Procrastination is seriously my biggest issue, as I sit here now writing a blog I consistently procrastinate writing, I am procrastinating doing several other things. I like to think I have mastered the art and well maybe it is time to master the arts of time management and self-discipline! What do those words even mean?
This is what Wiki says:
Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives oneself to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behavior, even if one would rather be doing something else. For example, denying oneself an extravagant pleasure in order to accomplish a more demanding charitable deed is a display of self-discipline. Thus, self-discipline is the assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is usually understood to be synonymous with self control. Self-discipline is to some extent a substitute for motivation, when one uses reason to determine a best course of action that opposes one's desires.
and...
Time management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity.... Usually time management is a necessity in any project development as it determines the project completion time and scope.
OK, now my brain is hurting just reading these definitions. But the true question is how will my lack of self-discipline and time management affect my ability to effectively parent. Ideally, I would like to show my children these practices through my own actions but obviously that is not happening at the moment. So how does one react to the 12 year old that waits till the day before her research paper is due to begin? Our parents may have said, "do as I say and not as I do," the same way their parents said, "children should be seen and not heard." It's quite apparent that we are not the same parents ours were and definitely not anything like our grandparents but at what point do we take responsibility for the negative traits our parents weren't able to weed out of us? On the other hand, is it OK if our children share our faulty traits? Is it too much pressure on us as parents and our children to strive for perfection? My daughter starts Kindergarten in the fall and it almost seems like if children can't read and write their names by day one they are doomed to remedial classes! Is creating a generation of over-achievers really beneficial? I don't know the answer and I don't totally disagree with the idea of prepping kids for school but should they have so much pressure at a young age? That, I disagree with and I also think that's a key component in procrastination, too much pressure for some will cause anxiety and a sort of "shrinking away in the shadows effect" Most of us don't procrastinate on the every day things, I make my kids meals on time, I put them to bed on time, bathe them, play with them, do laundry and clean but when it comes to making important calls or doing a demanding project I start to "shrink away" which leaves me to wonder, will my kids do the same?
