My opening comment was more weather related than inspirational, but Kat posting her early remarks makes it easy to see that the scope of these threads has expanded, and we have done some heavy lifting over the time they've been running. Very heavy lifting.

The book I've been reading, The Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done is still with me. I read a little each day. Yesterday I wrapped up the chapter on "shortcuts" to getting started, and they're basically statements that help you see what you're doing and address the problem. The stop running the little negative scripts and try to set your view so you're thinking positively about what you do accomplish while at the same time getting started on things that you don't enjoy because there will never be a "right time" to do them. There is just now.

"Recognize what you are doing. Admit to yourself that you are making excuses." That about sums it up! "Waiting another day will not make the task easier to do."

Another homily in that chapter is to "make an effort even if it is a small one." So today I finished pulling together the papers and files for the taxes, and I started filling out the 1040 tonight. I'm doing the higher math for the Schedule A stuff now; sometimes I save more than others when I itemize. It's more time consuming, and every year I think if I'd only put all of the medical receipts together during the year, that would have been great. I just got up and made such an envelope that will live in my receipt file for the year.

The next chapter has to do with anxiety, and I'm sure I'm not alone in recognizing that one form of procrastination stems from the desire to not disappoint others. Things like "I'm scared to find out . . . bad news, that I didn't succeed, that others are disappointed in me." She looks at this as a fear reaction, and asks things like "Thinking about the task makes you feel uncomfortable" and "You hesitate to get started for fear you'll mess it up." She sums up the lists by saying that

Your negative thoughts + Your emotional reaction -> Procrastination

That pretty well sums up why we put things off. I, at least. Not wanting to hurt others somehow, or worried about their reactions.

I'm headed to bed; I've done as much as I feel like this evening and my pit bull is practically begging me to go to bed so she can get her beauty sleep. The dogs are serious about sleeping at night, and they want me in my bed also. :) Tomorrow is another snow day so I can work on the taxes some more.

SRS