by Olivia Cunning
I'm not procrastinating... I'm prioritizing.
Earlier this week, I meant to look up which day I was supposed to blog on the Casablanca Authors blogspot, but priorities happened and when I got the email notification on Wednesday that my turn to blog was on Friday, my priorities got rearranged a bit.
Right now, I need to feed my family. Left overs. I waited too long to cook dinner. I was prioritizing my blog tour posts for the weekend for Rock Hard. I've been working on them since I got home from work at 4 pm. While I was at work, I graded over 250 papers while simultaneously teaching labs. Why did I have 250 papers to grade? They stacked up while I prioritized writing exams for my classes. Why didn't I have those exams written? I prioritized creating powerpoints for my lectures so I could teach my classes. Why weren't those already complete? More prioritizing.
I'll be back later. I need to prioritize this food in the microwave. (7 pm on Wednesday)
(7:20 pm on Wednesday) Well, it turns out that there were only enough leftovers for one person. I'm prioritizing this blog post again while I simultaneously eat my roast beef on bagel sandwich. No left-over chicken enchiladas for me.
Well, the sandwich is gone. I just remembered the garbage gets collected tomorrow and I need to clean out the refrigerator. Then I need to prioritize doing the dishes, because I'm almost out of clean spoons. Without clean spoons, I can't make my hot tea with sugar and milk. Without my hot tea... It's a priority! (7:24 pm on Wednesday)
While cleaning out the refrigerator, my mom called. So the refrigerator cleaning became a lesser priority and chatting with my mom prioritized itself to the top of the list. The refrigerator is now clean, but I'm prioritizing this blog post before those dishes. Okay, I guess I better go wash them. They're not going to wash themselves. I'll be back when this blog post becomes the priority again. It might have to wait until tomorrow. I need to prioritize some writing after the dish priority. After that cup of hot tea. Hey, I might as well wash one more spoon while I'm prioritizing those dishes. (8:13 pm on Wednesday)
Did you miss me? I've been prioritizing again. You probably didn't even know I was gone so long. This is the story of my life. Rearranging priorities. (4:15 pm on Thursday)
I don't procrastinate. I prioritize. Things that must get done, will get done and they will be done on time. Maybe not in the order I intend them to get done, but I somehow get everything done that has to get done. If it's not a priority, I put it off until it has to be done, but that's because I have other things that are higher priorities. So you can call it procrastination if you like. I'm calling it prioritizing. (It decreases my guilt...)
Crap, I just remembered I need to prioritize paying the electric bill.
How do you prioritize?
I'm not procrastinating... I'm prioritizing.
Earlier this week, I meant to look up which day I was supposed to blog on the Casablanca Authors blogspot, but priorities happened and when I got the email notification on Wednesday that my turn to blog was on Friday, my priorities got rearranged a bit.
I'll be back later. I need to prioritize this food in the microwave. (7 pm on Wednesday)
(7:20 pm on Wednesday) Well, it turns out that there were only enough leftovers for one person. I'm prioritizing this blog post again while I simultaneously eat my roast beef on bagel sandwich. No left-over chicken enchiladas for me.
Well, the sandwich is gone. I just remembered the garbage gets collected tomorrow and I need to clean out the refrigerator. Then I need to prioritize doing the dishes, because I'm almost out of clean spoons. Without clean spoons, I can't make my hot tea with sugar and milk. Without my hot tea... It's a priority! (7:24 pm on Wednesday)
While cleaning out the refrigerator, my mom called. So the refrigerator cleaning became a lesser priority and chatting with my mom prioritized itself to the top of the list. The refrigerator is now clean, but I'm prioritizing this blog post before those dishes. Okay, I guess I better go wash them. They're not going to wash themselves. I'll be back when this blog post becomes the priority again. It might have to wait until tomorrow. I need to prioritize some writing after the dish priority. After that cup of hot tea. Hey, I might as well wash one more spoon while I'm prioritizing those dishes. (8:13 pm on Wednesday)
Did you miss me? I've been prioritizing again. You probably didn't even know I was gone so long. This is the story of my life. Rearranging priorities. (4:15 pm on Thursday)
I don't procrastinate. I prioritize. Things that must get done, will get done and they will be done on time. Maybe not in the order I intend them to get done, but I somehow get everything done that has to get done. If it's not a priority, I put it off until it has to be done, but that's because I have other things that are higher priorities. So you can call it procrastination if you like. I'm calling it prioritizing. (It decreases my guilt...)
Crap, I just remembered I need to prioritize paying the electric bill.
How do you prioritize?
LOL, Olivia. Yes, I do a lot of prioritizing, especially at my day job. I can start something in the morning and realize at 3 pm that I haven't made a lick of progress because of being redirected so many times.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think I like your twist on procrastination. I may steal it. What do you teach, Olivia?
ReplyDeleteOlivia, you point out that to truly procrastinate--to merely push something aside because we don't feel like tending to it at thus and such a moment--is quite the luxury. This re-prioritizing stuff though, it seems like it goes on for years at a time, and then when you do have a chance to start ordering your own universe again, you're at something of a loss (unless of course, you write fiction!).
ReplyDeleteHang in there. Your turn is coming!
Procrastinate: Proritize. Hmmm. It's all in how you look at it and how you study it, as my step-dad used to say. I think I like your take better and it sounds so much nicer. I don't think Granny would wash my mouth out with soap if she heard me say prioritize...it sounds important! LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, I like that. A nice positive spin on procrastination. :)
ReplyDeleteOlivia, you have such a great positive attitude! Love the post. I'm going to stop beating myself up for procrastinating and start praising myself for prioritizing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I don't procrastinate I prioritize. I do that a lot - I'm so good!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I'm going to start prioritizing more!
ReplyDeleteI am so going to remember to use prioritizing and am going to banish the word procrasting - thank you lol.
ReplyDeleteCute blog! Thanks bunches for the grin. :) It sure does sound like you have a lot on your plate!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I've been a bad hostess. I've been prioritizing my day job over everything all day. Then I had to prioritize a blog post for Monday. Then fan mail (my favorite priority) on all the various sites. Approve 50 comments on my blog (doing a blog hop -- you all should get involved in them, they're great!). Check my Amazon stats obsessively. And now I've prioritized the Casablana Authors blog. You are all tops right now!
ReplyDeleteTracey, I prioritize in my day job constantly. If it has to be done, I get it done, but I only see the surface of my desk once a year at the end of the semester. Cleaning off my desk is not a priority until then.
Hi Anita- I teach Human Anatomy and Physiology at a community college. I got to dissect fetal pig reproductive systems all day. Not the most fun I've had, I'll tell you that.
Grace, I can't remember the last time I truly procrastinated. You are so right. And I hope you're also right about my time coming. I'm so ready.
Carolyn, I'm sure granny would be most impressed!
Hi Terry! It really does help with the guilt.
Joanne- That's the right attitude. I think I'm going to prioritize myself a little nap here in a minute.
Go Amanda! I already knew you were good. :-)
Shana- I'm sure you've been prioritizing all along. You just didn't know it.
catslady- Good for you. Happy to help you banish that nasty procrastination word.
Catherine- The plate has overflowed onto the table and onto the floor. And then it rolled out of the door and under a bush and became nothing but mush. Well, my brain is mush most days. :-)
Love your way of thinking, I might just have to try that myself.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I do something very similar, but, being a nurse, I'd call it triaging, rather than prioritizing. Sounds more "medical" that way, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteJust like me, Olivia! I use my lists to prioritize! Great post, as always!
ReplyDelete