren’t able to pay the bill because of an actual emergency, then you have to worry about late fees, disconnections (this means no electricity – no cable – no charging your cell phone), reconnection fees, etc. Not to mention the embarrassment you have to face if your friends find out your electricity got shut off. Just pay it!

So whether it is a utility bill, a school assignment, your expense reimbursement form, or washing the dishes. As much as you don’t want to take the time to do it right now, just imagine the peace you’ll have when you don’t have to worry about getting it done at the last minute.

I like to use the “cooking dinner” example. When I cook dinner, I wash every dish I use during the process as soon as I am through using it. Or I’ll put it in the sink until I’m at a waiting point in the recipe and wash the ones I’ve used so far. Then when dinner is done, I can make my plate and eat and I don’t have to worry about a mountain-esque pile of dishes in my sink to wash after I’ve had dinner. I mean… what if I made smothered pork chops with mashed potatoes, corn, and steamed vegetables?! (I just made that last night in my Instant Pot so it’s still on my mind.) Who wants to stand up at the sink for 20 minutes after your belly is full of all that yummyness?!

The third most common reason:

“There is just so much do to…. ugh.”

I’ve used a lot of procrastination excuses in my time, but this one was my #1.

There is a solution! Easy Peasy!

First of all, it depends on what this thing is. If it is something that someone else can do or help with – LET THEM!! Delegate is NOT a dirty word.

For the first 6 months our resale shop was open, I did just about everything by myself. My husband helped with the super heavy lifting and some of the work with power tools when we were refurbishing furniture. But aside from his help I was pretty much a one man …eh, woman show. And it was catching up to me quick. There was just soooooooo much to do. Before long I was buried by odds and ends, antiques, collectibles, crafts, and TONS of office work to do. Not to mention keeping up with all of our online sales.

I had vendors and friends and family offer to help several times. It was easy to see I was taking on too much – to everyone but me. I just wanted to do it all. I wanted to make sure it was perfect. But guess what?! It can’t be perfect if it never gets done!!

One day a vendor (vendor then, friend now) walked in and we chatted for a while. She brought me lunch and I didn’t get a dang thing done all day. I left feeling a bit stressed that I hadn’t done anything all day. I ate dinner and got in bed and the second I was comfortable, I realized something. I was…. well, comfortable! Both literally and figuratively. Mind, body, and soul. I didn’t realize how much I needed that outlet. How much I needed that girl time. To just let loose and relax. I’d been so overwhelmed with everything I had to do and putting off 27 things so I could work on another – that I forgot about me!!

I know what you are thinking. This is supposed to be a post about not putting things off. I get it. Just hang on, you’ll see my point in a minute.

The next day she showed up again. This time no lunch, just came in and started chatting. The day before during our talks I had mentioned some of the ideas I was thinking about doing for the shop. One of them was to get my Christmas tree in the front window taken down (it was already the beginning of January) and set up the area for Valentine’s Day. This day she asked me if she could take my tree down for me. I was knee deep in end-of-month AND end-of-year reports and I couldn’t imagine that she couldn’t handle putting away a few ornaments and stuffing the tree back in the box. So I said sure.

For hours we worked together and chatted. By the end of the day my tree was down, ornaments were put away and much of my other Christmas decor was put away. And much nicer, nearer, and more organized than I would have “had the time” to do. I again went to bed that night feeling happily comfortable.

Every day for weeks she just came in and helped. The more she did the better I felt. It became very easy to let go of things. I found myself coming up with new and exciting, fun ideas because I wasn’t so bound by time anymore.

At first it was very hard to let her help because I wanted to do it all myself and I felt very bad about her “working” at my store and I just didn’t have the funds to have an employee. However, she was going through some personal things and being at the shop and doing things helped keep her mind off them and every now and then I would give her little trinkets we found on our sourcing trips for the shop. At first she wouldn’t accept them, but when I explained it was my little way of showing how much I appreciated her help, she finally accepted.

Had I never given in and let her take some of the small tasks off my plate – I would probably still have a Christmas Tree in my front window. And I would still feel very stressed and overwhelmed. It is ok to let someone take a little off your plate. As Elsa from Disney’s Frozen says, “Let it go, Let it go”. 😀

That first day I did procrastinate, but not intentionally. I was so relaxed I wasn’t thinking about the ridiculous task list I had going on in the back of my head. And when I finally let her help, we got so much more done that a weight was lifted off my shoulders that I didn’t even realize was weighing me down.

