Do You Ever Procrastinate? Procasta................bake, shower?

Ever procrastinate and find endless other things to do rather than do what you know would be the best thing to do?  That was me last Saturday. I was needing to follow through on a commitment to make some videos for my free 'Peace of Happiness' course.  I know in my heart that is what I want to be doing, but somehow I was finding all sorts of things to do and excuses to avoid doing it.  I did what I call 'procasta....baking' for hours producing lots of jars of sauce, bread, soup, and cakes.  Which is great, I love to bake and it is fantastic to enjoy doing it and sharing it too!  But in this case it didn't feel good as I knew I was trying to avoid doing what I said I would do.  

On Saturday I was definitely using baking as a distraction from what I needed to do - the videos.  Part of it was fear too, I wanted to get it perfect and was waiting for the right time to do it.  The fear excuses came up "my hair is not how I want it, it's a dull day, I don't feel bright and focused, etc.".  I know that it is impossible to get things perfect and was reminded of a saying 'Don't let your want for perfection become procrastination'! So no excuses, all anyone can ever do is their best; but they need to start and be willing to make mistakes.  Often it is the starting that is the problem.  I have found it useful to tell myself I will do it for 10 minutes and then I can leave it.  More often that not, I do the 10 minutes and am so involved I end up doing much more and I often finish it! Doing this really helps me get over the hump of avoiding getting started.  

So maybe time to get over my fear, which is all about me, and get on to do what needs to be done - the videos!
I checked in with my intention in doing the 'Peace of Happiness' course and the videos..  It was to share what has been useful to me in becoming happier and more confident, with others who want to know what I know.   Still I was having problems. I went into the laundry to do some 'proocasta...removal of sticky labels from jars' and fortunately saw the Dalai Lamas wise words on the wall.  

We are visitors on this planet,
we are here for 90 or 100 years at the very most.
During that period 
We must try to do something 
good, something useful
with our lives
If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will 
find the true goal 
the true meaning of life  
His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama

So I got started and did my best to make the videos - they are far from perfect, have many mistakes and umms, but I did my best to stop procrastinating and got on to do what needed to be done to keep my commitment to share with others what has been beneficial to me.  And it feels great!! Stopping my procrasta...baking  and following through on my commitment made me feel very happy.   

Do you have a 'procasta.......activity'?  A friend of mine's son has very long procasta...showers to avoid starting his homework.  Again there is nothing wrong with a nice long hot shower especially in this cold weather.  However, it can be helpful just to check in to ask yourself and ask, if you are using this activity to procrastinate and distract yourself from something you know you have committed to and are avoiding doing.  Remember it always feels great to do what you say you are going to do :)
Maree 
​xx