The Eleventh Hour Dilemma
I've always been a bit of a procrastinator. There will be those times when I am industrious and forward thinking enough to get things done in advance, but typically those times have been more rare than not. After all, why do something now if I can wait until later?
Waiting can have its advantages. Offhand I can't think of any advantages, but maybe I'll think of something later--if I don't get distracted and forget what I was supposed to think of. Getting distracted has always been a problem for me. In that respect I suppose I still have the mind of the child that I once was. Once? Maybe I'm still more of that child than some might think. If I still had toys I might be sitting on the floor playing instead of sitting at my desk typing these words.
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| insight of tin toy museum Freinsheim/Germany (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Now and then I'm tempted to buy some toys for myself. And I don't mean shiny new gadgets to entertain the adult side of me, but I'm talking about toy cars and building sets and legions of tiny plastic people. Real toys like children strew across floors. Now that's what I call real world building and getting lost in ones imagination.
But I restrain myself from buying those toys. Besides, I need to watch my money and I certainly don't need more stuff cluttering my house. Children's toys are not a practical option for me. That's why I write, read, or watch movies. Escape now is more passive than the activity of being a child. My mind is my playground.
Though I might frequently wait until the eleventh hour to do things that I've planned or things that necessity requires to be done, I try to do better when I can. Or do better when I think about it, if I'm thinking about it at all. Still, I tend to get distracted or just plain forget. More often than I'd care to admit, I've waited until the eleventh hour. Unfortunately as I near that unknown eleventh hour of my life, I hope that I'll improve those bad habits. Maybe I'll wait to start improving next week. Or maybe next month. Or maybe I'll buy some children's toys and sit on the floor and play. I can think of worse things that could happen.
Do you tend to procrastinate? What are your favorite diversions when you just want to relax and escape from the real world? How much more do you want to get done in your life before the clock strikes midnight?
Food for thought here Lee, but as the saying goes "Why put off Untill Tomorrow What You Can Do Today?". Loving your theme very much.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Yvonne, Yes, I well know that saying which I have often told myself over the years.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee - I'm off to see a Triang Toy (train set) exhibition today in a local museum! Eleventh hour - I try not to work like that and the A-Z doesn't really allow one to procrastinate ...
ReplyDeleteSo I'll get along now - cheers and thanks for the A-Z concept ... Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/e-is-for-extinct-animals-and-endangered.html
Hilary, I love train sets! Have fun! Wish I could go too.
DeleteLee
Lee, I'm definitely a procrastinator but I'm not as bad as I was years ago. If it's something really important I try to not put it off because like you I will forget and I'm like, "What was I supposed to do?" I try to keep an on-going To-Do list so I won't miss things that I need to do later in the day or even the next day. That's a huge help, too. The things I like to do to escape or unwind are listen to mewsic, watch a good movie or favorite TV show, go to the mountains, photography, and lately sketching. I love, love that I picked up my pencil again to do more than just scribble down things to do. :) Have an electric day and when you can check out Art Sketching Through the Alphabet with the letter "E" (elephant, eagle, elk). Thanks for hosting the fun, my friend!
ReplyDeleteCathy, I've not yet been successful in maintaining an ongoing to do list, but it's helped when I've done them. You have some good escape pursuits.
DeleteLee
We (Stacey) may well be in that 11th hour of our Life... but health issues are not as bad on us lately... there is also our "procrastination" Like my living room... one section to take care of... needs to be finished by sometime tomorrow... as for Toys... even if we cannot waste money on them... we will do without necessities just to obtain another toy... but sadly, we no longer have an urge to "Play" with my toys...
ReplyDeletemy Spore game-world is where we use our "creativity" these days... and often share creations with other players" at "Spore.com"...
Speaking of Toys... we just got a replacement for my Sweeney Todd figure ( at around $150.00) this is to replace the one that was destroyed in an attack upon my Home (about 3 & 1/2 years ago)... had to sell some old collectables... and used the money for this Toy and helped my Sister with the taxes on this house...
DeleteStacey, I've thought about getting collectibles in the past when I could afford them, but now I have other priorities. Besides, I have too much stuff.
DeleteLee
We have way too much stuff... we will be trading with Mr. Jim (of Morris Costumes) a "proto-type" (by Allen Duckworth) "Neck-Stump"... seeing about a "HX-Tall Hat (like Dr. Theda's) for it ...
DeleteHe can better care for the mask and we would enjoy having the Hat...
DeleteAnd as for Toys.... we have a very large collection of figures and items of the Joker as well... (collected since childhood)... we add to our Jokers as often as we can, good Sir... Not yet "fond" of the newer versions (DC 52) comic book and Film (Suicide Squad) versions of this character... we have obtained some Cool pieces for this Collection... as well as the 12 inch figures... had to build my (1989) "Jack" as the Joker and "Bank Robber" (Ledger) figures ...
