Procrastination. As a partially reformed type-A personality, procrastination is the kind of thing that puts a frown on my face and a wrinkle – no, a FURROW – in my brow. What a waste of time, energy and our God-given human spirit!
Yet, as I begin each workday excited and ready to tackle tasks ahead, somehow the procrastination monster takes hold of me. It’s almost as if my subconscious is saying “Let’s see how much time we can waste today and how little we can get done .shall we?” (insert sinister laugh here). I sigh, perplexed, and without a clue of how to tackle this monster (after all, that would involve doing something), I give up trying to control the situation.
And, just as it should be, once I relinquish control, the answer becomes clear: Physical activity. I know, I know, you’re wondering what physical activity has to do with tackling the procrastination monster. Well, the answer is that my being is out of balance. Here I’ve been thinking that procrastinating is all about avoidance, when in actuality, it just might be a signal that we (in this case, I) need to be a bit more selfish. Selfish enough to take care of myself as I see fit, with life-balance as byproduct.
I took an amazing seminar this summer that describes true balance as a square with four quadrants. Each quadrant involves an area of our being – physical, mental, spiritual and professional. Lately, I’ve been working diligently in three of the four quadrants – all but the physical – so I think it’s time to refocus on the physical, since it’s currently my weakest area.
To get back into the game, I’m choosing a fairly strenuous yet surprisingly de-stressing healing activity – one that incorporates mind, body and spirit. Today, I challenge myself to 30 consecutive days of Bikram “hot” yoga.
As a certified Power Yoga instructor, I know the strength and healing that can be gained through yoga. The Bikram style has true transformative power for me, though there are many misconceptions about yoga’s power, purpose and practice. One of more than 200 styles of yoga, Bikram typically is called “hot yoga” when conducted by a non-Bikram-certified instructor. It’s important to note that yoga done in a heated room does not constitute “hot yoga” as any yoga can be conducted in warmth, with the heat intended to help muscles warm up quickly and make the body more flexible. Knowing this subtle difference is critical, as other types of yoga have many benefits, but not what I consider to be the curative powers of Hot Yoga.
Specifically performed in an extremely humid one hundred-plus degree room, this type of yoga practice includes twenty-six posture exercises intended to systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to every area of the body with an intention of creating a full restoration or rejuvenation. One practically sweats out physical, mental and emotional toxins as participants finish class drenched, trailing puddles of perspiration behind them as they leave. In other words, I believe the vigorous activity, systematic preening and focused attention in hot yoga can help nudge the mind, the body, the emotions, and even the spirit back where they belong – in balance with each other. Bringing our internal and external bodies into sync gives us the power to bring our professional work into alignment with the other parts of our being.
Making a goal of physical commitment for thirty consecutive days sounds daunting, but I remind myself to keep an eye on the prize. Focusing on each day, one-by-one, allows me to take steps toward the goal, keeps me from being overwhelmed, and stops me from wondering how I will achieve something so audacious.
And so it is with procrastination. Whether one thinks there’s too much to do, worries things won’t work out as they should, or wonders how a specific goal will be achieved in these types of situations, feelings of being overwhelmed can take hold, stop us dead in our tracks, and create a pseudo-paralytic state. And when are we most overwhelmed? I think you’ll agree, it’s when one or more of our four quadrants are out of balance with the others. To release the monster’s grasp, focus on your weakest quadrant and create a goal that allows for little steps that add up to a big payoff.
It took about a week for my Bikram yoga experiment to help me realign my work life, but I’m happy to report that so far, the outcome is positive – the procrastination monster has been tamed.
How about you? Is there an area of your life that’s nagging you ever-so-quietly (or ever-so-loudly for that matter)? A little introspection and a decision to re-balance priorities, just might be the remedy to set things in the right direction.
Doni Luckutt is a lifestyle expert who believes by enhancing interpersonal connection, we can stop simply living, and become Simply Alive! If you have a suggestion on what brings you to life, connect with her on Twitter @SimplyAlive, via email Doni@SimplyAliveWorld.com or on her blog: www.SimplyAliveWorld.com/Blog.
