Friday, January 24, 2014

The problem with procrastination

This is the problem I have with procrastination; one day I will run out of tomorrows, but I don't know when. 

The important things have to be done today.

I'd better get going!


Thursday, January 23, 2014

Turning my dreaded tasks into habits

One of my new resolutions is to avoid BS whenever possible (for the sake of my more delicate readers let's say BS stands for bullshit ). Yet some of my dreaded tasks are necessary, beneficial, and often very hazardous to put off. So to get these things done, I try to turn it into a habit.

The advantage of turning a dreaded task into a habit is that I eliminate the psychological hurdles involved in beginning and completing the task. It has become something that I just do. I don't have to think about it anymore. It doesn't matter if it sucks, it gets done anyway. In fact, if I miss the habit due to unusual circumstances I may even feel bad.

Turning something into a habit is easy. Do it today. Do it the next day. And the next until you are no longer forcing yourself to do it. You are just doing it. A habit.

Here's a list of some habits I've created or are in the process of creating. Yes, some are easy and obvious. Then again maybe they all should be.

Floss every night - used to be more sporadic. Now, every night.
Wash face in morning and before bed - still working on it.
Clean litterbox everyday - still working on it. The penalties are an incentive to do better!
Morning exercises - 5x/ week
Trash day once a week
Pay bills one day a month
Eat plain oatmeal - 5x / week
Wash all dishes before bedtime - almost all the time
Everyday creativity - still in process!