THE ANTICRASTINATION TIP SHEET
Rita Emmett
Author of The Procrastinator's Handbook,
The Clutter-Busting Handbook and
Manage Your Time to Reduce Your Stress: A Handbook for the
Overworked, Overscheduled, and Overwhelmed
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Quotes for June:
It's never too late for anything. Just start.
Mike Dooley
Delay is the deadliest form of denial.
C Northcote Parkinson
"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away
from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
Benjamin Franklin
###################################################
Message from Rita
Feeling overwhelmed? Pick one thing. Just one. Set a timer for one
hour and dig in to it. Don't start anything else while the timer
is ticking. Then give yourself a reward when the timer dings.
Here's an email that made me smile. It's kind of long, but you are
bound to relate to something in it. The beauty is her closing paragraph
where she describes how it feels to tackle the clutter she's been
putting off for months. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did (and
yes, I did get her permission to use this)
Dear Rita,
I bought your
Procrastinator's Handbook & started it, but shortly
after that my dear Momma died. Hardest thing in my life to ever
deal with, and I've been through a lot. But I'm coming back around.
I read your book and got to work.
I'd misplaced a receipt for a TV I bought in February for the switch
over to HD. (Seems I can't get access in my area without paying
for service and I refuse to do that so I want to take the TV back.)
Trouble was my bad habits and procrastination had me facing a car
that literally looked like a dumpster. And my house was no better.
I had moved last July and only unpacked what I'd needed, which meant
that some boxes were partially empty, things were in piles or strewn
around the rooms, I live alone so laundry, books and projects were
everywhere.
My house was a shambles. I was so embarrassed I wouldn't let my
priest, who is my very bestest friend even come to my house. I'd
make some excuse to meet her somewhere else.
I had to have that receipt yesterday to return that TV. So I started
two week ago. Nothing like money to motivate me to get cracking!
Now my kitchen is totally put together and organized. There isn't
one thing in it that I don't need or want. My sister has finally
got the sentimental bug and agreed to take our mother's and grandmother's
dishes for her daughter (who is only 4). Let her store them, she
lives in a McMansion! No TV receipt though.
My car is totally cleaned out, including the trunk. I found a portion
of a gift I'd made for a friend two years ago; called her and told
her I could finally finish the project that she's been gracious
enough to hang on to for this long. Found the missing cord to my
laptop. My favorite dress shoes, which I thought I'd left in Chicago
last fall. A library book that UW-Madison (my employer) wanted to
charge me to replace - I'm a librarian and we are some of the worst
for overdue and lost books! And $91 in cash in a winter jacket.
But no TV receipt. I also found that I have an over-the-back-of-the-seat
organizer for tissue, umbrella, paper, pens, map etc that I've begun
to use.
In my bedroom I piled all my books against one wall...3 piles times
5 feet tall. But I've read most of them. Have to make decisions
about what to get rid of. Been through all the drawers and the closet
and under the bed. Washed all the laundry and got rid of everything
that no longer fits - I lost a bunch of weight when Momma died.
For some reason I can't part with plastic hangers though. I found
paychecks to the tune of $232 I hadn't cashed from last summer.
You'd think I was Mrs. Got Rocks. All told I found $323. But I never
did find that TV receipt.
But you know, Rita, I have found something better. I have found
some peace of mind. I slept like a rock last night for the first
time in a long time. When I got up in the night for some water I
didn't have to worry about tripping over something. This morning
I wasn't stressed out wondering if I was forgetting something amongst
the messes around me.
My morning routine went smoother and I was peaceful when I left
the house. I commute from the Dells to work in Madison on the state
vanpool...6am to 6pm. Tonight I start working a summer job in the
Dells part-time also. Plus I still have my small publishing company.
There are only two reasons I can do this: what I'm learning & doing
based on your book; and grounding my life in my faith.
Thank you for your book. I wish you all the best.
Robin
P.S. Know anyone who wants to buy a 19" HDTV?!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Want to break the procrastination habit but been putting it off?
We have books, CDs, DVDs and an On-Line course at
www.RitaEmmett.com
Invest in yourself; invest in your future. Don't put it off:)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Please share this Tip Sheet with 2 or 3 friends who would be
interested. And feel free to use this message in your blog or newsletter,
as long as you include my bio and contact info:
