“Just For Now”: Putting Things Off
3
Comments
Do you ever find yourself saying “I’ll put this here just for now“? Is there a better way to handle those little things?
There’s the paper: sorting the mail, the kids daycamp schedules and the random pieces of paper that come home in the handbag or briefcase: there’s so much paper around! Then there’s the tasks and projects that can be done well enough for the short term (it seems). It’s easy when I’m in a hurry to just set things down “just for now”. Of course, “now” is open for interpretation and many times “just for now” turns into more than a day. Paper accumulates, tasks go undone and things aren’t where they should be. Can you relate?
When I asked my son to clean up his legos the other day, he was putting some of his creations on a living room table. (I’ve asked him to take them and put them on the shelving we purchased to display his masterpieces.) As I watched him do this, I asked him about it. Can you guess what he said? “I’m putting it here just for now, Mom.” A few days later, the brick creations were still on the table. *sigh*
So, why do we not take the time to make a small decision or accomplish a task like putting away the mail? Here’s a few tips to curb the accumulation of the “just for nows” in your life and home office:
- Wait until you can properly take the time to do the task at hand. For example, if you take the time to get the mail, also take 1-2 minutes to sort it and give it a home. Better to leave it in the mailbox until there is time to properly deal with it later in the day.
- What decision am I delaying? Sometimes a “just for now” is putting off a decision you are dreading. Have some courage and make that small decision instead of procrastinating. It will free up some “head space” to do other things.
- How much time will it really take? Does it really take long to put something away? Try this: next time you feel the urge to do a “just for now”, time yourself and discover how long it actually takes to accomplish that task. If it’s 2 minutes or less it’s probably not worth putting off “just for now”.
Are you putting something off “just for now”?
(photo by Mike9Alive on flickr.com)
FREE 21-Page Internet Business Idea Guide
Enter your name and email below and we’ll send you our unique 21-page guide chock full of Internet business ideas – for free! Your information will be kept private, of course.
Boy, do I know that one! I’ve begun decluttering the house a couple of weeks ago – even took a week off to get started, but there are so many things in that place of ‘just for now’ that it’s hard to know where to start! So far I’ve managed my bedroom and the ensuite, and started on the kitchen but still have many more rooms to go. Bit by bit I guess I’ll get there – if I don’t give up!
Kathie Thomass last blog post..Frozen Over
Brandie I try not to delude myself so I don’t usually say ‘just for now’. I know full well the item will lay there for weeks or months until my next de-cluttering mood. LOL!
Kellys last blog post..Work at Home with Direct Sales on the Internet
Even though I know full well that most of my clutter represents delayed decision-making, it’s so hard for me to break that habit!
My blog is about my journey to declutter and create order (physical and mental), and creating the habit of making timely decisions about “stuff” is a major step in that journey!
Ann at One Bag Nations last blog post..My Rocks are in a Row