Confession: I do NOT like to do my hair, especially wash it, because then I’ll have to blow it dry…and curl it! Don’t get me wrong – I love the feeling of clean, fresh hair, but I find myself constantly procrastinating washing it.
As a bubbly, blonde little girl who only had time for fun; taking the time to wash, dry and curl my hair was not on my fun list and took FOREVER!! Or so I thought…
So I came up with a brilliant plan! I could save time by laying over the heater vent in the bedroom, waiting for the heater to come on, and letting the heater air blow my hair dry. The perfect time saver! Then I could get to the fun parts of my day faster. Wrong! Although it was a fun change, it took much longer to get my hair dry. Yet for years, that is what I did.
What we believe, even if it’s incorrect, determines the actions we take.
One day, when I was older and wiser (wink, wink), I realized that waiting for the heater to come on took a while and that I could save time by not waiting for the heater. I also realized that it was very uncomfortable to lay there propping myself up in contorted positions to get the hot air to dry the wet spots of my head. Seriously, what was I thinking!?! So I came up with another brilliant plan, “I’ll just let it air dry instead. That should be faster, and I won’t have to wait” (pause for more laughing).
Recently I created a “less than 3 minute” video about how a blow dryer works (it was for a assignment). In the video I decided to blow my hair dry and cut the video down in the video editing software. Guess what I discovered? That my grown up, much longer and thicker hair takes LESS THAN three minutes to blow dry! That’s it! I was shocked!
So I decided to time myself washing, drying, and curling it. Less than 15 minutes! What’s even more amazing (don’t get jealous now), my hair will stay this way (even after I sleep on it, with a less than 2 minute comb through in the morning) for 3-4 days! I spend less than 25 minutes doing my hair in a four day time period. Yet…
I still find myself putting off the process of washing my hair every 4 days. And I have to coach myself into doing it each time. It’s ridiculous! (I hope you are all laughing, but finding the ways you relate to this story in your own lives, cause I sure am!)
So, what benefit am I getting from procrastinating the process of doing my hair?
I can do it later!
That does sound nice, doesn’t it. I can do something I’d rather do right now and do that ‘later.’ And it’s true. However, it does NOT save me time or energy.
What actually happens is… when I delay washing, drying, and curling my hair I think I am saving time, but actually I’m just delaying it and it takes longer. I often run my fingers through my hair throughout the day and think, “I really need to wash my hair;” which causes me to loose focus several times during the day. That takes time and energy. Then I tell myself stories, like: “I don’t have time now” or “I have more important things to do.” Which takes more time and energy.
The reality is I would have more time to accomplish other tasks, without distraction, if I just did my hair first thing in the morning–15 minutes tops! It’s totally worth it!
My kids delay doing their chores and their homework. Can you relate? This results in missing out on fun time usually (Ex. playing with friends, or movie night), because they have to go do what they didn’t get done before.
Where do you find yourself using this little phrase, “I’ll do it later.”
How about after dinner, when all the dishes are sitting on the table; slowly drying on the plates. It’ll take longer to get the excess food off if you let it dry on the plates, which does not save you time. What about when the laundry basket keeps piling up until the clothes are overflowing and falling all over the floor. Now you have to take the time to pick them up a second time before washing them.
When we procrastinate we spend time wrestling with our thoughts, “should I do it now or later?” “Later,” we decide. Which seems less stressful and more fun. But later comes, and now we are too busy, need to do other things, or crunched for time. And, the whole time we have this nagging thought in our head, “We need to get our chores, homework, dishes or laundry done” (or in my case “wash your hair”). This nagging thought is annoying and taking up valuable time and energy, that I could be using elsewhere.
Delaying or procrastinating do NOT save time. LOL
In these circumstances we create more overwhelm, stress, frustration and guilt in our lives. We choose the momentary relief of “I’ll do it later,” for the reality of extra stress – later. Aren’t we funny people?
Let me take a minute to remind you, this is not to cause you to feel bad about yourself. In fact, you are human – like me. We have these amazing brains that need to be managed. Awareness is the first step, and we are becoming aware – good job us! Perhaps you’d like to change it, perhaps not.
I also realize there are times when the thought, “I’ll do it later,” does serve us. Like when I’m reading books to my boys instead of reading my own book. I value reading time with my boys, so I choose to read my book later (when it’s quiet and they are in bed). This serves me and it aligns with my values. But this is a subject for another day. 🙂
Your turn…in what areas do you find this thought isn’t serving you? Could you do things differently? In what circumstances does it serve you and in which circumstances does it not? What would be a more helpful thought?
I’d love to hear from you and where you find this in your life. Please share in the comments below.
Love and laughter,
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