I’m not sure what has happened to me over the last few years. Don’t get me wrong I’ve always been a terrible procrastinator, or should that say I’m a fantastic procrastinator? But I always used to be on time, as a matter of fact I was usually ridiculously early. Maybe this was a habit from when I couldn’t drive, so needed to plan ahead around bus times or walking? I’m not sure.
Even when I had four small children nipping at my ankles I could get all of us out the door and wherever we were heading in the blink of an eye. I also had this magical ability of reading a a hospital appointment letter and being able to remember the time and date, even if it was months away.
Then I turned 30, became pregnant with O and all that changed. My brain seemed to turn to mush, I missed appointments and suddenly started losing track of time. By the time we had an actual newborn in the house we were rarely where we were supposed to be at the time we were supposed to be there.
Even after two years it feels like I still forget everything in the blink of an eye. Can it really be called “baby brain” when said baby is now two years old and is walking and talking (well, full on talking might be pushing it a bit too far, let’s say communicating, he does that really well).
Just a quick interjection here here to say that I was supposed to making dinner and while the veg was cooking thought I would sit and write a bit of this post, instead of sorting the kitchen. Here are the results of my procrastinating. I tried to save them but the taste was just awful!
Kind of ironic that I burn the dinner while writing a post about procrastination and timing huh?
Anywho, where was I? Oh yes…
Over the last year or so I have tried to keep on top of appointments and planned visits. I have a million alarms to make sure I get out the door for school drop offs/pick ups. I have one with a warning to get ready and one to tell me that I REALLY need to leave. This makes sure that even if I have managed to get distracted at the last minute.
I also have this white board in the living room which I try to get everyone to write all the important dates down. I have to be honest that earlier this year I got a bit lax cleaning it off to write new things and just rubbed a bit out to make space, plus the girls like to send messages to each other. But I’ve cleaned it all off (apart from where a certain young lady decided to use a sharpie pen!!!) and now it’s much easier to make sense of it all. I think I might need to get myself a new one soon though.
Another thing which I find handy to keep on top of things is to keep a diary. Having school age children means it is much more useful for me to have one that runs from September to August to I can keep track of things, like inset days throughout the school year. Of course of majority of diaries run January to December.
I am also quite fussy with the layout of my diaries. There never seems to be enough space in each days box and often I want to write notes for the week as a whole not just for a specific day.
Fortunately for me, companies like Toad Diaries now provide you the option of designing a diary completely around your needs. You choose everything from the cover, right down to the layout. Maybe you need a page a day, starting in April. Or starting in September with the weeks view on one side and notes on the other like I do.
There is a handy little pocket at the back which I keep my stamps safe in, because they make lovely stickersnow you don’t have to lick them. When you first get your diary there is even a little piece of paper for you to make your own little jumping toad, which I think is a really lovely touch.
Hopefully, now I’m getting more sleep, my brain cells will start to work again soon, but for now I have plenty to help me get where I need to be and on time.
As for getting distracted but all the things, and procrastinating my way through life? I think it’s something I’m stuck with, although hopefully it won’t end up in burnt carrots!
Are you a procrastinator? Or are you always late for everything? I can’t be the only one surely?
***Disclaimer: I was provided with the Toad Diary for this purposes of this post but all thoughts and ideas are honest and my own***
Becky says
September 28, 2015 at 9:44 amI always procrastinate I do my own head in. !
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Claire says
September 30, 2015 at 10:08 pmI think this diary sounds ideal to get me more organised and do things efficiently x
MsPrettyLThings says
September 30, 2015 at 10:19 pmI really like the idea of a diary that you can customize to suit your needs. Fantastic for everyone including procrastinators!
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mellissa williams says
September 30, 2015 at 11:20 pmI have to admit, I am not a proscrastinator, I like to get things done. I use notes on my phone to keep track of things when out and about but I must admit I use a notebook to keep myself organised. There is nothing simpler than pen and paper.
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Serena says
September 30, 2015 at 11:25 pmI also seem to procrastinate a lot, it’s become a really bad habit! The diary looks great for organisation!
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Sarah Bailey says
October 1, 2015 at 12:31 amI am the late for everything person and my other half is early for everything so it works out quite well lol. x
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Tori Gabriel says
October 1, 2015 at 3:02 amI am like you used to be. I’m always miles early for stuff. I think for the same reasons too. I don’t drive (it’s on the to do list). I wonder if it will change when I do?
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The London Mum says
October 1, 2015 at 9:38 amI’m a terrible procrastinator. I always have been. Everything gets done but I do leave things until he last minute. I had to write my university dissertation two days. I spent literally the full amount of time in the library just so I could hand something! lol x
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Sally Akins says
October 1, 2015 at 10:44 amOoh, I love the idea of being able to design my own diary, I’m definitely going to check that out!
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Rachel says
October 1, 2015 at 1:25 pmI am somewhere in the middle, I am a list and note writer but also procrastinate x
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Jenni - Odd Socks and Lollipops says
October 1, 2015 at 2:21 pmI am terrible with organisation for a lot of thing, but for some reason I am always early for things like appointments! I try to get organised each year as a resolution but it never lasts!
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Kacie says
October 1, 2015 at 4:13 pmI am the worlds biggest procrastinator! That looks like a cool diary though
Renna says
October 1, 2015 at 4:37 pmI’m always late, always have been, so much so, that friends will lie about the time to meet up, so I might actually be on time!!!
I also have a large whiteboard to write dates and appointments down…. This does not guarantee that I’ll actually be there, but….it’s a start right. Since being a stay at home mum, I feel thicker every week!!
Lorraine says
October 1, 2015 at 9:47 pmI’m a big time procrastinator (even as we speak, I’m procrastinating by not finishing my college assignment for tomorrow) think it’s something that I live by and defiantly a habit I need to break.
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Mini Travellers says
October 2, 2015 at 7:09 amI love that you burnt the carrots whilst writing a post about procrastinating! just perfect!!!
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Ickle Pickle says
October 2, 2015 at 9:25 pmI am a totally expert master procrastinator. And I am always late. And I burn water because I start doing other things! Thank you for making me feel normal 😉 Kaz x
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Teresa Bowen says
October 2, 2015 at 10:32 pmI could win an Olympic medal for procrastination, if I managed to turn up on time!
mami2five says
October 3, 2015 at 9:35 amHahaha, love it! We sound very alike 😉
Jacqui @ Mummy's Little Monkey says
October 6, 2015 at 8:28 pmEurgh. I hate that feeling when you’re just chasing your tail all day, and feel like you’ve gotten absolutely nothing done. I blame social media for distracting me. It’s not my fault. 😉 x
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mami2five says
October 6, 2015 at 9:08 pmSocial media is a major distraction! I’ve even considered just switching the internet off at the router…but then I get distracted again 😉