Procrastination  (pro-kras-tuh-na’shun) noun – “to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.”

What do you procrastinate doing? Spring/ Summer/Fall cleaning? Weekly cleaning? Washing windows? Cleaning out the stinking drain? Cleaning out or washing your vehicle? [guilty!] (Although, lately we have been having a “Free car wash day” almost every day here in the Ohio!) Writing that note to the widow who is shut in? Balancing the checkbook or working on your budget? [guilty!] 😐 Eating more fruits and vegetables? (Don’t wait until your health is gone before making some changes!!) Taking a dish of food to the new mother, or the mother with several children and a new baby? Offering to pick up groceries for your grandparent who cannot get out very easy? Making that phone call to _______? Getting with the friend or relative to see how they are “really” doing with life? Extending forgiveness to the persons to whom you are holding a grude against? Forgiving yourself?

This list could go on and on, but I think you get the point kontaktanonse. What is holding you back from doing any of the above? 1) Not enough time 2) Selfishness 3) Pride 4)Self proposed agenda versus heeding the gentle nudging of Holy Spirit.  5) You decide…..
Here is a quote from a friends website… “In the best of times, our days are numbered anyway. So it would be a crime against nature for any generation to take the world crisis so solemnly, that it put off enjoying those things for which we were designed in the 1st place: the opportunity to do good work, to enjoy friends, to fall in love, to hit a ball, and to bounce a baby.” ~Alistair Cooke
So based off this quote, there are other things that come to mind we procrastinate… spending time with grandparents, parents, going on a mini vacation with your spouse and children, spending quality time with each of your children separately or an evening with just your spouse…

I am writing this mainly for myself, because I habitually procrastinate in too many areas and need the reminder to be more transparent and honest. Perhaps you can relate?
“Finally brethren, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, or of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12

Tips From Crown Biblical Financial Study Workbook

A procrastinator is someone who, because of laziness or fear, has a habit or putting things off until later. This habit often develops into a serious character flaw.

Here are some practical suggestions to help overcome procrastination:

1) List the things you need to do each day.
2) Prayerfully review the list and prioritize it according to the tasks you need to accomplish first.
3) Finish the first task on your list before starting the second. Often the first task is the most difficult or the one you fear the most.
4) Ask God to give you courage, remembering Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”.

Until next week, let’s work on some of our habits we need to break! It’s ok to start new {{GOOD}} habits! (Like not procrastinating!) 😉

~Coach Shannon

Last week, I got the text message from my mom that her father, my grandfather, had been having chest pains and was in the hospital. The next day, Tuesday, I was off work, so went to the hospital in time to be in his room just as they brought him back from the surgery room. I found out Grandpa had just had 4 stents placed in 2 different arteries in his heart. 4 stents at 90 years old! Overnight, his life had changed. He told me later, the symptoms he had was “an elephant sitting on his chest with pain radiating down the left arm”. These are the typical male symptoms for a heart attack! I am so glad the Doctors were able to open his arteries with small little stents so the blood flow can continue!  Now, there are other changes and decisions that will need to be made so the blood flow can continue. Changes in what is eaten, activities performed and new medications.

There are times in our life when changes happen… sometimes big changes; sometimes small changes. We have changes in the home, at work, at school, at church. Some changes are out of our control, other times, we make choices that cause changes – whether for the better or worse. Maybe you are stuck in a rut and would like a change? Maybe you are no longer enjoying or benefiting from your job and need a different one? Perhaps your health has been slowly declining … unnoticed… and suddenly you realize you don’t feel as good as you used to.

How do you know when it is time to change jobs? Here are some tips:

• When your emotions control you instead of you being able to control your emotions (anger outbursts, crying at the small things, stuffing your emotions inside, etc)
• When you dread the thought of going to work
• When you are unable to represent the company with a positive attitude.
• When the amount of stress you are under at work causes the stress to increase at your home- whether with family or relationships outside of work
• When the communication at work is broken with false accusations
• When you work late every evening and have to grab fast food for dinner more than 4 times a month

How do you know when it is time to change what you are eating?

• When you sit down in front of the computer or TV and the entire bag of chips disappears in front of you (eating more than a portion size of any one food or snack)
• When you notice you do not have as much energy as you used to
• When life brings an unwanted or stressful change and you turn to food to “satisfy” the restless feelings inside you
• When your weight increases more than it should in a short amount of time

These points (and others you can fill in for your own situations) are red flags that indicate a change is necessary.

Here are some tips to get you through changes that are stressful or unwanted:

• Find a health coach or friend who is willing to support you in some {{GOOD}} changes and keep you accountable
• Speak the truth to yourself (no negative self talk)
• Tell yourself you are worth this good change
• Pray for guidance and direction
• Go for walks in the nature park or bike path
• Take a deep breath… often!
• Make a decision to change and stick to it. If you have a gut feeling that something is not right, listen to your inner feelings.
• Talk things out with someone who can be a middle person- someone who will give you honest answers and suggestions.
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep. Our brains cannot function properly and make rational decisions on too little sleep.

If you are struggling with life, emotions, health challenges or the decision about what changes to make in your eating habits, please know you are not alone. I am not perfect and have struggles and decisions to make too. While it may not be easy to trust someone you do not know; please give me a chance to walk beside you and give support where others may not. Send me an email at mannafoldblessings@gmail.com today! My ear is always open to listen!

Until next time,

Coach Shannon 🙂