But I digress, sometimes you can’t share your workload. Sometimes you are the only one who can do it. So take baby steps.

One trick I use when I have a lot of tasks to do is the 5 minute rule. Now first let me say without my Apple Watch I would never have thought about this. But you don’t have to use an Apple Watch. You can use your phone or just keep an eye on the time.

The 5 minute rule is simple. I make a list of all the things I need to accomplish or work on. I number them in the order that I wrote them. Then I start a 5 minute timer and work on #1 on the list for 5 minutes. When my timer goes off, I stop. I check the list for #2 and reset the timer and work on the second thing on the list.

This is why I like to use my Apple Watch. It sends a little buzz to my arm when my time is up. You can just pick up a timer at your local dollar store. It’ll work just fine. I like this one too!

If I had 6 things to work on, on my list and spent 2 hours working on them, that is 20 minutes on each chore. It helps break up the monotony of just working on one thing for what feels like forever and when you are all done you have accomplished several small tasks instead of just one. Seeing the progress is what really motivates me!

I used this method as a teenager to clean my room. I would split my room into 6 sections and work around them. It worked like magic!

If you are working on a school project or something and you can’t split your project up in 6 parts, then work for 15 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. Play on your phone or read a book. But set a timer and when it goes off, your done son! Get back to work! When your 2 hours is up you’ll have worked an hour and a half on your project and destroyed 3 levels of candy crush!! #Sweet

So, first decide if your reason for putting something off is a true reason or an excuse. Don’t trick yourself into thinking that a reason and excuse are the same thing. There are things that sound like true reasons on the surface but are actually just excuses.

“I’m tired” – so take a cat nap.

“I have plenty of time” – Great! Use the time to get it done, then reward yourself!

“It’s too overwhelming” – get help or take baby steps. Remember the 5 minute rule yo!

No matter your reason there is a way to work around it. There is always a way around it. Ultimately, just do it!!!

Got tips for how you’ve overcome procrastination? Can’t decide if your reason is really an excuse for procrastinating? Comment below!

Much love,

The 27th Line

The 27th Line.

I have never read a blog post I identified with more.  This….this is the world I want to believe in.  This is the type of people I want to believe in.  I am literally at a loss for words on how to respond to this post… and those of you that know me, well you know that is a BIG deal.  Printing this out and giving it to my 14 year old (the Big Kid) and 12 year old (the Mini Me) in the morning and will be saving it for my 2 year old (Little Man) – just incase.

The 27th line indeed.

 

Story from the Tooth Fairy’s Point of View

In English class on day one, we were asked to write a short story about a memory we had.  It could be about anytime or anything.  The Professor just wanted to have a writing sample from each student on file.  I chose the memory from when I was 5 years old and lost my first tooth.

The second week of class, she asked us to write the story again, from the point of view of a different character in the story.  Because I deal with children so often, I wanted to make it kind of fun so I wrote my second paper from the point of view of the Tooth Fairy.  Let me know what you think.

My original paper titled, “Memory” (I know…that is super original – she made us do it.)

There are many things throughout childhood that make a mark on a person.  I can remember numerous things from my early years that have left memories that I think about all the time.  However, becoming a mother has made me recall things I haven’t thought about in years.  For instance, when my oldest son lost his first tooth, I added the “Tooth Fairy Hat” to my long growing list of mommy duties.  Unlike many first time parents that worry about what the going rate of a tooth is these days, I already had a plan.

When I was 5 years old, I lost my first tooth.  It had been loose for several days and I had wiggled it relentlessly, until it literally fell into my tiny little palm.  I was so excited!  That night I placed my tooth under my pillow and dreamt of what the Tooth Fairy might leave in exchange for my tiny pearl-like tooth.  This was my first – so I had no idea what to expect.

The second my eyes popped open that next morning, I threw my pillow off my bed and there it was.  A whole dollar bill!  I grabbed my prize and ran off to search for my mom.  I remember the strange look on her face as she suggested I go show my father what the Tooth Fairy left for me.  He seemed shocked as well and told me that the Tooth Fairy was selfish and must have been having a bad day to only leave me one single dollar.  He offered to trade me four shiny new quarters for that dollar, which I gladly accepted.

