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Welcome to the Determined to Dance podcast with your host, Jennifer Hallmark.
Today’s episode, “Busyness Vs. Procrastination” focuses on the reasons behind being overly busy and how it feeds the procrastinating lifestyle.
Are you ready? The world would have us march to its chaotic beat but God invites us to dance in His will and His way. Let’s take a moment to be energized, refreshed, and motivated to face the day, one spin and twirl at a time.
Show Notes: Busyness Vs. Procrastination
I’m busy.
You’re busy.
We are all busy. Not so much in 2020 but we’re in a new year, much of life is back to a resemblance of normal, and once again, I’m so busy.
I mean, look at my credentials: mom, Mamaw, cook, gardener, babysitter, taxi driver, bill payer, and church member. Add to that blogger, podcaster, writer, and we haven’t even covered my hobbies. How could I even think of procrastinating in my very full life?
Easy. Let’s go back a few days. I’m considering a major rework of my latest unpublished novel. That’ll mean a lot of mental effort and imagination. In the middle of summer. When I have more babysitting and a vegetable garden to pick, process, and put up.
So, what did I do when I awoke? I cleaned my canister set and the sugar bowl and the creamer pitcher. And then started reading. Once again, drawn away from the dance by doing something safe. Comfortable. Unnecessary.
Has this ever happened to you? There’s something you need to do but instead, you accomplish something that doesn’t matter and feel okay about it because you were, at least, busy.
Busy but not productive.
I’ve thought of four reasons why I’m often living at a hectic pace:
- I’m avoiding decisions I need to make or difficult tasks I should accomplish. Like when I clean or read or play Candy Crush instead of writing or working on a podcast episode.
- I struggle to say no. If I’m doing something for someone else, I don’t feel as guilty when I get behind in my writing or podcasting.
- I don’t have to think. When I’m super busy, I can ignore problems or issues.
- I plan poorly. Just the other day, I realized I had planned to help at Vacation Bible School, take my mom to the doctor, and work on my podcast on the same day. I didn’t write this down and my memory failed me.
When I finally crawl in bed after an overly busy, unproductive day, the guilt attacks. Shame raises its ugly head, and I beat myself up over another wasted day.
Why do I keep doing this and how can I change? I want to dance with God, not get the clean house of the year award.
If you look over my list, one thing is clear. I’m avoiding, putting things off. Mainly because they are difficult or painful. Why? I believe for me, and maybe for you too, that I haven’t made enough space in my life to breathe. Recover from the daily grind. Process life like I need to.
I need restoration.
Don’t get me wrong. I like writing and podcasting and enjoy my grandkids and the garden. But lately, it all tires me out. I’ve lost the ability to rest, recover, process, and be restored. I make my own schedule and I’m the only one who can change the place I’ve found myself in.
How? I feel the edge of a headache as I even think about thinking. Man, am I messed up?
I’ve started reading a book by John Eldredge, Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad. The title alone called to my tired, empty soul. I’ve started the first thing he talks about in the book called The One Minute Pause. Eldredge says, after one busy, crazy morning: “I finally do what I should have from the beginning—I pause, get quiet, settle down. I give myself permission to simply pause, a little breathing room to come back to myself and God.”
I must have more “pauses” in my life if I’m to dance with, and enjoy God and all the plans and purposes he has for me. Some ways come to mind that I’d like to share:
First, each time I feel stressed or rushed, I’ll stop for a moment. Get up and walk around. Cut off the noise. Hide in the bathroom. Whatever it takes to give all the insanity to God and ask Him to fill me afresh with His presence.
I forget sometimes but I’m getting better. I’ve also stopped multi-tasking, you know, the way you start five different tasks at one time and don’t finish any? One thing at a time from now on and even if I’m bored or whatever, go ahead and finish before starting something else.
Except for laundry. I always have laundry washing or drying. Or so it seems. 😊
I’m learning to say “no” more often and when I do say yes, add it to my trusty Google calendar. So, I’m not overloaded like the other day. I need to have some space to rest and recover.
And last but not least, I’m going to take time to think, ponder, daydream, and imagine. God gave us beautiful, awesomely complex minds and imaginations and he did it for our good. Not so we’d sit around and worry and fret but so we could enjoy God and our life.
To the full and running over.
I’ve started the above steps and though I’m still weary at times, I see the tiniest glimpse of hope once again, rising above the skyline like the first glimmer of sunlight right at dawn. I’m rearranging my schedule as much as I can and taking advantage of quiet moments. Not to hide and play it safe but to bring my moment to God, enjoy music, beauty, and be restored.
One fragment at a time. I’ll probably always have a tendency to overdo and then procrastinate but I believe God is teaching me something beautiful. And I’m willing to learn.
To change.
To find the strength to dance again.
Let’s pray:
Father God, we so want to live this life in the right way, a good way. But often we exchange intimacy with You for an overwhelming to-do list, one that is as revealing as a garment made of fig leaves. We repent of our hiding and ask you to cover us again with your love and mercy and grace. We want to live life fully and believe you will show us how. We give our busyness to you in exchange for peace. Thank you, Abba. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I’m so thankful that God is patient with me. With us. Next week, we’ll talk more about focus and priorities and how finding a planner or calendar that works for you will ease the busyness and our tendency to procrastinate.
Until then, stay determined to dance.
Links mentioned in this episode:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
Remember: Busyness Vs. Procrastination
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
