I’ve been putting off writing this blog entry for 2 days now. It’s not that I’ve dreaded writing, I’ve just had other things to do (who doesn’t, right?). In some ways, I’ve let the urgent trump the important.
Procrastination. We all know it’s bad, but just how bad? Well, it can be quite devastating to us – we may jeopardize our health if we routinely put off doctors’ visits; we may end up penniless in our golden years if we delay saving for retirement; we may harm our personal relationships if we fail to follow through on our promises. On a macro level, some sources estimate that procrastination can cost the US economy upwards of $70 Billion per year (Source: The Observer News & Media). Billion with a “B” – yes, you read that right. And, at 1/10th the amount of Congress’ proposed bailout plan, that could go a long way in improving consumer confidence.
Top 10 things people procrastinate:
1. Exercising
2. Cleaning out house/closets
3. Losing weight
4. Household cleaning
5. Preparing a will or estate planning
6. Keeping up with reading related to work
7. Writing letters (personal correspondence; not work related)
8. Investing/saving for the future
9. Making home repairs (or arranging for someone else to do them)
10. Getting organized (in general)
(Source: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Overcoming Procrastination)
There is actually a Procrastinators’ Club of America (PCA) founded in 1956 but don’t get excited just yet – getting in touch with them may prove a little difficult: they haven’t yet gotten around to creating a website.
One of my very best friends – I’ll call her “Christin” – and I were discussing the topic of procrastination this morning. She had, at that time, over 216 unread emails in her inbox. Naturally, I felt compelled to send her another:
The population of this country is 300 million.
160 million are retired.
That leaves 140 million to do the work.
There are 85 million in school.
Which leaves 55 million to do the work.
Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal government.
Leaving 15 million to do the work.
2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Osama Bin-Laden.
Which leaves 12.2 million to do the work.
Take from that total the 10.8 million people who work for state and city governments.
That leaves 1.4 million to do the work.
At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals.
Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.
That leaves just two people to do the work.
You and me.
And there you are,
at your computer,
reading jokes.
Nice. Real nice.
I hope that everyone is having a productive & procrastination-free day!
-April L. Mollerberg
This is so true. The only thing I would have to add . . . no matter what you think, you never grow out of procrastination.