Productive Procrastination?

When you read “productive procrastination” what did you think? Ridiculous? Fair.

I’m writing about this concept (I thought I invented it until I Googled it…) for a good reason. I’m trying to ‘positively reframe’ procrastination. And I’m doing so…why? Well, since the new year I’ve been doing a lot of procrastinating. And distracting myself. They’re cousins. And I want to understand what's going on and make something positive out of it if I can.

Is it possible that I'm on my way to productivity as I meander? Maybe. I tell myself I need a new computer (really?)…and that process takes a bunch of hours with all the driving to the store and back and migrating data. What a great distraction from finishing the amazing book “The Journey of the Heroic Parent,” (more on that soon) as well as planning and strategizing for the year that’s 1/24th over already. Ugh.

I tell myself that I just haven’t kick started into FULL MODE yet, if that’s a thing. I’m happily working and feel fully present when I’m with my clients, but something is nagging at me. Oh goodness, is it the SHOULD MONSTER!? Yes! He, she, or it is whispering repetitive notions in my ear such as, “you should be doing more right now”, or “Why haven’t you _______ (fill in the blank) yet?”

I do my best to walk my talk. So today (or tomorrow, shoot, the sun just set!) I will do my best to quiet the SHOULD MONSTER’S annoying demands. Honestly, the best I can do today and tomorrow and the next day is to be kind to myself and do my best to grow and learn as I stumble imperfectly through this life. Simple, not easy.
 

And I’m going to give myself permission to accept that sometimes I’m simply not productive. And other times when I try to push it, like with New Year’s resolutions, for example, it doesn’t work. And other times, I’m hit with inspiration on a random Wednesday at 5pm. Cool.

One more thing that’s sort of related: a dear friend shared with me that her New Year’s INTENTION, is, "to be kind and forgiving to myself.” I like i!. How about you?