Bible Study Week 1: Conquering Procrastination

[NewYorkgyrl]

What does it mean to procrastinate?


How do you conquer procrastination?

1. Procrastination (for me) is putting a task on hold in attempt so I do not have to face the reality of what has to be done. It is also not initiating or completing a task out of fear of the outcome/unknown results.

2. I have been trying to find a way to conquer this for years. So far I think the only answer I have (and that other people give me) is to pray about it......and although I think prayer does work I feel that most people use it in the acte situation - at the actual time they are procrastinating.
I think people who are chronic procrastinators (like myself) should include this in their daily prayer ALL THE TIME, because it can become a weekly/monthly struggle.

[NewYorkgyrl]

Here's a verse about procrastination that I found:
Proverbs 6:6-11 (New International Version)
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.

I feel like this scripture describes the extreme procrastinator that is more of a borderline lazy person. I guess it is possible for procrastination to get that extreme.


After reading this I feel as though there are different kinds of procrastinators. I feel as though I work really really hard and can get an excellent job done (unlike the lazy person described above) I think the problem is the initiation...better yet the motivation that drives to do the work we have to do.


Random questions:
Is it possible that a procrastinator is only lacking motivation? Does procrastination coincide with depression. Should someone who is always procrastinating be looking deeper to find the root of the problem? Is it possible to have good work ethics and still be a procrastinator about certain tasks?

[NewYorkgyrl]

so even if you are not sure how you will accomplish something, trust God and let him work out the details:yep:

I try to keep telling myself this.



How do you conquer procrastination? I think that you must trust God and keep prayer and communication with Him, especially when you are struggling. God doesn't expect us to be perfect IMO, but He does expect us to TRY:yep:


I agree!

[kayte]

Excellent topic..SO relevant in my life.
I posted in this in the Career Forum sometimeo ago ..I'll look it up ..about how as a self employed with a home office I was waking up at noon and later and later and not making outreach calls & marketing to support myself and my business until it was late in the day
and the days were slipping....I'd still be in my pjs
I got lot of support after posting :) I will say now..after much prayer...anguish.....and support
I am up now no later than 9am ... I get dressed as if going to a 9-5.
(alright ..a wee bit casual for 9-5..maybe a sari skirt and t-shirt)
but at least I'm out of the nightclothes!

I pray...read my bible ...go into my sweet lil office check emails and run out for my breakfast/coffee ..on the phone by 10:30am...:grin: that's my rule. When schools starts I will need to be on the phone by 8am

I was telling a bf this afternoon.how I had to establish a routine as a work discipline..and it's working .... I told him my entire routine..and I as I told him..realized ..as that routine evolved out of procrastination ..it did not come naturally. I've got one of my most important appearances this weekend...that came from diligent phone calls months ago
after workng through some HEAVY PROCRASTINATON
Coming back to this thread with bible verses and what I am currently procastinating over...
(hope that coming back instead of doing it now does not mean more procrastination .lol :grin:)

God bless

[BrooklynSouth]

Welcome Ladies to our first LHCF Bible Study!!!!!
This week's topic is: Conquering Procrastination

Please feel free to post your questions, scriptures, testimonies, etc.. regarding conquering procrastination. And what the bible says about procrastination.

To start us off.....here are some questions to ponder:

What does it mean to procrastinate?
To put off what must be done now, not later.

Is procrastination a sin?
I do not think so but surely cannot be something God favors.

Why do we procrastinate?
Fear, laziness..only two reasons I can think of right now.

Did Jesus ever procrastinate?
I cannot think of any examples.

How do you conquer procrastination?
That is the question I need to find the answer for:perplexed.

Excellent verse to start to find the answer.

[kayte]

Psalm 119:60
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

love this verse below!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Exodus 14:15 (NLT) ...
They started crying out to God to save them. What did God do? In GENESIS 14:15 God said,. ‘Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on!’ ...

and of course,James the great-in-your-face
tell-it-like-it-is pragmatist
James 2 from the Message Bible

Faith in Action
14-17Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
18I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department."

Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

19-20Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?

21-24Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?

25-26The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

I'll be back!!
..I slept on this thread last night
and guess what? I was making calls by 8:30 am :grin:

[kweenameena]

bump bump bump bump

[Pink_diamond]

:drunk: This thread was right on time for me--Thanks ladies!

[upandcoming]

Love it, love it, love it... :)

[HeChangedMyName]

Ladies, I think a prayer to help us all with procrastination is in order.

