‘Procrastination is the thief of time.’ Edward Young, from his poem known as Night Thoughts.
Some people have procrastination down to an art form, for teenagers it is a speciality, a skill honed through years of ignoring parents and teachers. It is also, thankfully, a phase.
We all put off things we don’t want to do or cannot face. I’m an inveterate list maker, but then I found that the difficult items kept re-appearing on another list and they were frequently postponed or deferred. A new method had to be found. Now I tackle two difficult items first thing in the morning.
So, is procrastination the thief of time? And does it matter?
I think it is and it does. Life is short, and if you have a lot that you want achieve crack on, because there is so much outside our control which appears seemingly dedicated to stealing our time. Below are some of the blocks that can steal your time and some that don’t.
Writers Block.
Penelope Lively states that writers block occurs when the author doesn’t know where they are going, and I have found this to be true. Novels and short stories can become unruly, a writer can lose their way. Sometimes a deadline, self-imposed or external, gives the writer the kick they need to get back into the business of writing.
Self-selected Obstacles.
Where procrastination causes concern, it has become suppressing and when chronic is linked to depression. The individual is clogged by inertia and is so fearful of making a mistake they become trapped by the self-selected fences they have put up to guard against error.
Too Many Talents.
There are people who are simply multi-talented. They have at their disposal such a plethora of gifts and so many options that they simply do not know which to focus on. These individuals have low tolerance of boredom, often thrill seekers who happily move on, but they can spread themselves too thin and become scattered. They can become wealthy entrepreneurs or drifters who rarely settle.
Lying Fallow.
Then there are periods I call lying fallow, this is not necessarily an uncomfortable place to be. I don’t know why it happens, but I don’t create, instead I read, walk, sketch, watch and gather inspiration. Suddenly, I am ready to create again with a flood of ideas ready to harvest having taken the time to nourish myself.
Professional Development
I realised years ago that just because I didn’t work for a large company/organisation it shouldn’t preclude me from pursuing my own professional development and investing in myself by attending a workshop or course. As a teacher/mentor in the field of art and literature, I enjoy being taught, it’s such a treat and I know that it will kick start my own writing and banish any pesky procrastination. I come away from workshops buzzing with ideas and energy.
Turning the Page
Is our workshop that aimed at defeating procrastination, with the help of talented facilitators Marion Catlin, Sally Storr, I will be giving this one-day workshop in Norwich on Sept 16th. This workshop is for anyone interested in developing their practice, making professional progress or changing their field of employment and enterprise.
For queries and further booking information email me on [email protected] or call 01485 578153
RSS Feed