Somebody Should Do Something—How About You?

by Jan

As you sit here reading this article, there's bound to be something else that you should be doing. It's hanging over your head, causing that crease in your brow, or maybe more aptly put, it's the monkey on your back. Sure, you deserve time to relax and entertain yourself, but can you ever really relax when the Thing That Should Be Done isn't?

Maybe it's your thesis, a letter, or another writing assignment. Writers are some of the best (worst?) procrastinators I know--myself included. Maybe it's housework, or bill paying, or updating your resume. Maybe it's something bigger like getting into shape, or eating better, or finding a new job. Whatever your specific Thing is, the syndrome is the same. It lurks on the edges of your conscience at all times. In the midst of a good laugh, a good read, or even a romantic encounter, it pops up and ruins things.

There are two common methods for avoiding our Things: inaction and evasive action. If you opt for inaction, it sure looks like you're dealing with your Thing--at least from the outside. You don't go out because you have to deal with It. Errands go un-done, regular life just about ceases as you focus all your energy on your Thing. Except you're not focusing all of your energy on doing your Thing, you're focusing all of your energy on the fact that you should be doing your Thing. You don't do much of anything, really, except maybe numbing out with heavy doses of bad television or whatever your personal drug of choice is.

On the other hand, if you opt for evasive action, you're a whirlwind of activity. Sorting through that closet you haven't touched in seven years is suddenly your cause célèbre. Your house is spotless (provided housekeeping isn't your Thing), your bills paid, and errands run. But you're really just running from your Thing; keeping It at bay by throwing yourself into all of these other activities.

Why? Why do we let these Things run us ragged? In the end, you're going to have to write that essay, clean the whole house, and get yourself out of your dead end job, no matter how long you put it off. We know that these Things need to get done, so what keeps us from rolling up our sleeves and doing them? Is it a fear of failure? On the one hand, we're afraid that getting that Thing done won't have the results we dream of, so why even bother? Or is it a fear of success? On the other hand, we worry that completing that task will bring us success that only puts further pressure on us to go on and tackle other Things. Perhaps it's different for everyone…or maybe some of us are frozen in a weird balance between the two.

Remaining stuck seems a whole lot less scary. That's why we put stumbling blocks in our way. We decide that we need to lose twenty pounds before we join the gym because only slim people exercise there. Or we claim that our writing is better when we're under pressure so that any failure can be excused with "Oh it would have been much better if I'd had the time." There's always some all-too-convenient excuse for not getting that Thing done.

So what's the solution? Remember that song from the Christmas special: "Put one foot in front of the other and soon you'll be walking out that door?" Or that old saw "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?" Well they weren't just talking about walking! The journey to a clean house begins with one swipe of the feather duster. A 5-page essay begins with a single word. In order to get something done, you need to get started. Yeah, I know that sounds really easy, but it's still hard to get started. You need something that will get you off and running--but what?

Schedule your Thing

When you spend the day avoiding It or obsessing over doing It, you're wasting a whole lot of time. If you schedule an hour to devote to working at your Thing, it's going to get done a lot quicker than if you spend 24 hours not doing It. So make a plan, first thing in the morning. If you're writing a paper, tell yourself, "From 6:00 to 7:00, I will work on my paper." Are you already breathing a sigh of relief? Making that commitment real by assigning a time to work on your Thing can really take a lot of weight off of your shoulders. And don't fool yourself into thinking that an hour, a half hour, or even 15 minutes is too little time to spend. If you spend just 10 minutes on your Thing, that's more work done than if you never picked up the pen, walked around the block, or washed a sink full of dishes. Scheduling in time each day for working on your Thing can really help you to get it finished.

Reward yourself

Make a commitment to giving yourself little treats at milestones along the way to completing your Thing. If you're working on getting the house organized, treat yourself to dinner out once you've sorted out the kitchen cupboards. When you finally weed through your over-stuffed closet and haul all of your castoffs to Goodwill, promise yourself that you'll buy that new sweater you've had an eye on. Giving yourself a little carrot at the end of a stick to work toward will help you to complete your Thing--just be sure to actually give yourself the reward once you've reached that milestone!

Stop being so hard on yourself

You can really work yourself into a rut by beating up on yourself for not finishing your Thing. When you start to go off on yourself for being lazy or not trying hard enough, nip that negative thought in the bud. Instead, do something nice for yourself like making a cup of tea or taking a bubble bath. When you're struggling with a big project, it's important to remember to treat yourself kindly. You deserve a little encouragement, and who knows how to encourage you better than you? Try to tame that negative voice and replace it with a positive voice that cheers you on to the finish line.

Don't expect to do it all at once

You don't have to do the whole Thing at once. Just sit down and write for half an hour. Or go out and go for a walk, if an exercise routine is your Thing. Cook a healthy meal instead of sending out for pizza, write a list of your job skills, do the dishes. There! You're started--that's the hard part. Now you just need to keep working. You don't have to do the whole Thing in one sitting; you just need to stay at It until It's done. Now get out there and do your Thing!

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