The Art of Procrastination

pro·cras·ti·nate
v. pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing, pro·cras·ti·nates
v.intr.
To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
v.tr.
To postpone or delay needlessly.

The above definition says it all of course, but am I the only writer out there that when finally I've got time where I can sit down and write, I don't? I mean, say it ain't so. It can't just be me, but boy doesn't it piss me off.

Like today for instance. No plans for the day, I didn't have to go out for any reason whatsoever. No Christmas parties to attend. NOTHING. Hubby said he was going to take care of the cleaning for today, which, I might add, he's apparently having the same procrastination issue I'm currently experiencing. But the point is my day was free. Free to write, write, write. These days don't happen often. Not for me anyway.

I was up early, by 7, sat and drank coffee for two hours. Then the hubby and I found the most fascination show on TV...something like the top biggest celebrity screw-ups of 2007. Yeah, shockingly, this show, which can only be compared to a train wreck, held our attention for the 1 or 2 hours it was on. Then more channel surfing. Make some tea, have a snack and then finally decide that it's time to hit the office.

Well, of course my desk is messy. I can't 'create' in this state of chaos. So you know what's coming, right? Yes! I just had to absolutely clean my office. The whole damn thing. Got that done and went upstairs for another snack...I think I eat too much...and hubby was watching an interesting show on mystery hybrid dogs stalking around in the Maine woods. Of course this catches my attention, because I remember these stories and I grew up in the area they happened in so I had to sit and watch the whole show.

More of that type of stuff throughout the rest of the afternoon and now, here it is, 5:15 and I haven't written one word.

Here's my question(s): Are you a procrastinator? Do you have any special tricks up your sleeve to overcome it? And lastly, would you mind sharing?

C-