Love Letter to the Procrastinator

Get it done.

Whatever it is, do it. Stop making excuses, stop choosing the mundane over the important, and with all that’s within you, stop allowing constant distractions to waylay you from accomplishing your goals.

There’s nothing more disappointing than knowing you could be on a vastly more elevated plane when it comes to accomplishing your life goals, but only having yourself to blame for not getting there.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8

The aforementioned proverb really captures an important lesson you can learn from the ant - accountability to one’s own self. Knowing that tasks need to be completed in order for a full harvest at the appointed time, and ensuring they are done forth with, is at the forefront of climbing out of the pit that is procrastination.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:10-11

Laziness shall be the end of many a people. Let it not be so with you.

You have a dream, go for it. Write a list of big goals that will get you there. Break the list down into sub goals, and those further down into doable tasks. Each week, make up your mind to complete at least two tasks, subverting anything or anyone that rises as conflict - within reason, giving way to unavoidable emergencies.

Understand that when you make up your mind to get things done, there will always be distractions and unforeseeable occurrences that can and will influence you into some level of procrastination. However, you must suppress them, fight against them and overcome them. This may sound melodramatic, but it is truth. If you want to get anywhere in life, besides the same old constant plane you’ve occupied for the last five years, you must be willing to be selfish with your time, and at times, your resources. There really are only so many hours in the day, and only so many resources at your disposal.

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:22b-24

Paul the apostle speaks here of influencing to salvation those who were on a road of dysfunction. He states that he has become all things to all men. He had that calling. He was chosen for such a purpose. I mention these verses because he highlights the parable of a race for which there is a prize for only one winner. Think of your goals as the prize at the end of such a race. Your competitors are the distractions caused by others and events that lead to procrastination.

Now, get your head in the game, and run so that you get the prize.