There’s always tomorrow – except when there’s not.
Why do we constantly put off things that we know we should do? What does it take to motivate ourselves to follow through on these activities?
One big part of the answer is identifying activities that we tend to procrastinate on.
When we acknowledge what it is we tend to procrastinate on the most, we better prepare ourselves to overcome that procrastination in the future. Here are some of the most common things we tend to procrastinate on. How many of these apply to you?
You may procrastinate on…
- 1. Going to the doctor for a check-up.
2. Calling your family and friends to see how they are doing.
3. Paying your monthly bills now so you don’t have to worry about them later.
4. Updating your resume and searching for a job.
5. Answering your e-mails.
6. Starting that hobby you always wanted to try.
7. Cutting out junk food we know is bad but continue eating anyway.
8. Leaving for work or school on time.
9. Doing your homework now so you can relax later.
10. Asking that guy/girl out on a date.
11. Cleaning up the house.
12. Donating to that charity you always wanted to.
13. Planning a vacation to a new country.
14. Finally going to the gym and working out.
15. Getting car maintenance done.
16. Reading that book your friend recommended you last year.
17. Telling someone a secret you’ve been hiding from them.
18. Going back to college.
19. Apologizing to someone after you’ve hurt them.
20. Telling someone you love them.
21. Creating something artistic and sharing it with others.
22. Waiting for that “perfect” moment to start your own business.
23. Doing laundry.
24. Cleaning the dishes.
25. Spending more time with your kids.
26. Starting to take small steps toward the life of your dreams.
27. Going to a concert or sporting event.
28. Learning how to speak a foreign language.
29. Taking a week off from work.
30. Running in a marathon.
31. Writing that book you always wanted to write.
32. Volunteering at a local community center.
33 Selling old stuff around the house you don’t use anymore.
34. Letting go of a mistake you made a long time ago.
35. Asking for something because you’re afraid the answer will be no.
36. Studying for an exam.
37. Getting to bed at a reasonable hour.
38. Having children.
39. Helping a friend with something they asked you to help them with.
40. Quitting smoking.
41. Getting married.
42. Shopping for groceries.
43. Putting out the garbage.
44. Buying new clothes.
45. Getting a place of your own.
46. Saving for retirement.
47. Breaking off from a relationship you know isn’t going to work.
48. Trying new recipes.
49. Getting a haircut
50. Doing something just for the fun of it.
Did I miss anything? What are some things you often find yourself procrastinating on?
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I'm doing number 9 right now!
Some of the things I procrastinate on: quitting smoking, doctor check-ups, and running a marathon.
Wow, these are so true. I can't believe I've been procrastinating with so many things, when you pass on something it seems like its nothing but it piles up!
"Going to the doctor for a check-up." — is my enemy number one !
And that's right, before you can do anything about anything u have to become aware of it first – then kill it or substitute with something better I'd say…
Thx, Denny
My recent post Meditation
I went through all of these and found 8 of them that I like to procrastinate. Cutting out junk food we know is bad but continue eating anyway, Answering your e-mails, Getting to bed at a reasonable hour,Telling someone you love them, Asking that guy/girl out on a date, Waiting for that “perfect” moment to start your own business, Doing your homework now so you can relax later,and Studying for an exam.
My recent post Florida Gated Community
i procrastinate on calming my mind to go to bed. i keep thinking, it's ok, another 5 minutes on the computer. before i know it. i'm in bed, but my head is still racing thoughts around and i can't fall asleep. last night it took me until 3am!
Noch Noch
For too long I’ve sat idly by while the good name of procrastination is dragged through the muck. For the sake of getting things done we’re advised to banish, kill, and avoid procrastination without any acknowledgment of the good it’s done.
We owe procrastination. Big time. It’s responsible for our best ideas and busiest hours. Used effectively, procrastination is a powerful motivator and source of inspiration.
Productive procrastination falls into two categories, structured and unstructured. With structured procrastination (via pmarca, via via 43F) you use the desire to avoid an important task as motivation to crank out dozens others. Anything to postpone what you really need to do, right?
Whenever I need to avoid something important, I turn to a few tasks that rarely get the attention they deserve.