I realized this past weekend that I don’t have a priority list, I have a procrastination ladder. At the top is the one task that I dread doing the most. The number one reason that I put off a task is that I don’t know how to do the work. This uncertainty leads to anxiety about not doing a good job. In other words, I don’t want to make a mistake.
To combat this, I typically research the internet for “how to” information, as well as ask co-workers or friends for insight. This step does help build confidence, but it doesn’t always get me motivated to jump in and get to work. For this one particular task, which was a home improvement project mortaring in bricks for a fire pit and flower bed, I even wondered what it would take for me to get it started. I had already purchased all of the materials and done all of the pre-work. What else could I do to get myself ready?
Then it happened. I got another new task that was even more daunting! The home improvement project was no longer at the top of my procrastination list. I now had an even more dreadful task that jumped to the top. All of sudden, I found that I would rather try my hand with the masonry work, which I have no experience, than tackle this other new job.
The good news is that I finished the masonry work and it turned out just fine. It did take some practice and trial and error to get the right consistency of mortar, aligning and leveling the bricks and not getting excess mortar everywhere.
I now feel like I have some inertia going in the right direction and maybe that will help carry me into the next task. Plus, I found a post at this interesting site that provided a template to help work through procrastination. I plan to complete this template for my new daunting task.
Is Blogging Still a Thing?
5 years ago
So.......will you continue to leave us in suspense on what this new daunting task is? ;-)
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