Getting By

We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously at times. There is always something pressing on our minds, and we seem to lack the time to stop and enjoy the surroundings. Done, done, on to the next one. It doesn’t seem to matter so much about the challenges, but more about the outcomes. We focus on getting by, really. Herein lies the problem with this perspective: the ‘Getting By’ method loves procrastination. It feeds on it. You hear the voice calling your name, and you can’t fight it.

Productive = Procrastination

The reality is that you probably can’t convince yourself you are being productive when you actually are – too worried about the outcome of the particular project or deadline. So this means that anytime you are convinced that you’re being productive, you are actually procrastinating. This is the proverbial BS detector. You can’t elude it.

If you’re cleaning the house, for example, you are most likely procrastinating something you loathe more than *ahem* cleaning. You might stop for a glass of water and realize you were just ironing your dress clothes in case you get invited to a wedding or something. Or when you sit down to watch a movie, you might want to take the apron off and keep in mind that the cookies will burn if you leave them too long at 375. Oh yeah, I forgot to call professor Chang about that extension.

I get my best work done when there is something more significant to procrastinate over. I accomplish things really. I have written songs instead of university papers. I’ve gone grocery shopping and cooked a weeks worth of food instead of studying for that mid-term. I’ve posted a blog instead of writing a song. You get the idea.

I have figured it out, however, and I hope you can too:

Am I procrastinating? Yep!