Is there something you HAVE to do but don’t WANT to do? Or is that just me?
For instance, right now, I don’t WANT to go do the dishes. So I’m sitting here on the couch with James as he flips between WWE and American Pickers/Pawn Stars, catching up on my blog reading and drafting this post.
I also have laundry to switch out. I need to take my medicine and a shower.
Well that doesn’t sound so bad.
But I’m warm and cozy.
Back to what I don’t want to do. I hem and haw. I procrastinate. I plan. I do a lot of things to detract from the chore I should just get out of the way but don’t.
I’m a recovering procrastinator. And my new mantra to help me along the way:
15 Minutes
I know I’ve mentioned FlyLady before, and she’s turned me onto the idea that I can accomplish a lot if I would just commit myself to 15 minutes – just 15 Minutes of whatever I’m avoiding and then I’m free to choose to stop or keep going. How liberating!
The 15 Minute Magic has taken over at my house. Not only am I using it, but I’m using it on the children too. Jumpshot has reading goals at school, and he’s always resisted reading. So to get him to complete his books, I set a timer for 15 minutes, and at the top of every hour, he has to read for 15 minutes. He’s always amazed how quickly it goes by and how much he’s read.
I use it to gather the kids for quick cleaning sessions. Even James used it a couple days ago. It’s catching on like wildfire.
So my plan is to trade in my Queen of Procrastination crown for a Queen of 15 Minutes crown. I never thought I’d see the day.
Give it a try and see what you can accomplish in 15 Minutes. Celebrate your successes below!
Hmmm – what a great idea for all the crap you don’t want to do… OK – I’ll try
I LOVE it and just might have to steal it!!! My problem isn’t so much the procrastination as it is wanting to do it ALL at once. I don’t like to start a project unless I can finish it (just another of my OCD tendancies). I need to retrain my brain to see that it’s okay to leave things unfinished. If I would use your 15 minute rule I could get a lot more done. I’m going to try, try, try. Of course, there are no guarantees