This afternoon I hit the wall. The funny thing is that I really didn’t see it coming. I was actually pretty impressed with the quality and quantity of my output this week. I’d stayed focused and on task, keeping my tendency for distraction by pretty, shiny objects at bay. And then, bam!
I felt my energy starting to wain and thought that I might just need some more water and a snack. I came downstairs just to grab those things and return to the project I was working on. Tony was in the kitchen beginning to prepare dinner and made the innocuous comment, “I’m doing my part to clean out the fridge.” This brought me right back this past weekend when I mentioned that I needed to do a thorough cleaning of the fridge. And, with that, I was off!
Two hours later, every shelf had been removed, washed, dried and replaced. The interior had been scrubbed. The dates on each item assessed and expired items disposed of. Items were then organized as they went back into the fridge. I closed the refrigerator doors with a sense of satisfaction.
That break was just what I needed to be able to return to the project I was working on with fresh ideas and renewed energy. Once upon a time, I would have tried to power through that dip in energy, willing myself to hunker down and get it done. Typically, that resulted in it taking longer, feeling like I was slogging my way through it, and it wasn’t my best work.
Procrastination isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, I like the idea of purposeful procrastination. By purposeful procrastination, I mean intentionally taking a break and allowing myself to recharge. I’ve found that they best forms of purposeful procrastination are when I can completely switch what I’m doing. In other words, rather than shifting from drafting a presentation to writing a newsletter (both requiring sitting in front of the computer and engaging my brain), shifting to physical work (cleaning, organizing, etc.) that get me up from my desk and aren’t as mentally strenuous, allows my subconscious to work on the struggle I was having with the presentation. Inevitably, when I get back to my desk, I come up with a way to move forward with the work.
What’s your favorite form of purposeful procrastination?
