“I don’t feel like doing that right now.” Not feeling like it could mean physically or emotionally. Physically, we could feel tired or sluggish. A poor night of sleep could leave us struggling to stay awake. We could have aches and pains. Maybe a headache or eye strain interferes. Emotionally, we could be stressed from the day. We could be sad or down. We could feel irritated. Maybe we feel “blah.” But not feeling like it could be a mental trick which is a component of procrastination. We imagine something to be harder than it is or expect it to take longer than it does. Our negative expectations lead us to not feel like doing it. Waiting until you “feel like it” can work against your progress toward goals or freeing up time for pleasure and it can leave you with that nagging feeling hanging over you.
It takes too
long.
There are
times when resting or taking a break is the right thing to do. But we can
thoughtlessly get in the habit of delaying things by expecting to feel like
doing something. This is a problem when it keeps you from reaching your goals
or doing activities you like doing. I once had an art professor tell our class
that art is not all about feeling pleasure and creativity. Completing a piece
of art involves focus and persistence over time. Those are not common qualities
people think of when they think of the “artsy” type of person. Hobbies can be
easily neglected. It can help to schedule hobby time. Feeling like doing an
activity can be related to your belief that you will have the quality time to
spend on it.
I have had
many a home decorating idea or a vacation idea go unfulfilled for years because
I didn’t prioritize the planning of it. Without planning and taking action on
the tasks to make the vision come to be, it remains just a daydream. But
planning action steps doesn’t seem fun. Those wonderful ideas are projects that
need to be planned and implemented just like ‘project management’ in business.
Doing it
could lead to feeling better.
In the area
of exercise, there are a number of sayings that reflect the idea that you could
feel more like doing something if you just get started. “Just put on your
shoes.” “Just get out the door.” “Just go to the end of the driveway.” I have
altered these to fit my circumstances. “I will put on my shoes and walk to the
mailbox.” “I will go to the gym and just do 10 minutes.” Usually, once I have
done either of those, I find I feel better and want to continue the activity. I
want to continue on to walk around the nearby park. I want to do another 5
minutes and then another 5 minutes on the elliptical.
I have found
this concept works in other areas. For example, I often have headaches. Much of
the time, if I have a headache at work but get involved in something that
distracts me, such as running a group, my headache subsides. I could be feeling
grumpy but a co-worker says something funny and lifts my mood. I could dread a
busy day, but the busy-ness turns out to bring up my energy, though I don’t
like to admit it!
This
morning, I made my coffee and paid bills. I had procrastinated this chore, but
completing it pleases me and I feel more organized.
So, when you
don’t feel like doing something but you know it would be a good thing to do,
just put on your shoes and get started. You will feel better.
Don’t leave
it to chance. Plan activity for levels of energy.
Most people
have a pattern of energy levels over the course of a day. You can match the
activity you do to the type of energy available. For example, I find I am more
mentally creative in the morning so that is when I will write posts and make
graphics. As I wind down from that hour or two of creativity and I lose my
mental edge, it is time to go for a walk or spend time at the gym. Sometimes,
early in the morning while others are asleep is when I like to sweep the
kitchen or fold some laundry. I find I enjoy my individual counseling sessions
with my adult clients in the early evening. After 8:00 pm, though, I am on the
couch and that is the time to respond to a few people on social media.
My energy
levels are affected by the surrounding circumstances. For example, the time of
year and the amount of daylight available is an influence as I seem to get
tired earlier when it gets dark earlier. The number of people around me makes a
difference. I am most creative when I am alone. And, of course, we have
schedules imposed on us through work or having to accommodate others’
schedules.
Pay
attention to your natural levels of energy especially on your days off from
work or other imposed schedules. When you feel good, you likely will do things
you enjoy. You can plan to do chores when you know your brain is less alert.
You can make effective and productive use of your time and energy with a little
awareness and planning.
So, don’t
expect to wait until you feel like doing an activity. Plan the action steps,
get started, and schedule tasks according to energy levels. Enjoy!
