December 2007 Anticrastination Tip Sheet

What's the opposite of Procrastination?
THE ANTICRASTINATION TIP SHEET
An Idea and Tip Sheet to Blast Away the
Procrastination Habit
From Rita Emmett
Author of THE PROCRASTINATOR'S HANDBOOK, and
THE CLUTTER-BUSTING HANDBOOK

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December Quote

There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to
accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.
---- G. K. Chesterton

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Message From Rita
 
Top Ten Things People Put Off At Holiday Time

  1. Dragging out all the holiday decorations
  2. Buying gifts for everyone
  3. De-cluttering the house
  4. Mailing out cards
  5. Putting up of the holiday decorations
  6. Cleaning the house
  7. Wrapping holiday gifts
  8. Baking holiday goodies
  9. Getting in the holiday spirit
  10. Taking down holiday decorations

If you are caught up in putting off any of the above (or anything else you can procrastinate about) here are a few simple steps to help you through. (So that you don't feel like "I have a million things to do, I can't do it all and I don't know where to start.")

  1. Write down EVERYTHING you need to do. Notice that it might be a LOT, but it's not a million.
  2. Now study your list.
  3. Eliminate whatever you can. Can you omit some of the baking? Maybe all of it? Can you suggest a grab bag instead of giving gifts to everyone?
  4. Delegate whatever you can. Can a few people pitch in and bring food for your party? Can you sign the cards, but let somebody else put on stamps and return labels? Can anybody join you and help with decorating? (In return, maybe you can offer to help them with theirs)
  5. Simplify whatever you can. You don't HAVE to put up every single decoration you own ... just because you bought it for 70% off after the holidays in years past.
  6. Get rid of whatever you can. Do you have some decorations that year after year you never use? Donate them to the Salvation Army and let someone else enjoy them.
  7. Share work in any way you can. Wrap gifts with a friend or group instead of each of you wrapping all alone at home. Or maybe you bake a big bunch of one thing and a friend bakes a big bunch of another thing, and you each take half.
  8. Read The Procrastinator's Handbook and/or The Clutter-Busting Handbook. Both are quick, fun, easy reads, and take less than 4 hours to finish. They will help you feel on top of things and even enjoy the holidays. For more info: http://www.ritaemmett.com/books.htm
  9. Remember that gifts are a token of your love. The cost of the gift is not a measure of your love. The number of gifts you give is not a measure of your self-worth.
  10. Think of one way you can set aside time to ENJOY the holidays. Getting with a friend or special time alone reading something inspirational or driving around looking a decorations or walking outside in the dark. (Yes, I live in the Chicago area. No, I'm not afraid to walk in the dark --- I stay in well-lit places, stay alert to what is around me, and bring along my son --- who is a fine Irish cop.)

To our friends all over the world, Bruce and I, and our Dream Team of Mickey, Cheryl, and Brian extend to you and your loved ones our best wishes for a

Vrolijke Kersttmis

Joyeux Noel

Froeliche Wihnachten

Kinga Shinnen

Ichok Yilara

Chrustovjna

Glaedelig Jul

Felice Pascuas

Boldog Karacsonyi Unnepeket

Sarbatori Felicite

Tin Hao Nian

Felice Natale

Glad Julen

Boas Festas

Wesloych Swiat

Veselele Vanoche

Sretan Bozic

Merry Christmas

& a Joyful, Peaceful, Loving, Healthy, Prosperous New Year!

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