I was going to stop procrastinating years ago, but I put that off for a while.  Now, for real, I’m stopping today.

I’m a list person.  Brent used to tease me about my extensive “to do” lists and about writing things down that were already done just so that I could cross them off.  I crave the sense of accomplishment that comes from running my pen through something I’ve written down on a list!!  But today as I’m sitting at my desk, I realize that I have a main list and embedded in that list is a reference to another list which goes into more detail.  On that detailed list is a reference to yet another list with even further detail.  And, yes, from these three lists is born yet another “Daily List” which I work from each day.  I have a disease.  I probably need extensive counseling.  Or just window cleaner.

See, I keep my lists on the computer because re-writing them every week once some things get scratched off is such a nuisance, but several things transfer from list to list for long periods of time.  This morning I noticed something that has been on my list for about 10 years.  No I’m not kidding.  Years ago, we had some work done on our house because of a leak near a window.  The workers who came taped off the window to do the repair and left a tape residue on my window.  Soon after, I wrote on my list that I needed to clean off the residue.  (Don’t laugh at me!) I think I procrastinated doing it because Brent’s job included getting scratches out of windows.  I would hear him talk about how sometimes cleaners would scratch the windows with razor blades and mess them up.  So, in my mind…Brent should have gotten the residue off of the window so that I didn’t damage it.  (That was excuse #1).  Then, it got to the point that we just kept the blinds closed and so I didn’t notice it.  (Excuse #2).  Then I couldn’t find a razor blade nearby…and the garage was so messy that I didn’t want to go search for one – even though I cleaned the garage out months ago.  (Excuse #3).  And really, who knows how long it will take now that the tape has been stuck there for so many years.  It probably won’t even come off and I’ll have to block out an hour of time to work on it so I can do it carefully and who has an hour to clean a window?? (Excuse #4).

I meet with clients all the time who put things off and I coach them through it.  “What’s stopping you?” “What are you waiting for?” “When will it ever be the perfect time?” I’m a great coach for OTHER people!!  So this morning, I found a razor blade and some window cleaner and I set to work on my window.  Three minutes and 42 seconds later I was finished.  TEN YEARS I WAITED TO DO SOMETHING THAT TOOK ME LESS THAN FOUR MINUTES TO DO!!  I’m confident I spent more time transferring that item from list to list, highlighting it and pondering the details and methods of getting it done.  What a waste!

There will always be excuses for NOT doing something!  Those are easy to come up with.  Just find one good reason to DO what is on your “list” right now.  The perfect time will not just present itself.  It is something that you create.  What are you putting off?  An apology you need to make.  A friend you need to reach out to.  A trip you need to plan.  A window that needs cleaned…  Stop putting it off.  Nike was right…Just do it.  I anticipate my list getting much shorter and much less complicated from now on.  “Write blog post” – check!