DeleteWishing you and yours a pleasant end of the week ... and Hello from Marshville...
I procrastinate with tasks I absolutely hate like figuring out my mom's tax crap. But overall I try not to procrastinate on things. When I worked full time, all the stuff I had to prepare for deadlines was drafted days to weeks in advance. As for toys, I was in Barnes & Noble yesterday and wanted to buy every bit of Harry Potter stuff they had...for me. I forced myself to just buy some books for our grandson.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, taxes--oh, yeah, that reminds me. The toys would be fun to display if I had the room. Now I'd have to get rid of something old to add something new.
DeleteLee
Procrastination is a something I practice regularly; even wrote a song parody about it. ☺ Tomorrow is always another day. If there's a deadline, though, waiting until the eleventh hour helps me get it done quickly and more efficiently. Mind you, I got 80% of the A to Z posts written ahead of time, so that's something. Like you, I'm easily distracted. BC (before computer), I read a lot of books, but now they're sitting there in a huge pile, waiting. Music is a main distraction and Netflix. Of course the NHL playoffs are starting soon and for the first time in years, my beloved Maple Leafs have a shot at it. Always something. And I forgot to mention concerts - another thing I love. Life is short. We should do what we like as much as possible, yes? Still haven't done the taxes. Next week!
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, I don't even like to think about all of my unread books. But I guess one thing is a good as the other in some ways of viewing things. Yesterday my wife and I took a day trip to Joshua Tree Nat'l Park. Didn't get much done otherwise, but it was a great day. So many things to do and worth doing!
DeleteLee
Me thinks you specifically wrote this to tell me..this is what i do :( & i shouldn't. I too need to stop playing with things which fascinate me, and buckle down and work! I procrastinate and then on the 11th hour regret!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd written my posts for AtoZ in advance - then i could have spent all my time reading.. i didnt do it! I wish i'd learnt speed reading - i cld have done so much more! I wish I wish.. that I wasn't an 11th hour kinda gal!
but, now that I find myself in company such as yours, I am feeling not so bad ;) & then, there IS always next week to get better!
Cheers,
"*Ishieta @ Isheeria's*
AtoZofHealing - E is for Essential Oil
I am also dabbling in some dark poetry creativeness on: Link "
Ishieta, if we don't get one thing done because we were busy getting something else done it's not all that bad. At least we got something done.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee. Well I'm taking a break today from being unplugged and making the rounds. I've always lived my life at the 11th Hour it seems. I am a horrible procrastinator. Always have been. I live by Scarlett O'Hara's motto: "After all, tomorrow is another day."
ReplyDeleteI've been saying that very line for weeks with regard to my taxes. Every day I'm looking at the calendar and saying "Oh, I still have time. I'll do it tomorrow." Now I have taken baby-steps and added up all my receipts and printed out reports but I just can't seem to dive in and do it!
I think that procrastination can actually be a good thing for certain people, myself included. I've always worked better under pressure. In school I was more often than not -- no, make that always -- waiting until the last minute to do projects and papers ... and they usually turned out to be my best work. I like deadlines: I work better with deadlines. If I don't have a deadline, the job just won't get done.
My favorite diversions when I want to relax: Music for sure and lately it's been TV and movies. Unlike a lot of people, I find there to be excellent television these days. I'm hooked on a ton of shows, so many that I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite really (although Homeland is definitely at the top of the list!) and I love binge-watching Netflix -- right now I'm into the series Empire (which you might like because there's a ton of music in it, although it might not be your type of music...but I think you'd really dig it because it revolves around the music industry). Reading used to be a diversion for me but these days I fall asleep so fast when I read that it takes me forever to get through a book.
Overall, I'm all about diversions.
I live for the 11th Hour! :)
I must say I am definitely missing the A-Z this year but I have a good jump on it for next year. I just needed to unplug for a while and it actually is pretty nice to take a break. But I'll be back soon and will return to Battle of the Bands. I miss all you guys! :)
Michele at Angels Bark
Michele, oh yeah, taxes--mine are basically done, but I just have to send them in.
DeleteI've always worked well with deadlines. If I know I have to do something, I do it. Otherwise it's often a "someday" thing for me.
Lee
"My mind is my playground"--what a perfect way to say it.
ReplyDeleteJacqui, I'm at recess far more than I probably should be.
DeleteLee
I've collected 'toys' from time to time. But for me, it's not to play with them, it's part of a collection. Or so I tell myself. Models of ships from Star Wars or Doctor Who. Not something to play with, but something to put on a shelf for display and look at. Okay, an occasional pose for Instagram. But never to play with. Honest. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe 11th hour and procrastination. At least I don't have that problem. Now I should probably start thinking about doing some posts for the A-Z month. I think that is coming up soon. Oh well, I'll look into it tomorrow.
