by Michelle Christina

Created on: June 21, 2008

As a full time fashion student with a part time freelance gig and an ongoing plot to launch my own line, procrastination is my worst enemy and an all too frequent character in my saga. I firmly believe that the task inspires the approach (or lack there of), whether the case is "do the laundry" or "sew a tailored jacket by Thursday".

In matters of housekeeping, it is often the very volume of the to-do list that keeps most people from getting off the computer and getting things done. I find that when it's a simple matter of dishes or taking out the trash, I'm less disinclined than I might be during finals week, when there are potentially new life forms growing in the leftovers and the floor is evenly coated with fibers from the fabric I've been cutting. To coin a phrase, a stitch in time saves nine. Taking care of small tasks before they become a much larger, more ambitious endeavor will cut down your tendency to procrastinate.

Projects that are ambitious to begin with, and perhaps not so thrilling, are the second hardest to kick start yourself for. I know how much you probably love moving large objects, tearing up linoleum, painting ceilings, and stuff like that - but it's just easier to sit around and refresh eBay auctions for upgraded pc parts and solar powered flying machines. I habitually trick myself into thinking I am being productive by reading articles on Helium about a, b, and c rather than actually doing a, b, or c. But as I sip my raspberry tea and mentally file the things I'm learning, there is a satisfaction that prevents me from breaking the vicious cycle.

A creature born and raised with the rise of the internet super highway (remember that term?), I have an especially hard time prying my fingers off the keyboard - a hard time being separate from this comforting, endless sea of Wikipedia entries, Etsy crafts, and fashion show coverage. From this, my procrastination flourishes.

I have no good tips for defeating this brand of "I'll do it later", except to empty your head of excuses, stand up from your swivel chair, and march into area containing the yet undone tasks awaiting your expertise. Remind yourself of two things: You'll feel better once it's done, and you'll feel worse the longer it looms.

With that said, I move on to the more curious matter of procrastination: tasks you actually enjoy doing. Thanks to psychological complexes and the fear of dissatisfaction, you might choose watching sub-par television over the great idea you had for a recipe,

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