“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”
-Bertrand Russell
Ahh, procrastination. It gets such a bad rep.
And yet, I don’t associate that word with negativity.
When I think of procrastination, I think of me doing whatever I please at whatever pace I please, wherever I please… and you get the point.
Sounds like fun to me.
At least until I get myself into trouble for that thing I should have done but, didn’t.
But, all that aside, still overall a good time, right?
Anyways, my questions for you is…
What are you DOING while you procrastinate?
Because according to Jessica Hische…
“The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.”
Notice she says, the WORK. So, I guess facebooking and watching reality TV doesn’t count.
She also says, PROBABLY. So, maybe what you do while you procrastinate is sheer nonsense or maybe it’s an indicator. An indicator of something worth exploring.
How I’ve been procrastinating
I have a habit of tweaking my website(s) way too much.
If you’ve been following me from the beginning, you may have noticed that I’ve changed my header 85 times. (OK, not that many)
I also enjoy browsing website themes and adjusting them to death, and trying to figure out all that fun code stuff.
I’m not very good at any of this “work” that I do while I procrastinate, but I could do it ALL day and not realize how much time I wasted.
If I could afford to buy some graphic design software, I would… and I would easily waste ridiculous amounts of time playing with it.
In the end, I realize I should be writing and not messing so much with the look of my blog.
I realize I should be painting and not messing so much with the look of my online store.
But, I’m very visual and I notice little things that other people… apparently don’t.
So, I get anxious thinking about ways to make things more aesthetically pleasing. And if I don’t know how to do it, I’m anxious to learn how.
And I don’t know how quite often.
So, I research, and look for tutorials and YouTube videos and how-to articles.
By this point, many more hours utilized procrastinating have passed.
But, is there some hidden value there?
Is this the type of procrastination that is considered an indicator?
For me, it indicates, that I won’t rest until I learn what I want to learn about website development and graphic design. For me, it indicates that I found myself yet ANOTHER creative outlet.
And it’s worth exploring.
Do I go to school? Do I head to the library and splurge on some software?
I’m not sure.
But, I do know that I’m turning my time wasted into an investment.
Could you do the same?
What are you working on while you procrastinate?
Let me know in the comments….
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Thanks for reading!
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Enjoyed that! So glad you shared it, thanks :)
Thought this might add some flair to the topic :)
http://paulgraham.com/procrastination.html
While I start at procrastination it leads to productivity. I have to “warm up” to get where I need to be. Once I’m started, I’m on a creative thinking, writing, sketching roll!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Ah, I know that feeling – “warming up”. We get our hand in something, it might seem like procrastination, but it leads to bigger things.
Denise – the title alone had me scared! i think us creative types should give procrastination a new name. something like Research & Development. yeah, that’s a good one. i’m a firm believer in trying things out. that’s the only way you’ll ever know if you REALLY enjoy the thing that’s sucking up all of your time. if you decide to take your procrastination-turned-graphic-design-venture a step further, i’d love to help support the cause!
Ha, research & development – nice!
and thanks for the support! :)
Hi,
Thanks for the post.
I can relate with what you are saying. It’s the same case with me, when i start to sit down and start to type, i have to Google for ‘writing tips’, or browse the top books on writing, and buy them, and don’t even bother to read it all. Then, i start to write, which is always painful. But i am getting used to it now.
Then, i hit the a new blog, which has a new design, and layout which i want to incorporate in my blog as well. The whole day goes like this.
But, one this is opposite with me here. Since I was from the graphic and web development field, i knew all about those things, and writing is something new for me. So all day long, i spend most of the time browsing sites like yours! and get inspired.
I guess, i did a good thing. I think i am balancing myself.
Anyway, i love your header in the pink color, and the text that reads ‘Nurturing Creativity’. You know what, i like okay design, as opposed to a design that looks like a corporate website. Yours, Jeff’s, and Ivan Campuzano have simple design, but they keep lot of readers coming back, because they have content you don’t want to miss.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for feedback! If you’re referring to Jeff Goins, I agree – simple design focused on content, and yes – not so corporate looking!
I’ll check out Ivan’s site and read through it – looks interesting, and I love recommendations, so thanks!
Appreciate your comment :)
I love offering clarity and fresh perspectives, and taking procrastination out of it (cuz to me there’s simply things we’re called to do at certain times, or not).
There’s a big difference between:
“I’m Denise, and I have high visual standards, and I very passionately want my stuff to look right, but see the only (limited) option as me doing it yourself?”
and
“I’m Denise, I see myself going to my grave with web and graphic design under my belt, it’s totally me, it’s totally key, and I’ve secretly loved it forever — that’s it — I’m doing it.”
Thawtz?
*myself :)
I hear ya. Good points. I’m Denise #2 in your illustration. All the time I spend figuring things out, I enjoy. I find it interesting, challenging, fun, and yeah.. “it’s totally me” :)
Awesome, awesome. As long as you’re clear on what suits you and what you truly desire :)
In that case, let me help by offering this:
http://wplift.com/20-really-handy-tutorials-to-help-you-build-wordpress-themes
Thanks – Will check that out!
I added another comment, commending you, it seems to have been eaten or spammed or something so…
Mad respect, superstar, keep doin’ you :D
First, let me say, I have been a world class procrastinator in my life. So I know that from which I speak.
That said, I’m not sure if what you are doing is procrastination. I think procrastination, in my mind anyway, is avoidance of “the work” that we know we should be doing. Is that what you are doing? Or is all of the research and the tweaking of the blog a part of “the work?”
I guess in the end it all comes down to our motivation, and why it is we are doing whatever it is that we are doing. Are we avoiding “the work,” or contributing to “the work?” And don’t we always know the difference?
Good points, Rich. And I think you’re right. Deep inside we know what’s up.
Outsiders might view what I’m doing as procrastination or perfectionism, but truth is… I really just love to learn. And I know what I like. If I spend so much time doing something and I enjoy it, there’s a reason for it and I try not to ignore it.
Great points, Rich!
Denise and Rich, you have me thinking. Thank you!
Keep writing and sharing my friends.
:)
Maya
Thanks, Maya; same to you :)