5 Ways to Procrastinate Better
Posted on January 20, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in InspirationSo far this year I’ve finished 3 quilts and another 3 quilt tops. How have I been so productive?
Well . . . it seems that all of them were simply a product of my innate ability to procrastinate. Three of them just needed quilting and binding, two of the tops just needed borders, and the third top just needed the blocks set together.
As My Cowboy tells me: “You put the PRO in procrastination!”
Which gave me a chuckle, and reminded me that I wrote this post many years ago, and it’s still SO me. So I thought I’d reshare it today. You can see if you recognize yourself as much as I do . . . Enjoy!
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There are lots of articles available on how to stop procrastinating and get more done. I think I’ve read them all. So far, they really haven’t worked on me.
Therefore, I thought this list might help those of you who might also be like me, and can’t seem to stop procrastinating, no matter how many suggestions you get to the contrary. When you find yourself up against an important deadline, and your mind (and your productivity) kicks into underdrive, use these suggestions to help you make the most of it. It’s OK . . . You can thank me later (’cause we both know you’ll just put it off) . . .
1 ) Start 4 new projects that have nothing whatsoever to do with any deadline at hand. The adrenaline rush you get and the euphoria you experience from all these new undertakings will keep you from that deadline for at least a full day. Then when it wears off, you can always use them later as busy work when trying to procrastinate on something else. Or you can make them appear really important when trying to get out of some other undesirable task, such as doing laundry or cooking dinner.
2 ) Take a nap. Tell yourself you’re just too exhausted to keep going for even another minute, and you’ll make it short, and when you wake up and get back at it, you’ll be ever so much more productive. No one does their best work while exhausted! Under no circumstances should you define “short” ahead of time.
3 ) Run errands. You know you can find something to do if you just head into town. Make up a fake grocery list if you have to. Call the neighbor and see if you can run her errands, too, while you’re at it. After all, she’s busy working in her garden, and it’s in your best interest for it to do well, because she knows you simply don’t have time for your own garden, so you’ll be getting some of those tomatoes when they’re ripe. Visit the quilt shop for supplies you’re in dire need of for this deadline and can’t do without. Take time to browse the gift shop next door, since you’re right there, and it’ll save you an extra trip into town later. Run into several friends, and chat them up — you’ve got time.
4 ) Eat. And not just some unhealthy grab-n-go snack. You need a good healthy filling lunch, and that takes time to prepare. Just like being tired, you can’t do your best work on an empty stomach, either. A nice salad with some grilled chicken on top and homemade dressing will go a long way toward helping you be more productive once you’ve eaten and then taken time to clean up all the mess afterward. At which point, you’ll probably need another nap before you can comfortably head back to the studio with a clear conscience. Go ahead . . . you’ll make up for it in increased productivity later.
5 ) Spend some extra time on the computer. Do you realize how many blogs there are out there that you really should be reading? What if you skip one and miss THE earth-shattering post that will change your life forever? What if you don’t read every single tweet from every single Twitter/X user that you follow? What if you miss some important Facebook updates or new Instagram photos? And email — oh, and Pinterest! And YouTube! The sheer amount of stress this FOMO can cause might seriously decrease your ability to work productively. You’ll be nervous and twitchy and distracted. I suggest just spending most of the day doing that important online reading, and then after your nap, you can set seriously to work with a renewed dedication, using that as your excuse to not cook dinner. Besides, you’ve already eaten, and you can’t afford another interruption . . .
. . . you have a deadline to meet!
Right on, I know some of those tips!
Hahahaha! Seems I’ve been busted! Oh dear! Yes why do we do these daft things but feel so much better when we get things done and ticked off the list! Or should I say lists? The dreaded youtube is the worst – so much news lately and then the gardening channels and the quilting channels and there’s an hour gone before you realise it! It is rather thrilling to rebel and get away from the laptop! Then keep away.
And there’s always that closet that suddenly needs cleaning!
What are you PRO-crastinating about today to prompt this blog post?! LOL.
Well that sums it up pretty well! I think I also qualify as a PRO. I’m a little off my game tho, I’ve finished 2 quilts so far and am working on laying out blocks from a leader-ender project to hopefully finish before the end of the month. I’ve been productive around the house decluttering my office and coat closet, taking care of a bunch of miscellaneous stuff on the car, medical appointments and going to water aerobics 3 times/week. VERY unusual for me! (I’m kinda missing those naps). I can only attribute to a deadline…😂😂😂. Going south to Arizona for the month of February and I won’t be able to take a machine with me.
So glad you are on a roll and completed 3 quilts! I guess you earned 1 of the above recommendations!! But it may slow down your PRO duction!
Yes, instead of doing the 2 X 14 inch coping strip to finish one section of my long time gone quilt. It dawned on me I might have small rulers to do a tri rex strip….that turned into 5 hours of going through each hook, ect on my peg board. Turns out I had so many “other” duplicate rulers! Who knew! More for the donation pile. Tomorrows a good day for a coping strip!! Start 4 new projects will never happen…I might collect them though!
I usually get productive on some project when I’m trying to avoid a certain (foundation or a paper pieced) quilt project. We all have ways to be a PRO😂✂️🪡🧵
Ha Ha Ha Ha
I think the real problem, my wonderful friend, is that you just start too many projects before finishing one! You must really enjoy the starting process. That doesn’t mean you are procrastinating it’s just how you work. I just look around my sewing room and decide what I want to do that day. C
Starting new projects has helped me organize… So now I am at the point, where I have so many projects going that I have refrained from starting anything new for several months! I just pick up one of those projects when the mood hits me–keeping a record of what I work on each month. So far this month I have worked on 12 different projects, finished one of those and am close to finishing another! I ask myself, why am I drawn to lengthy projects that use one inch, one and a half inch, two inch squares–they take so long to make… But I enjoy workin on that kind of thing. Take care and have a good week.
Yes, yes, yes. I’ve always been a procrastinator!! Back when I was in college, my boyfriend, later to become husband, and I were taking the same class. The first day of class he mapped out all the assignments and started making progress on each one. His paper was written and tweaked several times before I even started. I wanted to be more like him, but over 45 years later, it still hasn’t happened. I claim I work well under pressure, but it certainly can take it’s toll!! Maybe, someday, I’ll grow up and not wait until the last minute. It’s certainly a goal, but not a resolution!