The Internet

One of my biggest timewasters is the internet. I leave it on while I can do things like keep track of what readings I have to do, read uni discussion boards, check uni email etc.

Unfortunately when I take a 'quick break' to do any one of these things, I also see that I have 4 new emails (of which at least one will require a reply - now!), and while I'm waiting for that I can check out one of 4 forums I am a member of, or perhaps check someone's blog.

Without realising it my 1 minute break has turned into a full blown 20 minute session, and I haven't moved from my chair. So I take the opportunity to dash to the toilet, make a drink and before I know it half an hour is gone and wasted.

The solution? I haven't found one yet, but when I do, you'll be the first to know, as another thing I can sqeeze in to a quick break is a short blog post.... oh, woops!

How to Procrastinate 101

There is really a very simple way to avoid anything that needs doing.

Find a new project

Whenever you are bored, or lack the motivation to complete a given task (particularly one that has a deadline flying straight towards your head) find a new project to devote your precious time to.

Take tonight for example. The kids were in bed reasonably early, hubby had promised to do the dishes, and there was not a lot that was required of me. A sensible person in that situation would have taken herself into the study and actually, well, studied.

Me? No. Far far from it. Here is an example of the distinctive thought process that goes into a really good evening procrastinating necessary tasks:

I wonder what version of MYOB I have. Hmm, where's that box. I would have put it somewhere obvious - oh, here it is on the bookshelf. Oh version 16. Excellent. Well, perhaps I should install it? I'm downloading something from the net, so I may as well while everything's here. Oh, setup, well yes I suppose I should set up my data file now. Hmm, inventory. Yeah I do want that - better get those details out. Hmm, I wonder how these go into the system? Oh, what a good idea, that works so well. Why didn't I do this before. Well I've got nothing else to do, I should just enter all my items into the inventory.

Meanwhile, 2 hours later it's nearly bedtime, and study? Ummm, look, I've put it in my bag to do tomorrow as I while away the hours on Long Island for Good Friday.

Deadlines? I don't believe in deadlines

My favourite procrastination activities

1. Read email. Join up to many yahoo groups and select them all to come to your inbox. You can easily spend many hours a day reading and replying to email. The higher volume groups are better.
2. Blog hopping. At the top of the page there's a link to "next blog" - I have made some discovered amazing blogs and people using this link. Plus, there's the whole time-wasting aspect.
3. Plan. Never underestimate the value of planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Procrastination, at a truly sucessful level takes lots and lots of planning. I manage to plan all the things I absolutely need to do to avoid study on any given day, and it seems to work out well.
4. Write a list. There's nothing like a list to scare you into not even trying something. Try it and see.

Good luck and happy procrastinating

Quick update

After much too-ing and fro-ing over the weekend I decided (against my husband's wishes I might add) to not take the job. I am just becoming settled with staying home and studying, and want to continue for a while yet. Plus with Dad arriving tomorrow and me leaving in 9 days it's probably not the right time to be thinking about it.

I do however feel chuffed I was offered the job even though I couldn't start for 2 months.

What is the worst thing you can give a procrastinator?

A deadline! Ha. But today I'm feeling it.

On a whim a few weeks ago I applied for a job. It is a job that is way beneath my level of skill and experience, with the pay to match, and yet offered an opportunity of experience in the dream field of my choice, a qualification that would enable me to work in pretty much every city in the country, and some helpful "tax reduction" strategies.

I had an interview two weeks ago, and was there for over 90 minutes meeting everyone and talking with the boss man. I hadn't heard anything and was starting to think I'd read him wrong in the interview, but on Friday he called. He's moving offices and trying to sort the paperwork out with the relevant government departments, but thinks I'm completely the right person for the job, and (as we're leaving on a 7 week overseas holiday in - oh - 2 weeks) could I come in for a few days before I go, to get the feel for things.

So I have until tomorrow to decide if this is the way I want to go about getting into my chosen field. I have a list of questions to ask him, and have been mulling and mulling it for 2 days straight now (hardly slept, but that's a whole other post), and everyone I've spoken to says helpful things like "you're taking it aren't you?" and "how are you going to study and work full-time?" Valid points, both.

I worked full-time last year, studied, did a play, and sold Tupperware. I am struggling now keeping up with one subject and two kids. I start almost rocking myself into a ball and chewing my hair thinking about working full-time, studying and running this house.

The job itself is a legal traineeship, which will give me a Cert III in Legal Administration, a worthy qualification. The job itself starts out delivering mail, filing and answering the phones, and through the 12 months moves up to attending settlements, interviewing clients and drafting wills.

Thankfully the money isn't really the issue. We'll be slightly better off by me working for 12 months, and then when the money picks up a bit, and the girls start school (in 20 odd months, and nearly 3 years) it will keep on getting better.

Obviously my whole life will be reduced to work, kids, study - probably in that order, but the thought of finishing my degree with 6 or 7 years experience in an office is almost too tempting to give up.

So, I guess I'm taking the job. I mean, this is probably for the best. Imagine all the things I can procrastinate now...