Procrastination: The Nowhere Destination

Caroline Godin takes the time to think about how procrastination affects her work and life, loses herself, and then gets to the point.

Social media can be an evil in many ways. One subtle but profoundly effective way is through procrastination. I wear many hats as a self-employed writer. I lose myself too easily when I hop on a platform to update a client’s status or post a reel. I have to focus to do the task and get out before the tentacles of cute animal pictures or interesting headlines suck me in.

I lose quite a bit, but I’m getting better. Truth is, I’m a procrastinator. If there’s anything I can kill, it’s time. And spiders. I seem the be the only one brave enough in the house. Sorry, hubs.

It’s all not social media’s fault. It’s in my nature. I’m not talking about my ADHD either. It’s a human trait to get distracted and it’s possibly the devil’s favorite feature. We’re weak and vulnerable to—shiny!—I mean we’re weak and vulnerable to anything that grabs our attention.

It’s not always a terrible thing. Every parent knows the joys of distractibility in children when they get hurt or nearly see their surprise too soon. We love it then. But we have chores and assignments and things to do. We don’t love it then.

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Where was I? Oh, yes. Procrastination.

I’m very good at it. Everyone needs a talent, right?

We see it every day. Just try to get the kids out the door on time. It’s like herding cats at my house. I gather one up and another gets loose, drawn by the glimmer of a nearby toy. The teens are drawn by the glimmer of their phones. So much fun. (Full disclosure, hubs and I aren’t innocent here. I admit it.)

If procrastination can be a device of evil, then the Lord must have something to say of it.

The appetite of the sluggard craves but has nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is amply satisfied. Proverbs 13:4

This makes so much sense. We’re a bored society constantly hungering for entertainment, distraction, things to do. We were never so busy doing nothing as we are now. I have a living room and basement full of toys and they. are. always. bored. Parents, you feel me?

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If the sluggard has such an insatiable appetite but ends up with nothing—and truly, our idleness and distractions produce near nothing—then we must look toward diligence. But what does that mean for daily living? The Bible is wise for sure but how useful is it if we can’t apply it to our lives? Good thing we can.

Living with a head like mine is distracting enough, but I’ve adapted. I have a bag of tricks to keep me on track and remain—somewhat—diligent.

For me, this means daily lists, job lists, and chore lists. I have running grocery lists and errand lists. I keep a calendar, we keep a family calendar, and we have color-coded and shared Google calendars. It quite frankly looks like Skittles threw up on my phone. But I live by it, and it holds me together ... well, my schedule anyway.

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Where was I going with this—right, procrastination.

I have ways to keep myself on track. I derail plenty but I also have way to get back on track. I want to be the diligent servant for my Lord, I do. It’s not easy but thank God for His Grace. He’s always got my back.

The other day, I was praying a Rosary and forgot the next mystery. I happened to be in my boys’ room and my eyes fell on a foam hand holding a “number one” sign. I smiled and remembered the Lord’s Ascension. He talks to me like that sometimes.

As a part-time self-help writer, I leave my fellow procrastinators with this golden rule: Write a list of five things you’d like to do in a day (or weekend). Do three of them.

Why three? It’s hard enough for some of us and we need to allow ourselves the grace of not feeling pressured to complete a whole to-do list. Also, we need to feel like we accomplished something. Got more time? Do the other two. Don’t overthink it. The items can be small or partial tasks.

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