Years later, after learning the true story behind the Tooth Fairy, I overheard a conversation between my parents and some friends of theirs.  As it turns out, the “Tooth Fairy” had left me a brand spanking new ONE HUNDRED dollar bill for my first tiny tooth.  At 12 years old, I wasn’t sure if I should be angry or amused at the story.  However, on that day I vowed that my future children would never receive anything less than a nice, crisp five dollar bill for each and every tooth they lost.

I am a mom of 3 amazing children – ages 14, 12 and 2.  With each little tooth they have lost, they gain five dollars.  Even my older children that now understand that she is just a myth, still look forward to the last of their baby teeth coming out.  As my children grow and experience life, I look forward to more of my childhood memories resurfacing and using those memories to help my children make their own.

Here is my second paper titled, “Memory POV” (that one is all me…pretty creative, huh?!)

As the sun set that night, I began to get excited about the events that were about to unfold.  I remember the excitement was almost palpable.  It was silly, really, for me to get so enthusiastic about it since it was something that happened every day somewhere in the world.  However, I had been looking forward to that night for years.  The sun finally set and the moon majestically rose over the city, and I took flight toward the 2^nd story windows of apartment 32B on Dixon Avenue.

The glass was raised just an inch, enough to let the breeze of the night in.  I quietly slipped in the room and fluttered over to the bed.  There she laid, a sweet little red-headed child, no doubt dreaming of the treasure that would hopefully be waiting for her upon waking.  Ever so slowly, I waved my enchanted wand over her pillow.  Just as I suspected, they hadn’t remembered.  Regardless, I would not let this child grow to disbelieve as her parents did.  I quietly slipped her tooth in my pouch and replaced it with a prize so great it would surely bring a smile to her gentle face and just maybe a little belief back into the hearts of her parents.  I settled my tiny frame in the middle of the lovely pink flower on her pajamas, being careful to hide behind the petals.  I wanted a firsthand view of the morning to follow.  I gently stretched, sighed a silent little yawn and fell asleep.

I recall that morning in incredible detail, her waking, throwing the pillow off of her bed and then the giggles of delight as she found her reward.  I bounced all around that petite little flower as she ran in search of her parents, I must admit, I was giggling too.  It was almost time.

Her mother was washing dishes and I can still feel the smile that spread across my tiny fairy face as the look of confusion swept across her face.  She sent the child in search of her father.  He was working under the hood of their Classic Chevy outside and again, the feeling of victory filled my soul.  He too was confused.  As expected, he told the child that I was selfish and had only left her a single dollar and offered to trade her for four shiny quarters, to which she of course accepted.

The child skipped her way back into the house, with her father in tow.  She kept shouting, “The Tooth Fairy remembered me!  Can you believe it?”  It was time for the big pay-off.  Her parents looked at each other with confusion as she bounced around the room with her coins jingling in her petite palms.  Her father whispered, “Did you…?”  Her mother shook her head and whispered back, “No.  Didn’t you?”  He shook his head as well.  Together, they watched in awe at their very happy daughter, wondering if it was really possible.

Years later, I found out that the child overheard that the prize she found under her pillow that morning was a brand new 100 dollar bill and that her father had exchanged it for change for a dollar.  She was a little irritated but at the same time tickled that they had made such a mistake.  Nevertheless, she vowed that day that when she got the chance to play the Tooth Fairy, she would always give her children $5 for every tooth they lost – which means in turn they would always believe.  That is something her parents had long since forgotten how to do.  Keeping her promise to this very day, that little girl is a mom and instills the importance of believing in magic to each of her children, every single day.  Mission accomplished.

I’d love to know:

A.) What did you think?  Honestly – you can be brutal, I can take it!

B.) I’d really like to have a piece of artwork that matches my Tooth Fairy story (atleast from her POV) – anyone wanna be friendly?  If so you can mail it to POBox 121861, FW, TX 76121 and I would be ridiculously happy.

C.) Do you have a favorite childhood memory or perhaps a Tooth Fairy story of your own?  Please share!

Welcome to 2014 my friends! <3

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there~ 🙂

Yay!!! 2014 is here!!!!

I flippin LOVE New Years!!  It is an absolutely brand new start to everything for everyone!!  This is the day that you get to choose WHO you want to be – WHY you want to be that person – WHAT you need to do to get there – and HOW you can accomplish those steps. 

