Our Rockin' Rockaway Beach Party is next Tuesday, a week from tomorrow. (August 20th.) Pack up your kiddos, a picnic lunch, plenty to drink, sunscreen, towels and beach blanket, etc. (You know the drill.) Feel free to invite your friends to join us. We'll meet at 11-ish at the main beach in Rockaway, where the little train station is. You might want to bring along some money and hit the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the way home.
I'm still looking for a few good women to fill two openings on our Women's Ministry Team for this coming year. If you're interested in serving in this capacity, contact me for more information.
The Sizzle--Wapato's gift to our community--is this Sunday. Worship service will be at Brown Park beginning at 9:30. If you signed up to bring cookies for the Cookie Walk booth, please bring them with you Sunday morning. I'll be sending a letter out to those who volunteered to work at the booth, which will let you know what time slot I need you to fill. Thanks for all your help!
So, are there things you had planned to accomplish this summer, but haven't got around to yet? John and I still need to clean the lower garage and do a few other home projects. But somehow, those jobs are easy to put off. You know what we're being hit with--procrastination! My little granddaughter, Lili, recently had a birthday, and my mom was late in getting a card to her. So Mom chose a belated birthday one for this 7-year-old with a large vocabulary and great reading skills, that said something like, " Welcome to the land of procrastination, where I am queen!" I think we all take turns being queen of that land! I came across a good blog on the subject last week, that had some good ideas on how to deal with this problem. Maybe you'll find it helpful too. That is, if you ever get around to reading it!
6 Tips to Outsmart Procrastination
Rachel Olsen
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"God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but he has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination." ~ Saint Augustine
Are you frustrated with how often you put things off? Tired of paying the price of procrastination? Here's six tips to help you outsmart your tendency to procrastinate, and master the art of beginning now.
- Realize your resistance is normal. Everyone struggles with procrastination to some degree. It's not just you!
Our brains naturally value certainty and comfort -- and naturally resist tasks that feel scary, boring, or have uncertain outcomes. If we can't feel competent, have fun, feel appreciated, or be sure we'll succeed; we often don't want to do it. This is why we put off tasks we need to do, and even tasks that we long to do.
If resistance is normal -- other people feel it, yet get stuff done -- you too can get past your resistance and get started on that goal. - Make getting started feel simple. The trick is to make the task not look so big and not feel so dreadful. You want to begin the task without triggering your brain's usual resistance.
Try to pinpoint if your resistance is an issue of uncertainty or of discomfort, and brainstorm ways around that. For example, do you put off folding laundry because you find it tediously boring? Watch a favorite show, listen to a book on tape, or talk on the phone while you fold. Or allow yourself to fold for only two minutes at a time before doing something else. - Break procrastination-sensitive tasks down into smaller steps. Again, the trick is to make the task not look so big and not feel so dreadful. You want to circumvent your brain's usual trepidation.
Break the task down into short, small steps. Choose just one to do today. Set a timer if you like, and only work on it for a few minutes at a time. Soon you'll have the forward momentum of progress working for you.
The more resistance you feel towards the task, the smaller you need to break it down. And the less time you need to require of yourself in one day or "work session." - Eat your frog first. Mark Twain once said, "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day." Your live frog is your most dreaded task.
Take one of the steps on your small-steps list and do it first, before working on other things. Make a habit of making progress on your most procrastination-prone task the very first thing you do -- it will fuel you for the rest of your day. - Invite someone into the process. You can lean on others to help you complete your procrastination-sensitive tasks.
Can you make this task easier by soliciting help from someone that's good at it? Can you invite someone whose company you enjoy to be with you while you do the task? Can you hire a coach to motivate you and offer some accountability until the task is complete? The answer to these questions is often "yes."
If you hang out on social media when procrastinating, post that you are going to go work on this task for ten minutes and report back with your progress. The feeling that someone is watching can boost productivity. - Pray. God has called you to your work and He cares about its outcome -- invite Him into the process. Ask Him to give you focus, courage, stamina, wisdom -- whatever you need to complete the job. Don't forget to thank Him when you're feeling great that the task is done.
So what are you struggling to do? Plan the spring retreat? Do a budget? Call and recruit volunteers? Remind yourself mental resistance is normal. Then ask yourself: "How can I make this feel simple?" "How can I break the task I keep putting off into small, palatable pieces?" And, "How can I solicit help from God and others?"
As Zechariah 4:10 says, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin" (NLT).
With that being said, I think I'll go eat a frog!!
Sherrie Ashcraft, Women's Ministry Director
sherrieashcraft@gmail.com 971-285-6699
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