Thief of time

I may be the worlds most expert procrastinator. One of my catch-phrases is "why put off until tomorrow that which you can put off until next week". My other one is "why take one word when a thousand will do", but more of that anon.

I've begun to realise that my procrastination is a problem, so I've been trying to find a 'workround'. And Filofax came to mind. I've never had a Filofax before. Years ago, in my big corporate days, they issued all the management lackeys with Time Managers and even sent some of them on the course. For weeks, even months, afterwards the more easily persuaded managers would wander round with their bulky Time Managers tucked under their arms. And if the MD was about they all made a great show of using them. Then the tide of the Filofax fashion arrived and swept the big bulky Time Managers before it to be replaced with sleek, elegant leather Filofaxes. It was about this time I got my Time Manager. I have always been a dedicated follower of fashion (as Ray said). The word 'follower' being the apposite one.

Then I went for long time with nothing, until I became one of the names over the door (no, not a pub). I felt that, as an important company director, I needed something like my Time Manager again. Collins made something suitably bulky and covered in zips and things. It had lots of room for very important notes. I used that for a couple of years and then went over to Black and Red notebooks. These were possibly the most successful. Now I use the Oxford EasyBooks, which are, joy of joys, pre-punched! So the filing is really easy to do... or will be, I'm sure.

But lately I've noticed that not only am I procrastinating things, I am also forgetting that which I procrastinate: out of sight - out of mind. Literally. So I need to write down the things that I am not going to do. But the little slips of paper get left in pockets and lost and ... oh, it's a disaster and nothing is getting done even less efficiently than heretofore.

So yesterday when I finally faced-up to my problem. It was Feb 6 and I still hadn't done the invoice run for January. It was urgent. I needed to do it forthwith. So naturally I went out. And while out I bought a Filofax. I spent the rest of the morning filling in the dairy and the "To Do" list.

The good news is that it is working. I've now done one of the things on the To Do list and it's only Tuesday morning. And there is the added bonus that I hadn't foreseen of only having one thing to put off: reading my To Do list. So much more efficient. Actually, if you don't mind I better go and look at it now. But perhaps I should just .... yes, milk and no sugar thanks.