Procrastination: What It Is and How to Prevent It

I was excited to receive another guest post from Hope Tucker. It's so encouraging to hear the heart of a young woman. If cleaning your closet is an overwhelming task to you, be sure to read this!

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By: Hope Tucker

Procrastination. Everyone experiences it in their own way, and for something as simple as saying, "I'll do it later," it sure can cause a lot of trouble. When you procrastinate, you put extra stress on yourself -- stress that you don't really need -- and the longer you do it, the more the stress multiplies. Now at this point, you may be asking yourself, "Do I procrastinate?" Because it's so common, there's a good chance you do, but if you're not sure, then ask yourself these questions:

1: Do I have something I hate doing so much that I find it easier to just not do it? (In my case, it's organizing my closet. I'm not a very organized person anyway, and putting a mountain of clothes to sort through on top of all that can be really stressful.)

2: Are there times when I feel unnecessary dread, and can't stop thinking about whatever it is I don't like doing? (Again, with the whole closet thing.)

3: Are the phrases, "I'll do it later," "Not right now," and "I've got all the time in the world," a part of my everyday life?

If you said yes to any one of these questions, then join the club. Almost everyone procrastinates at some point in their lives. For the few who don't (if there are any of you out there), I highly commend you because, as you've already heard, I'm definitely not one of you. Procrastination is a hard habit to break, but it's not impossible. There's still hope for all of us who have this tendency, because (and I know this sounds hard) all you have to do is face your problems head-on instead of waiting until they're too big to solve.

Knowing that others are going through the same thing can really help you get through it. If there's something you procrastinate with that's always bugging you, then don't be afraid to tell someone close to you about it. I know that can be kind of embarrassing, but trust me, you'll feel a lot better after you've confided with a parent or mentor. They want what's best for you and can help hold you accountable, but remember to talk with God. After all, He's the best Friend you can have -- dependable, understanding, always willing to help. Plus, He can guide you in breaking your habit way better than anyone else can.

Like I said before, if you don't procrastinate and don't really need this message like the rest of us do, then don't worry about it. I'm sure you can help someone who does. But if you do, just hang in there. Once you defeat procrastination, you'll have the tools you need to prevent it. Remember, there's power in prayer, so I'll pray for you and you pray for me, and together, we'll all get through this, one step at a time.

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So, Ladies, do you hear those dirty closets calling? Don't procrastinate, get up, and go purge five things! ;)

(To read Hope's previous post, click here.)

Bud or Stem?

This week I received a post from a young lady in the 8th grade who feels it's important for young women to make wise decisions in their lives. Here is what she wrote!

By: Hope Tucker

A young woman is like a rose, whether she resembles its bud -- beautiful, filled with potential and sweet fragrance, or its stem -- rough, jagged, covered with thorns capable of tearing into flesh. She reflects these qualities in all that she does; her words, her actions, even something that may seem insignificant can affect the world around her, for better or for worse.

Now, every woman must make a big decision in life -- and no, it's not which pair of shoes go with a favorite dress, or how many friends she'll accept on facebook. Those decisions can be important in their own right, but this one can easily become permanent, and it affects other people, not just the one deciding. Will this woman be the rosebud, and grace the world with a godly presence, or will she be the stem, with a disposition as sharp and unattractive as a thorn? It's important to be aware of this decision before making it. Wouldn't it be awful to spend all that time hurting those around you, only to have lost their trust so that whenever you try and make things right, they just walk the other way? You don't want to be that girl, do you? It's understandable to have flaws, for every rosebud has its torn petals, but taking it to the extreme causes a lot of unnecessary heartache for not only yourself, but for the people you love.

So take the first step. Try complimenting a friend, or giving a helping hand to someone who needs it. Anything can make a difference. Then, just wait. Your outlook on life will improve when your attitude does, and chances are, it'll be the same for someone close to you, because, as everyone knows, a smile is contagious.

God has blessed me with this important lesson at a young age, and I am fortunate to be able to share it with my sisters in Christ. If there's one thing you can take from my advice, it's this: For the next week, I challenge you to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, "Am I a bud or a stem?"