Planning can wait, action cannot

I’m not just a procrastinator, I’m a horrendous procrastinator. Frankly, the only redeeming quality that has come of my procrastination is my recognition of it. I’m constantly working to break myself of this productivity-killing snake. I think I’m getting better, but I’m not quite there yet.

My chief problem is that I regard the moment “now” as something best used by planning the work I’ll do in the future. (Instead of getting started!)

After spending a bunch of time planning, I feel like I’ve done some good work and it’s time for a break. Bit by bit the days are wasted away and I only do 1/10th of what I am capable of doing. All this planning and not much work being done. Fun.

The “now” is best used by taking action. Start the work and do the planning as you go along. Spending time planning can inhibit the whole project, but getting started almost never hurts.

When I get started, I learn about the things I need to plan for. I leave the theoretical world and enter the real world. I start pedaling the bike and I can then begin steering.

The biggest change for me has been to take each moment “now” as an opportunity “to do” instead of “to plan.” Planning can wait, action cannot.