“However meaningless and vain, however dead life appears, the man of faith, of energy, of warmth … steps in and does something.” Vincent van Gogh
How frequently do you encounter one of those days when a task, or set of tasks, feels so daunting that you just lay back, mentally exhausted, and say to yourself, “I just don’t feel like doing it?” For me, it is common. And then that little task rests in the back of your mind, like a whining little demon, screaming what a lazy bum you are.
Insane or Inspired?
There is little doubt that Vincent van Gogh wrestled constantly with his sanity. I mean, how many sane people give his ear as a gift to a prostitute? This man was totally nuts. And yet, in the last two years of his life he produced more than 800 oil paintings! That is more than one each day. When you look at the magnificence of his work it hardly seems even possible. But he found a way to do it.
Perhaps it was his insanity that influenced his massively prolific work. Like a magic elixir for his life-threatening malady.
It’s true. There is nothing like busyness and productivity to get you out of a slump—even when you don’t feel like it; maybe especially if you don’t feel like it.
Getting Started
As far as I can tell, there is only one truly disabling issue and that is “getting started.” Getting started is the curse of the anxiety-laden procrastinator. Van Gogh discovered his own remedy: when you don’t feel like it just “step in and do something.”
A few weeks ago I wrote on “the Joy of Messiness.” In that blog I posted photos of my cluttered desk and file cabinet. Most of the time I am just fine with it. But there comes a time, like right now, that my piles become unmanageable and it is necessary to organize.
The Bane of Procrastination
Ahhhh. The horror of it all! I even hired a professional organizer to come and help me. She was great except… she gave me homework to go through the papers on my desk before she arrives again in two days. And to make it worse, she is checking up on me to see if I am completing my homework.
Doesn’t she understand that I don’t feel like it?
What is it that you don’t feel like doing and have put on your procrastination list?
Hmm. I guess it is time for both of us the step up to the plate and just do something. Yuk!
When You Don’t Feel Like It
Do It Anyway
Photo courtesy of AntonioGuillem at istockphoto
Eat the darm frog first thing in the morning because if you out off swallowing that little slimy guy by 5pm he will appear more like an Elephant!
Eat your frog by 9am Charlie!
Hahaha. Only you Nick. I love it.