Sunday, March 27, 2011

Do you procrastinate?


I am my own worse enemy when it comes to procrastinating.
I have so many projects I want to get done, in fact so many I don't actually know what I should start first!

I having sewing projects to start and some that need finishing. 
I have some wool which seriously needs knitting into something creative I can wear to work. (I have already designed the pattern)
I have swap projects that are sitting on my desk and wave at me each time I pop into the room.
I have new ideas I want to try out and old ideas I want to re-jig!

I have decided I am the world's best procrastinator.
(If anyone knows of any competitions running, let me know, I would win hands down.) 

Yesterday, being Saturday, I decided to get the housework done. 
I started with the vacuuming, in the kitchen, which led to...
cutting some roses for a vase to place on the kitchen table, which led to...
cutting back some of the overgrown shrubs in the garden, which led to...
washing the few dishes on the end of the bench, which led to...
clearing things of the benches and washing them all, which led to...
making a cup of tea, which led to...
grabbing my book and finishing the last few pages while I drank my tea, which led to...
finishing washing the dishes(!!) which led to...
making some banana and white chocolate muffins from the browning bananas in the fruit bowl, which led to...
vacuuming the lounge, which led to....
phoning my mum and dad to see how they were, which led to...
Dennis finishing the dishes for me, which led to...
more rounds of tea, which led to...
sitting in my sewing room looking at everything waiting to be completed, which led to...
making some space on my desk so I can actually work on it, which led to...
picking things up off the floor in my sewing room, (so I could vacuum it!), which led to...
finishing the vacuuming!

Of course by this time it's almost time to get dinner on and it had taken me an incredible 7 hours to get the vacuuming finished and I don't even have a big house!

I need to get into my sewing room.

But I thought I'd ask you - do you procrastinate?
Carole :)

26 comments:

Mrs A. said...

My! As I read this I thought this could be me. In fact it is me. How did you find me. Lol. I have an incredible list of 18 projects to either start, make or finish made up of swaps, challenges and commissions. I have 3 which need to be finished this weekend. one is made and sent this morning. Phew. (That was a swap). One is a doll (a commission) half stuffed at the moment with no clothes yet.
The last I havn't started (another swap). Well I have started in my head. Crumbs the clocks go forward tonight so I loose an hour which I so desperately need. Yep I most certainly procrastinate. Help!!!

Iz said...

"OMG" as they say, this is ME. I have so many projects on the go I can't even remember what they are. I have lists, and books of lists, but because my books are never where I need them when I want to jot down yet another idea, I have to have several books. So I lose track. A lot. Every day. Or I keep track, but can't decide what to do because nothing from my lists appeals. And so it goes on...

Joe Madl said...

oh dear! yes! i find myself doing just that... my venture yesterday was not unlike yours, except i used the excuse of buying new antique furniture and then needing to place it...vacuum...dust...move bits around....store other items...reoganize the storage shed so i can find things i never use a little better...make a few phone calls...play with the saint bernard...play with the cat so he won't be jealous...vacuum crumbs from the critters...doing some laundry...fixing supper...eventually coming back to the project i originally had wanted to start stitching on in the first place, but finding it too late, and me too tired, so when to bed! ha!

Doreen G said...

Do I procrastinate?--is the Pope Catholic?---yes and yes.
My problem is I start something and then find I need another thing and while searching for said thing I find a pile of "stuff" that I had forgotten about so I put that on the table to finish and then I find something I was looking for several week earlier--that goes on the table as well.
I eventually end up with a pile of "stuff" on the table-under which is the original piece that I was working on which I can no longer find---you get the picture?

Jan Quigley said...

Me too, hands waving in the air. I've lost track of the number of projects I have on the go. In fact I should be working on a particular project right now but it's so nice to sit with a cup of tea & browse my fave blogs. :-) I find my procrastination often stems from 'having to make a decision' on the project I'm working on. So rather than bite the bullet & make the decision I start tidying or vacuuming or blog surfing...... I made a gift for a friend's birthday last week & still just have to post it, but of course I'm waiting for a sunny day to photograph it first. & so it goes on. I'd love to change, I've tried to change, but I think I simply have the procrastination gene & I have to accept it.

Christine said...

