About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Fun Monday - Procrastination Three Ways

Here we are. The third week in October and I'm still your host for Fun Monday. Your topic for the 18th:

We all do it. Procrastinate, that is. So for this week's assignment, please share your three favorite ways of procrastinating. And, if you've figured out exactly WHY you procrastinate, could you share the secret with the rest of us!

Right off the bat I'd say that procrastination is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes I delay finishing a task or making a decision because I need something more--more information, resources, or something else to fall into place first. In this state often I'm still percolating, weighing the pros and cons. Eventually, I just do it.

My three favorite ways of procrastinating are:

Listmaking -- for many years I've made lists--daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal. The lists are by categories. I have lists for every aspect of my life that needs attention. My priorities have stayed pretty much the same over the years: homekeeping, organization, health/wellness, finances, and creativity. This is a typical list for the season. You'll notice that everything doesn't get done on the list. Never mind, it just gets transferred to the new one.

Social Networking -- first there was only blogging and e-mail that I use to stay connected with old friends and make new ones from here in the U.S. and several other countries. Recently I've added Facebook, youTube, and the internet to my "outreach". I spend a lot of time daily in different forms of social networking. Sometimes I get on Facebook or blogs as a way of procrastinating. I still don't consider any of this a huge waste of time though. I meet new people, maintain old friendships, learn new things. All of this from my cozy home office. I would not feel nearly as happily retired with these networks.


Laziness -- this may seem odd, but I relish being able to be a sloth whenever the mood strikes. It's such a sense of freedom to get up in the morning and know that I don't have to do anything, even if it is on my list. I can just drift through the day doing exactly what pleases me. Saying "yes" to laziness is such a luxury because for as long as I can remember, especially in adulthood, I've had to keep to a schedule and complete tasks at work. I always felt like I moved from one big project to another until I retired. Very little room for procrastination.

So, there you have my three favorite ways of procrastinating. Here are the player for this week. Try to visit them over the next few days and find out their favorite ways of putting things off.

1. Sayre - Sayre Smiles
2. Lavon - Flowerschi's Blog
3. Cynical Girl - Cynical Girl
4. Peter - Holtie's House
5. Molly - Return of the White Robin
6. Ari_1965 - Prawn of Fate
7. Sandy - Myanderings
8. Jill Life is Not Bubble Wrapped

If your link didn't make it on the list, just add to signup and I'll update soon. Remember that Julie at Another Chance Ranch is hosting for November and Jill at Life is not Bubble Wrapped is doing the honors in December.

Topic for October 25 -- Let's celebrate Halloween and the pleasures of dressing up by sharing costumes. If you are going to a Halloween--or other costume--party who would you like to be? I hear Lady Gaga is the front runner this year. Now don't hesitate to play because you're not partying this year. IF you were going to dress up, who or what would it be? Come back on Thursday for the signup.

11 comments:

Sandy said...

I love your list, Faye. I think that lack of busyness is a good thing occasionally. I just need to learn to not overdo it quite so much....lol.

Living Life said...

Well, Faye. Once again, I procrastinated and didn't get to my Fun Monday post! hee hee. I will definitely participate next week, though!

Your ways of procrastination are much like mine. I am a list maker too. I make a new list every week and some of the items from the previous week are transferred to the current week and so on.... the lists keep going on and on and on and on....

See you next week!

Sayre said...

I make lists too, but rarely as a form of procrastination - usually for organization when I'm feeling overwhelmed by the number of things I need to accomplish. I have a feeling this week will be a week of lists!

Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of being lazy yet. Maybe one day when my child is grown, the house magically cleans itself and I don't have to work for a living... As it is now though, almost every waking moment is engaged in some productive endeavor. Must learn to relax!!!

Jan n Jer said...

That darn Cl beat me to it again and took the words right out of my mouth...I plead lazy procrastination for not playing FM this week...will be back next week! thanks Faye!

ari_1965 said...

I like lists, too. I also sometimes do a fantasy calendar in Google where I plan out an adventure or a move or a whole different life. It's fun, sometimes to daydream with my fingertips.

Molly said...

Faye, I have always thought that making lists was a remedy to procrastination. You know setting priorities and deciding which task to start first. Now, I see clearly, if I am making a list, I am not doing the task. Maybe we retirees are not being lazy but simply enjoying a well-deserved rest after a lifetime of rest. :)

Peter said...

Another Olympic event that I would be good at is list making but I had never tied it in with procrastination before.... thank you!!!

Jill said...

I posted my procrastination post, late as usual! go figure most of it was written, I just had to touch it up this morning (Tues).. argh.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I love making lists too and notes on writing, thoughts, etc.

My other ways of procrastinating are lying in a bath and reading a book until I resemble something like a very large prune.

cynicalgirl said...

Stopped putting it off and just posted. :p

http://cynicalgirl57.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/fun-monday-er-tuesday-um-wednesday-putting-it-off/

Lane Mathias said...

I like to think of it as a pause for thought. Much better to procrastinate a while and then hit the tasks hard.

I love your summer list covering both practical and creative. My morning pages have elapsed so I'll add them to my next list:-)