Procrastination
I skimmed the bestsellers on procrastination: set goals, plan your day, rank tasks, do the hardest thing first—if you’ve got the discipline. That’s not my problem; I like to goof off.
So I need a different approach, one that you won’t find in the books because it only takes a 3 minute podcast to explain.
Topic references:
PROCRASTINATION
FRANK: As you know, I am the editor of the Recovery News, and there is an article I am planning on writing, but I keep putting it off. Monday night I was home and I thought I would start on the article but didn't feel like doing it. Suddenly it became important for me to read the daily paper. Ordinarily I don't read it more than twice a week. But now it seemed I had to read it immediately. And so I got myself the Tribune and read it thoroughly. After I was through with it, I noticed the Sunday Tribune was still on the table from the day before. I got a hold of that and read it, again very thoroughly. Ordinarily I hardly throw a look at it. This you can call procrastination. But the point is, I didn't make up my mind to do something that I didn't feel like doing. I haven't been able to lick this procrastination of mine as thoroughly as I would like to. But I am gradually getting it under control, and on that Monday evening when I kept putting off writing, I finally made up my mind and wrote and finished the article.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Imagination, Temper and Symptoms, chapter 1, page 35 in the third and fourth editions
GAMES AND BUSINESS
Games provide relief from strain; they provide diversion, entertainment and relaxation. All of this means comfort. Business is in a different category. … Games are conducted with the Will to Comfort; business is executed with the Will to Effort.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Business and Games; Effort and Comfort, chapter 25, page 219 in the third and fourth editions
MUSCLES
Muscles … tend to acquire set patterns of behavior, preferring certain well-grooved acts and avoiding others. Just think of the habits of procrastination, of twitches and spasms, of restlessness and sluggishness, and you will realize that muscles are not always pliant tools in the hands of the Will.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Will, Beliefs and Muscles, chapter 12, pages 141-142 in the third and fourth editions
WEAKEST LINK
It is not so much the weakest symptom that must be handled but the simplest method that must be used. And the simplest method is control of muscles.
Mental Health Through Will Training, Muscles and Mental Health, chapter 4, page 61 in the third and fourth editions
Now, if somebody wishes to master a method, he will have to begin his practice where the application is easiest. Suppose you wish to become an airplane pilot. You will first work on prints and models, then on parts, then on machines of simple design, and only in the last stages of your apprenticeship, will you venture to manipulate the more powerful engines. This gradual progression, from relatively simple to increasingly more complex tasks, is the system by means of which every method is learned.
Symptoms Must Be Attacked Where They Are Weakest, from Mental Health Through Will Training, chapter 46, page 381
WILL
Two inner experiences only are subject to control: thoughts and impulses. I shall add that one factor only is capable of controlling them: the Will. … You remember I mentioned frequently that the Will has one function only: it rejects or accepts ideas, and stops or releases impulses. In either case, it says either yes or no to the idea or the impulse.
The Will Says Yes or No, from Mental Health Through Will Training, chapter 11, page 136 in the third and fourth editions
MOTIONLESS SITTING
control of restlessness and agitation through determined motionless sitting
Mental Health Through Will Training, chapter 41, Sabotage Method No. 9: Failure to Practice Muscle Control, page 327 in the 3rd edition
For a detailed description see Manage Your Fears, Manage Your Anger, lecture 56, There Is No Hopeless Case (part 2), pages 352-353