I will…eventually(?)

“If not now, then when? If not today, then why make your promises?” -Tracy Chapman

“How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never.’” -Martin Luther

These quotes could apply to so many aspects of our lives. For me, it’s usually chores or exercise–two things that I both love and hate to do. Why? Because I hate the feeling of actually doing them,  but I looooooove the feeling that I get after they are done. The times when things get out of control are usually the times when the mindset of “I’ll do it later” dominates my decision-making when it comes to starting a chore or going to the gym.

So how, as I return to the schedule of a graduate student, which will require a large amount of discipline, do I refuse to let my “not nows” dominate my actions?

Those of you reading should know by now that I appreciate a holistic approach to my life. Thus, in order to not procrastinate as a student, I need to make sure that it’s not a habit in the rest of my life. That means doing chores when they need to be done, and it means going to the gym…yes, even when I don’t feel like it.

The past few days I have been making lists of what I’d like to accomplish the following day, and so far it has been working pretty well. There’s something very satisfying about that thick black line of ink etched through my list of things I’d like to accomplish. I’m also trying to consciously choose to say, “yes, now” instead of “nah, later.” When does the excuse of being tired really mean being tired, rather than “I just don’t feel like it so I’m going to convince myself I’m too tired to do it”? I’ll never write my first book with that kind of attitude. Just like I’ll never have a clean house, never lose that last ten pounds, and never learn Hebrew. What an unsatisfactory outcome to an extraordinary life!

Besides…once I’m through exercising and cleaning house, I can get on to the real fun stuff…like blogging!