Lvl 111: Purposeful Procrastination vs. Impulsive Idleness

There's a difference and there's a fine line. Procrastination is purposeful. It's deliberately putting off something "until later". Impulsive Idleness is doing something unproductive without thinking about it, when you had planned to do something else. Look, no matter what, you're going to procrastinate something. I don't care if you're the most productive person on the planet (which if you are, I'm surprised you subscribed to this), but by doing one thing, you are, in turn, effectively putting off another. Your goal is to consciously take control of this process. You can't simultaneously do all the things you want to do, unless you have a Time Turner to go to multiple classes. By doing something right now this goddamn second, like reading this e-mail, you are procrastinating another thing 'til later (maybe you should get back to work). Focus on what you do without getting distracted, without rapidly changing your mind. If you wanna lay on the couch, do it. Don't bitch and moan about how you were "trying" to get work done but "wound up" watching Netflix all day instead. That's Impulsive Idleness. You have no control over your super powered laziness. You must control your laziness, not have it control you. Choose what you want to procrastinate and stick with it. It's not a matter of IF you are going to procrastinate. Rather, it's WHAT you are going to procrastinate on. Understanding this and making the conscious decision to put off certain things and focus on another is what separates the "crastinators" from the Pros. Sure, eventually you want to be able to make the "right" decision and well, actually do something productive. But right now, you gotta aim to be comfortable with the consequences of what you are currently procrastinating. Everything you procrastinate has a downside to it. Heck, if you "procrastinate" (put off) watching your favorite show 'til later and instead do work now, I mean you're missing out on finding out what happens or relieving stress or seeing your favorite actor on screen. Think about it. Every choice you make has a consequence. By saying "later" to one thing. You are saying "now" to another. Deliberately choose which benefits you're willing to take along with the consequences you're willing to face. It's not so much about avoiding the "lazy thing" as it is about avoiding regret. Regret only happens when you impulsively let your emotions run the show, and do opposite of what you decided to do, rather than sticking to the plan. You can easily find purpose in life by taking a look at what you procrastinate on and why. Take the purposeful action and put off another thing by listening to this episode! Read the full blog: http://www.procrastin8r.com/blog/impulse Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.procrastin8r.com/newsletter