Jeffrey, collecting toys is kind of cool if you have a good way to display them. I've know people who rent storage facilities to keep their collections which to me seems kind of nutty. Toys are meant to be seen and not stored.
DeleteLee
I've lots of Dinky Toy buses and a Hornby train set. They persuade me to play with them sometimes. How can I resist?
ReplyDeleteEaster day in Amble Bay
Keith, not familiar with those toys, but they sound fun. I can understand giving in to the temptation to play with them.
DeleteLee
I'm a major procrastinator! I routinely have left papers or assignments till the day or week before, though I usually do my very best work under pressure, at the last moment. At least I'm better than some former classmates. I once shocked the people in my group in a class when I said I only had the concluding paragraph of a 5-page paper left to write, instead of only starting it that last-minute. Not only that, but I'd had to change the typeface so I wouldn't go over five pages!
ReplyDeleteI want to travel to a lot more countries before I pass over. I've only gone outside the U.S. for three trips to Israel, and haven't even been to all 50 states. I was physically in Austria during an emergency middle of the night landing in Vienna, but we couldn't get off the plane.
Carrie-Anne, you and me both. I can remember staying up late on Sunday nights to finish a project that was due on Monday even though I often had weeks prior to have gotten it done. I used to come up with good stuff in a short time--almost always got a good grade on my work even though I had rushed through it.
DeleteSomeday I'd like to go to Israel, but I don't know that will ever happen now.
Lee
I think I do sometimes enjoy the adrenaline rush of the 11th hour. Take for example this A to Z challenge. This is the 4th or 5th year I've been doing it. I know I should prepost, I know that it takes a lot of time... and yet, here it is... again, and I haven't preposted, and now I am in it, and thinking darn, if I had preposted, I'd have more time to blog hop! However, the good thing is that I know that the hardest thing is picking a post for each day, and so that part is done, and I'm keeping it short and simple by focusing on photos instead of 2 pages of text. Still yet, it's the 11th hour! Maui Jungalow
ReplyDeleteCourtney, I always intend on preposting, but I don't and by about the 12th day I'm posting day before much of the time. That's where I am now.
DeleteLee
Can be fun to play with toys, I just have a kid around and then there is an excuse lol
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a get things done and then procrastinate, although that may be more relaxing than procrastinating since I have nothing left to do, at least pertinent, always something to do.
I'm a total contradiction as I love to get things sorted and finished and yet I'm a major procrastinator and will find an antoher way to keep the motivation up Great post.
ReplyDeletePamela @ Highlands Days of Fun
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI've always worked better against a deadline, even as a kid. Heck, if I could toss something together the night before it was due and get an A, why start early?
ReplyDeleteI think this grew into adult procrastination that has haunted me most of my life. Now that I'm in my third age (tercera edad, as the Spanish say), my memory is much worse. I struggle to stay on top of things. So procrastination can be harder to deal with.
But what the heck, I'll think about that tomorrow. ;)
DB McNicol, author & traveler
Theme: Oh, the places we will go!
http://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-E.html
Yup, I procrastinate...I still have to write more posts! I would love to travel more and see more of the world. I do want to organize somethings this year and hope I can get it done
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, Arlee. I say go for it. To paraphrase the title of a coloring book that I have, "Life is short...buy the toys!" What's the worst that could happen? Maybe you have a difficult time getting back up off the floor like me. Just have something nearby to help pull yourself back up. It will be worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I want to get done before my final alarm goes off is to get our genealogical records into a form that our children can work with. I have notes and files all over the place that don't make sense to anyone but me, and not always me!
Sometimes I procrastinate. There are just too many potentially fun distraction around and it makes the have tos more of a chore, so I put them off. But, most of the time I want to get those out of the way so that I don't feel guilty about doing the fun things.
Reading and family history research and photographing flowers are my favorite distractions.
Have a blessed night.
In my defense, there's always something popping up to slow or stop the progress of whatever I might be doing. But being an eleventh hour person is also not helpful ;-) Thankfully, my collection of wishnicks; with their ever-present smiles, keeps me smiling too.
ReplyDeleteYep, I tend to procrastinate more when the thing I need to do is not something fun to me, especially if it is reading the A to Z's rather than doing my actual work :).
ReplyDeleteJanet
F is for Fleetwood Mac
I like children's toys, too! Not to play with, but to collect. I love miniatures that look well-made. I actually don't let kids touch my stuff, so I buy them toys they can actually throw around.
ReplyDeleteOh, here's my E post (E for Edit): Mark Your Words!
I think fishing might be my diversion. I have a lot I want to do.
ReplyDelete