The really cool thing about that is that as you get older, the “WHO” you want to be changes.  Your “life idea” changes.  So now is the time to decide who you want to be this year!  I always like to take a look back at the past year and think about which things I would liked to have turned out differently. 

For instance – in 2013 – I was not near as successful in business as I would like to have been, I didn’t do as many crafts with my kids as I would like to have, I didn’t exercise near enough, I didn’t buy a new car and I certainly didn’t have near as many “ladies nights” as I should have.  There were other things I would like to have changed too, but those were my top 5!

The next step is to figure out WHY those things didn’t work out like I would have liked for them to and then make my New Years Resolutions based on those reasons.  And awaaaay we go…

Well duh…that is kind of a staple resolution… (although I am pretty awesome – so I’ll try super hard to top last year…and might I add that I am a little miffed that I couldn’t find this with red-headed little Lego people…..so maybe I’m not so awesome.  Challenge accepted!)

Ok…although it is a little cheesy – it really is all about that – BEING MORE AWESOME THAN YOU WERE LAST YEAR!  We just need to decide what that means…ya know?

In looking back…

Why was I not as successful in business as I would like to have been?  All in all I think it comes down to having too much on my plate, not prioritizing properly and unbelievably poor organizational and time management skills. 

First of all – staying up until 4 or 5 am and then squeezing in a couple hours of sleep before I start all over is NOT the answer.  Most days “a couple hours of sleep” turns into sleeping most of the productive hours of the day away and feeling very irritated with myself when I finally get up – so frustrated that I give up on the day and figure I’ll try again tomorrow. 

There are days that I actually accomplish the “couple hours” and get up and go again bright and early.  This is only making me unhealthy and literally taking precious years of my life away – not cool. 

If I really want to be successful this year – I need to have a sound business plan.  This means short and long term goals, ideas on how to accomplish them, prioritizing, organizing and scheduling EVERYTHING!! 

How am I going to do a 360?  Well, first my new bedtime is going to be midnight.  There will be a night or two that I need to stay up a little late to get things done, but I want to go to bed as close to midnight as possible.  In addition I have started using a new calendar system.  I’m going to blog about that later this week.  If organization, time management and prioritizing things are a problem for you and your family, you are going to LOVE it!!  I think by doing those 2 things everything else will fall into place.

Everything else on my “crappy things of 2013” list all make more sense now!  I didn’t get to do as many crafts with my kiddos because I couldn’t find time in my day to fit them in.  I was too busy playing catch up from sleeping in all day. 😦  I didn’t exercise as much as I wanted for the same exact reason.  My health should NEVER be put on the back burner – what was I thinking?!  I didnt’ get a new car because I wasn’t as successful in business as I should have been.  And I didn’t have enough ladies nights because I was too busy worrying about everything else to find time for me and my friends!!!  Ugh! NO MORE!!

…and welcome to the new (more awesome) ME!!

Cat’s New Years Resolutions

1.) Be more awesome than I was last year. (That always has to be #1)

2.) Go to bed as close to midnight as possible.

3.) Use my new calendar system to schedule everything!!  (I decided against putting potty breaks on there – because as a mom – we just squeeze that in when we can! 😉

4.) Putting money in my savings account.  I am going to try this nifty little plan ——————->, except (on the advice of a friend) I am going to go backwards so it gets easier throughout the year.

5.) ROCKING 2014!!  (these little things might help make this happen:

 

And that about sums it up.  I am so super excited about the possibilities that this year holds for me, for my family, and for YOU!!

I wish you all the absolute best in 2014.  What are your Resolutions?  Plans?  Goals?  Dreams?  Just remember…anything is possible if you only believe.  That is my new mantra – I plan to live the hell out of it. ❤

 

 

Your Dream is As Important As Curing Cancer. Yeah, I just said that.

Your Dream is As Important As Curing Cancer. Yeah, I just said that..

What is your Dream? What were you put here to do?  What is your big picture?  What is your Heart Work?

Share this:

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you’re going to mess up sometimes, it’s a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you’re going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends – they’ll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything – they’re your true best friends. Don’t let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they’ll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them – actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can’t give up because if you give up, you’ll never find your soulmate. You’ll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” ~Marilyn Monroe

#truestory