What Can You Not Do in Eleven Days?

Jan. 09 – after a successful night of writing, I indulge in one of my favorite pastimes – sleeping in! After a slow start, I spend the afternoon furiously cleaning before having friends over. I barely have time to shower, let alone blog!

Jan. 10 – I sleep in again (isn’t that what weekends are for?) and then spend more time cleaning after finally taking down the Christmas tree and decorations. As a reward for all the effort, I give myself the evening off to relax before going back to work.

Jan. 11 – Monday morning arrives all too soon and before long I’m smack in the middle of another crazy day at the office. But no matter how involved I am in a task, in the back of my mind I’m stressing about the blog. So even though it’s late by the time I get home from yoga class, I tell myself it’s now or never and pull out the laptop. With the blog already set up, it takes me no time at all to log in and upload my first post.

So with thirty minutes to spare before midnight, my blog is up for all to see! And I am PROUD of myself, which feels really good. Far better than the guilt and stress I usually live with.

But it’s also accompanied by nagging thoughts on whether I can keep up the momentum, or if I’ll fall back into my normal pattern of procrastination…

What Can You Not Do in Eleven Days?

I have a confession to make. My intention was to start this blog on January 1^st, as sort of a catalyst for how I want this year to go. Instead (ironically) my first post went up on January 11^th…eleven days after my deadline.

Below is a look inside the life of a procrastinator:

Dec. 31 – I declare to the world that I will start a blog.

Jan. 01 – I put off starting the blog for one short, quick day because I’m out of town for New Year’s. That’s a legitimate excuse right…?

Jan. 02 – I arrive home ready to get writing but instead spend the rest of the day comforting my sister after her break-up.

Jan. 03 – more comforting.

Jan. 04 – I give myself the night off after a long day back at work.

Jan. 05 – I give myself the night off again after another busy day at work and spend the evening with my sister.

Jan. 06 – umm, more of the above.

Jan. 07 – sigh, ditto.

Jan. 08 – so it’s now Friday and the only thing I feel like doing after work is a whole lot of nothing. Instead, I force myself to turn on my laptop and FINALLY start the blog. And it feels amazing to start writing, which (of course) makes me mad at myself for putting this moment off for a whole week. Then my momentary high is hit with a blow after I can’t get the blogspot address that I want. PANIC ENSUES! Thankfully my boyfriend is there to talk me down and help come up with the perfect solution. Afterwards, I head to bed, exhausted after my mini-breakdown...

…stay tuned for the exciting conclusion!