Of course I procastinate. In fact I thought you had been looking over my shoulder and writing about ME!!! I do believe that when one "retires" from the paid work force it is all part of the interesting life that one leads!!! "Variety is the spice of life" and my life just gets "spicier"!!!!!!!

Nicky said...

Oh gosh Carole, I thought you were talking about me! The joke is always about men not being able to multitask but honestly I think women are just as bad. I can think about a lot of things at the same time, but as for actually doing them, I flit from here to there and back again. My motto is "Never do today what one can reasonably put off until tomorrow"!

Dogwood said...

I hate to tell you this but no I do not procrastinate. I am very task oriented. I plow ahead and stay on task. Maybe it is from my background which was in accounting.

Anyway, it does sound like you got lots done.

Dogwood

Ali Honey said...

You did far more than the vacuuming thought didn't you? You just did it in small manageable junks. Don't be so hard on yourself. You actually got lots done.

By Hoki Quilts said...

Hey sweetie when it comes to procrastination I have my 'Masters'.
My intentions are always good, in fact often they are quite honourable but I know as soon as the notion is formed that it's not going to happen - well not right away anyway.
Take now for an example - I'm supposed to be typing up a post, ho hum, here I am responding to yours instead,.
Chin up honey tomorrow is always another day ; ))
hugs, Miche'le

Linda Jo said...

Finish my house! First!!!

Unknown said...

I don't think I'm going blind but the print on your blog page is really hard to read??? Is it just my pc or is it a light font Carole. I can't read it bt I loved the pic.

Unknown said...

Oh and the answer would by YES! I would win the Olympics at procrastinating..

Kiwifruit-Shiree said...

oh Carole, we are all the same!!

Charlotte Scott said...

I'm joining the procrastinating club too! But actually, I'm getting slightly better. I'm trying to follow FLYlady a bit (google her if you don't know who I'm talking about) and setting the timer for 15 minutes at a time to focus on ONE thing. But here I am commenting on your post when really I should be doinga million other things. Do as I say not as I do!

Debbi Baker said...

Hmmm I think I prefer to think of it as getting distracted! But it all sounds horribly (beautifully?) familar!! Thanks for the laugh (and all your commenting pals too!)

Aussie Jo said...

That is me exactly, but you need to throw in stopping to read all the lovely blogs while eating breakfast!!

Mariul said...

Procrastination is my second name!

Marlynn said...

Rolling on the Floor Laughing, yes I do! I really do procras - all the time. Your account of your day - mirrors mine most of the day. I wanted to create yesterday, but oh no, I did everything but that! hugs

Nancy said...

Well, it looks as if you have summed up so many of us, Carole! Me included. I get very scattered as you describe. The good news- eventually my projects get move along to the next stage, and most get completed even. But there's angst in the meantime! It can look overwhelming and I give myself a hard time over it occasionally. But I'm making peace with my "style".

Leone said...

I feel so much better after reading this and everyone's comments - I am not alone!!!

Tatkis said...

But still you did so many useful things :) that I'm proud of you!
Sometimes you just jumping from one necessary deal to other :)

Best wishes,
Tatyana

Suztats said...

I'll have to get back to you on that......my project swap piece needs some work, I must wash the linen from our guests, I need to vacuum the sun roon, but first I should clean the windows , but that'll have to wait until I get back from walking the dog, but before I go, I need to get the bird seed for the bird feeder, and since I have to go downstairs for that I might as well feed the woodstove....ummm, what was your question again?

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Didn't you know? Procrastinate is my middle name! Actually I even procrastinated with commenting on your post. Yes, I have it bad!!

ShabbyChicShaz said...

You crack me up, so funny, but so true of me as well. Been trying to break the habit but .... :)

Cynthia Schelzig said...

I don´t think it is procrastination as much as it is prioritizing,,,for me anyway. I have way too many interests and ideas and would have to live atleast 400 years,,,,know any vampires?,,,,to accomplish the half of them...so yes, I recognize myself in what you write here and if I just had a cleaning person, a cook, a personal secretary, a butler and a personal trainer,,,well maybe then I could get some artwork created,,,but oh no then I would not have any excuses would I:) Right now I am reading day old postings on your blog when I should be painting...no I don´t procratinate do I????