Now or Later: The Pitfalls of Procrastination

It’s ironic that I’m writing about the pitfalls of procrastination way past my bedtime!  So trust me, I know of what I speak!

Newsflash:  I procrastinate.  Not all of the time but I occasionally put off making that phone call, sending that email, cleaning off my desk…you get my drift.  Sometimes, there’s a good reason (i.e. having more pressing matters to tend to, meetings, and family responsibilities).

But I find that I often procrastinate because I procrastinated!  But there are pitfalls with this pattern.  Here are just a few:

• More stress.  Kind of goes without saying but putting off things just makes my to-do list longer and a long(er) to-do list makes me overwhelmed.  Very overwhelmed.  And grumpy.
• Lack of respect. When I procrastinate in responding to an email, for instance, that shows someone how little I value them or what they have to say.  It also lowers my credibility and as a leader, I definitely don’t want to do that.
• Increased financial cost.  Waiting to order supplies (particularly online) has cost me in extra shipping fees and sometimes a higher sale price.  Definitely a lose-lose situation.
• Taking for granted that I’ll be able to get to it tomorrow.  The Bible says in James 4:14 (NLT), “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”  Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, so it’s best not to make “I’ll get to it tomorrow” part of our daily vocabulary.

What would you add to the list?  Share your thoughts below.