Father God,
I pray in the name of Jesus that we are all loosed from the grasp of procrastination. I pray that God releases an abundance of his power to bolster up our own will power and motivation to "do" and "be" the best at everything that we attempt. I pray that we not fall to the negative talk that plagues us and keeps us from even starting a new thing or finishing an old thing. I pray that God will use us all as examples of initiative, persistence, and determination. I pray that we will all continue to lean on God and open up to his ability to help us to continually overcome the battle with procrastination. In Jesus' name I pray AMEN!

[kweenameena]

I know wikipedia isn't the best source to cite things from, but I found this interesting:

Types of procrastinators:

The relaxed type

The relaxed type of procrastinators view their responsibilities negatively and avoid them by directing energy into other tasks. It is common, for example, for relaxed type procrastinating children to abandon schoolwork but not their social lives. Students often see projects as a whole rather than breaking them into smaller parts. This type of procrastination is a form of denial or cover-up; therefore, typically no help is being sought. Furthermore, they are also unable to defer gratification (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratification). The procrastinator avoids situations that would cause displeasure, indulging instead in more enjoyable activities. In Freudian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud) terms, such procrastinators refuse to renounce the pleasure principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasure_principle_%28psychology%29), instead sacrificing the reality principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_principle). They may not appear to be worried about work and deadlines, but this is simply an evasion.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procrastination#cite_note-how_to_stop-6)

The tense-afraid type

The tense-afraid type of procrastinator usually feels overwhelmed with pressure, unrealistic about time, uncertain about goals and many other negative feelings. Feeling that they lack the ability or focus to successfully complete their work, they tell themselves that they need to unwind and relax, that it's better to take it easy for the afternoon, for example, and start afresh in the morning. They usually have grandiose plans that aren't realistic. Their 'relaxing' is often temporary and ineffective, and leads to even more stress as time runs out, deadlines approach and the person feels increasingly guilty and apprehensive. This behavior becomes a cycle of failure and delay, as plans and goals are put off, penciled into the following day or week in the diary again and again. It can also have a debilitating effect on their personal lives and relationships. Since they are uncertain about their goals, they often feel awkward with people who appear confident and goal-oriented, which can lead to depression. Tense-afraid procrastinators often withdraw from social life, avoiding contact even with close friends.

[kweenameena]

Found this on how to deal with procrastination:

Don't be discouraged by setbacks. Realize that you are human and try again.
Estimate the amount of time you think it will take you to complete a task, then increase that amount by 100%.
Visualize how much easier it is to do a job in smaller chunks. If you do it bit by bit, it will be done painlessly before you know it.
Announce your goals to family and friends. This will put some pressure on you to actually do what you claim. Post your goals on the fridge, around your workspace...
Give yourself rewards for jobs completed

[*KP*]

I really needed this today. I procrastinate tooooo much these days - I put off going to bed, I put off waking up, I put off having breakfast, making dinner, checking emails - it's a nightmare because I know I wasn't always like this :perplexed

I have an assignment at work I have been putting off. I'm not really sure why but my motivation has been up and down (more down so far this week)- it has been a real struggle to keep it up to be honest. Last week I was praying, reading my bible and reading my self help books several times a day but this week I guess I am slacking a bit.



Originally Posted by cocoberry10
so even if you are not sure how you will accomplish something, trust God and let him work out the details



I really like this Cocoberry, I need to trust God more and not hold on so tight.
Thank you all for you inspiring words, I'm going to pray some more now - I really want to complete this assignment tomorrow!!

[kayte]

wow.....I mean really wow:yep:
Thank you for breaking it down

A speaker's group I am thinking about joining has its first assignment to prepare a speech on this very subject ..using index cards
and this thread will be one means to test my thoughts and arrive a workable spiritual solutions ..hopefully a speech



The tense-afraid type
The tense-afraid type of procrastinator usually feels overwhelmed with pressure, unrealistic about time, uncertain about goals and many other negative feelings. Feeling that they lack the ability or focus to successfully complete their work, they tell themselves that they need to unwind and relax, that it's better to take it easy for the afternoon, for example, and start afresh in the morning.
Role call! This is me :grin:..

