Procrastination Challenge

Webster defines procrastination as “putting off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.”

The famous personal-improvement author Napoleon Hill says: “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.”

All I know is: I’m an expert at it, and I don’t even try!

I joke to my family that our Italian last name, when literally translated, must surely mean “cheese-loving procrastinator”. I know the problem is genetic. I know I get it from my father. I am also painfully aware that I have passed it on to my youngest daughter, poor thing.

In order to cure myself, I have to resort to game-like activities to keep me interested and on track. Maybe I have a combination of procrastination disease and ADD — oh, no! Is there any hope?!?

Just in case there really is hope, I’m embarking on another effort to cure myself, and I’ve decided to issue a challenge — yes, in the form of a game — both to myself, and to any of you who need a kickstart and would like to join me:

I’ve written down the names of 3 UFOs that I’ve been procrastinating on on little slips of paper, and I’m going to put them into a bowl and draw one out. Starting Monday, August 17, I’m going to devote 30 minutes at a time at least 4 times a week to working on the project whose name I drew out. 

Every time I work on it for 30 minutes, I’m putting $1 in an envelope and storing it with the project. When the project is done, the envelope should have several dollars in it, and I will then allow myself to use the money to buy whatever I want: more fabric, a new tool or gadget, a book I’ve had my eye on, some more quilting patterns, thread, notions, anything my little heart desires.

Edward Young says: “Procrastination is the thief of time . . . “

I don’t know about you all, but I need all the time I can get, and I’m ready for procrastination to stop stealing it from me. 

So if you’d like to join me in beating procrastination and finish some of your own UFOs, leave me a comment, and list your 3 UFOs. On Monday, I’ll post which UFO I drew out to work on, and maybe I’ll even have a picture of it in its current condition so I can compare when I’m finished. You can link or comment back and do the same. Each week, I’ll post an update, possibly with pictures, and you can all link/comment and state your progress as well.

When I’m done, I’ll post a picture, and tell you how much money it got me, and what I have decided to spend the money on. You can all comment and show off your finished projects and we’ll see how much money you “earned” as well. It’s not a race or a competition, and if you work slow, then it just means your money pot will be larger the longer it takes you! I’m just hoping to make some steady forward progress on some things that have been UFOs for way too long.

Who’s with me?