I didn't include the second half of the paragraph as it does not apply
While my plans are in the huge vision category they are not grandiose...realistic..and I'm pretty certain about my goals and leaving the out come to God while trying to be pro-active

and I am social...not as much as I'd like ...my business is at a crucial point and that's taking a lot of my focus..but been dating .. I have a date this weekend....and contemplating a happy hour get together this week with girls.... if ..my biz behaves...and I am actually inspired by goal-oriented people..it spurs me on

That list is great

checking back to name other majors ways I procrastinate
what the biggest projects are that I am procratinating on
And specific biblical verses to address these
and finally spiritually grounded solution actions :)
So grateful for this thread

I like the rewards idea..Natalie Goldberg(writer ) used to promise herself if she wrote for a block of time ..say one hour..she could have a cooky:) :)
okay..first of all no cookies..but ....hmmm food for thought

[Country gal]

Bumping so I can read and contribute later on.

[shortdub78]

I know what I want to go to school for. I've been telling myself...as soon as my husband gets out of the army and gets a job that can support us..I will go to school. Now guess what....it is happening and I have so much fear in my heart that I can't even bring myself to go to the school's website anymore. My problem is that I don't know how to take things one step at a time. So I become overwhelmed before I begin. Also, I have thoughts that tell me "what if you don't do well in college like you didn't do well in highschool". I struggle with my doubts.

My pastor preached that a lot of our procrastination comes from thinking that Good Intention = Obedience to God's commands.
I think that sometimes I feel good that I have the intention to do something. I pat myself on the back for "being on the right path" and "having a plan". But I never actually walk down that path or execute that plan. And I become complacent with just "intending" to do something. But where is my follow-thru? I have none right now.
Or it's easy for me to make excuses of why I can't do that thing right now.....I'll do it when I have time, when I have the money...I'll lose weight once I joined that gym or get that treadmill.
Having good intentions is not enough!

you said it right there for me with taking it a step at a time.
i have trouble with doing everything in my life a step at a time, that everything becomes overwhelming, like a spirit trying to bring me down. i get really crazy when things are out of order and i feel like a failure sometimes. I want to become a makeup artist. I'm scared about getting into this industry. i don't know if i have what it takes, am i too old to start something like this, will i still have time for my family?,or i don't want to overshadow my dh because he is having to put his dreams aside for us. i procastinate with my bible studying as well as praying, always putting it off later. i just want to learn how to do things in steps and stop trying to do it all at once only to get burned out and give up.

[Duchesse]

I know wikipedia isn't the best source to cite things from, but I found this interesting:


The tense-afraid type

The tense-afraid type of procrastinator usually feels overwhelmed with pressure, unrealistic about time, uncertain about goals and many other negative feelings. Feeling that they lack the ability or focus to successfully complete their work, they tell themselves that they need to unwind and relax, that it's better to take it easy for the afternoon, for example, and start afresh in the morning. They usually have grandiose plans that aren't realistic. Their 'relaxing' is often temporary and ineffective, and leads to even more stress as time runs out, deadlines approach and the person feels increasingly guilty and apprehensive. This behavior becomes a cycle of failure and delay, as plans and goals are put off, penciled into the following day or week in the diary again and again. It can also have a debilitating effect on their personal lives and relationships. Since they are uncertain about their goals, they often feel awkward with people who appear confident and goal-oriented, which can lead to depression. Tense-afraid procrastinators often withdraw from social life, avoiding contact even with close friends.

Wow, this is me to a T.

thank you ladies for this thread. I've prayed in the past for help in my procrastnation..I've been putting off writing my grad.school statement of purpose for weeks now, now I see it's fear of actually going back to school and becoming professional.

I know I need to trust God that He will work everything out if I just put forth the initiative in my duties.

[kweenameena]

Okay Ladies....the time will be coming up for a new topic later today.

But I wonder if we have really discovered how to actually conquer procrastination????

What do you all think?

Off to find some tips on dealing with procrastination

[Highly Favored8]

What does it mean to procrastinate?
When you know you have something to do for example, prepare your resume to receive an interview for a job and you need to have it done 1 year from now and instead of tackling it head on. You do it at the last minuet and get frustrated.
Is procrastination a sin?
I think so.
Why do we procrastinate?
Out of laziness
Did Jesus ever procrastinate?
I do not think so.
How do you conquer procrastination?
I will by setting a to do list and sticking to it.

[Highly Favored8]

Okay Ladies....the time will be coming up for a new topic later today.

But I wonder if we have really discovered how to actually conquer procrastination????

What do you all think?

Off to find some tips on dealing with procrastination


I think that procrastination is a very bad habit and like any bad habit it has to be broken over time.

Making a to- do list with a deadlines to help deal with procrastination.:yep: