The art of procrastination and getting stuff done!

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This is an example of a roman shade. It’s not my fabric and my window is double instead of triple.

I don’t procrastinate. I like to get things done especially the projects that aren’t my favorite (unless there is an outside chance of someone else doing it which there never is). That trait made me successful at work. It also helped get things done in the home. If something needed to be done and I couldn’t afford it, I’d learn how to do it. Worked well. Then I got old and less confident.

Window treatments for my kitchen area have been on my list for a year. At first I wanted to see how the kitchen would work out – cabinet colors, tile, counter tops. Then I wanted the new carpet in. Now everything is done except the windows. I even considered getting them custom made but was blown away by the cost. That’s a lot of Starbucks mochas. I have a long narrow window and a large double window in the kitchen. The narrow one is done. It’s that dang double one that has me flummoxed.

I’ve done a lot of different styles, but I couldn’t get my butt in gear for this project. I thought of the dumbest excuses. Not today it looks like rain. Not today it’s sunny. It already 11 a.m. so there is no point in starting it now. (Who are we kidding? I’m usually on the computer until then so nothing starts early).

It finally hit me. I don’t procrastinate unless I’m not sure how to do something. That first time you do something complicated (like taxes) is always the killer. After that it’s a walk in the park (Ok, maybe not so with taxes).

Window treatments have changed in the last twenty years. They are almost non-existent with not even a floof at the top. People put a blind on and call it a day. I like some fabric to warm up the room. I’m going to make a roman shade. Maybe. Probably. It’s in style looking like a shade, doesn’t appear too difficult but it is more complicated than it looks. There are rods inserted to stabilize the folds and eye hooks with cording so they can go up and down, hopefully at the same time. Lots of areas to screw up. My latest excuse is “I’m strategizing how to do this.”

I have three different sets of instructions, the fabric (which was a procrastinator in itself) and the mechanical things I need. Now I need the courage to forge ahead. The worst that can happen is it’s a huge fail and I have to salvage the fabric to make a floof. No one will know but you, my gentle readers when you see the pictures and it’s not a roman shade. Then again, you may not remember my angst.

Are you a procrastinator? Of everything or just some things? Do you play tricks or award treats for encouragement (my favorite is an extra trip to Starbucks)? Come on buttercup, spill! I want to hear from you! Maybe I’ll learn something.

63 thoughts on “The art of procrastination and getting stuff done!”

  1. I had Roman blinds in the last house and loved them. When they broke…oh, yeah dogs…try that innocent look with someone else, I had to figure out repairs and construction. You’ll get it.
    Tha most difficult part must be finding the fabric – so few carry fabric anymore! A bit sad as I grew up when most sewed clothes and home decor – my mom enjoyed sewing and did a lot – even slip covers. I know how, but sewing is tedious…yet to save money and to ge something done, I’ll deal with the irritation. Still, glue guns are so useful (Learned so many tricks making drama sets in college.)
    Currently I’m procrastinating with blogging…having to catchup with so many other projects/chores that I procrastinated with over the past few weeks!

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  2. When it comes to creative projects, procrastinator all the way. I have boxes of stuff for multiple creative projects, all still in the “I’m planning to do it” stage. That stage has been known to last years. Good luck with your shade!!

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    • Creative projects that are crafty, like photo albums or over organizing are not high on my list. Most of mine are in the “sort of must do” category. Finished the shade yesterday. Not perfect but not too shabby. It makes a big difference in the kitchen. I hate the look of a lot of big bare windows unless they have nice woodwork around them.

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  3. Pingback: Random 5 for April 10, 2022 – Flooding, disappointments, contractors, death, flowers | Views and Mews by Coffee Kat

  6. I’m a mix. It’s partially mood dependent and partially dependent on the task. I generally like to get things done, but other times I’m a total procrastinator. Looking forward to seeing your roman shades – you’ve got this!!

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  7. I’m not a procrastinator either, Kate, but I think I probably am in the way you’re experiencing the delays in your window project. I hadn’t really thought about it, but I have to be prepared to jump into a project, and if I can’t quite envision how to get something done, it must look to others like procrastination. Really, I’m just strategizing and figuring out my steps before I begin. I hope you get your Roman shades done so you can feel the exhale of a project completed. I’m sure you will once you have all of your steps lined up!

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  8. I procrastinate far too much. Back in my school days, the pressure of a deadline always seemed to help my creativity and motivation. Today, much of my procrastination is needing help for even simple tasks. Having to ask for help stops me in my tracks. Used to be I would bluff my way through things like simple plumbing even if it took me a week to get it done. Now, I put off calling someone, whether a friend or a professional. Cost and general annoyance are my biggest speed bumps.

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    • Although it’s hard to believe considering all the projects we’ve done in the past year, I hate the inconvenience of contractors, even the best ones. I treasure a quiet house without strangers and the constant cleaning! Projects I do myself depend. I can’t do what I used to and sometimes I forget that. The other factor is that for many things it takes weeks, months and in the case of our landscaper, a full year to get someone to do something.

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      • We have the same problem around here – and I hear from people I know around the country. Trying to get someone to even respond to you takes a miracle. I don’t know if there aren’t enough people doing repair and remodeling or no one cares about doing their best job anymore. Many people seem to be feeling pretty jaded when it comes to hiring help for projects.

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        • The landscaper was the worst. Contacted in July 2021, he said they could do it in April. His turnaround on the contract changes were hampered by his August vacation so it wasn’t signed until the end of August. By that time July 2022 was the earliest. Had I known that in July, I would have done more checking around.

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  9. I procrastinate about things that need to be done that I don’t like and think of any excuse not to do them. And, I have rewarded myself with some type of treat on a job well done (or at least done). 🙂

    Years ago when we redid the kitchen from brown/rust braided rugs and rust/cream window treatments to colonial blue (it’s a country kitchen), all that remained was buying a new roll-up blind for the kitchen window as the cafe curtains didn’t give much relief from the strong morning sun. So the roll-up blind with the rust-colored fringe had to go. My mom said “take the fringe off and get some colonial blue fringe to trim it with and put it on with a glue gun.” I said “that’ll look terrible – we’ve done everything else over, so I’ll take this blind to the blind store and order another one – it’s going to look great.” Now how difficult could that be? I left the blind as a sample and the price was outrageous – I don’t remember now, but I thought “even though my mom and I split expenses, no way was she going to know how much this stupid blind cost.” I lied, when asked how much by reducing the price by half. They called and I picked it up a week later – looked great and didn’t fit … cut too small. Returned it – they said “come back in a week.” Still didn’t fit so asked for my money back and was told “all sales final – look at the bill.” Grrrr. I came home and said “the blind store was nice and refunded the money, so I stopped at Michael’s and bought some fringe and a glue gun.” The blind came out perfectly – what a colossal waste of time, effort and money.

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  10. I am the antithesis of a procrastinator. Now, that has its negatives too because sometimes I do something that I find out didn’t have to be done or I pitch something I want three months later. 🙂 Sewing wise, I’m a very visual person. I would read those directions and like others mentioned, I’d be watching YouTube videos until I found one that made perfect sense to me. I’d probably bite your project off in pieces so I could feel some sort of satisfaction as I reached each milestone. Head games, but sometimes they work when you’re older and things take longer than they use to. At least, that’s how things are here. 🙂

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    • That’s what I did but I hit the wall today. Despite following the directions carefully and watching the ding dang youtube 87K times, I ran into some snags. Some were mine and some were the Youtube creators. They gave the wrong dimension for something and I think my fabric is heavy for the large size of the window. I gave up for today but tomorrow I will try a new tactic. Yes, I’ve also done something only to find out I could have gotten away without doing it.

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  11. I’m not a procrastinator, but I am very linear which can be very similar. I can’t do one thing unless something related to it (even if that’s only in my mind) is finished first. Window treatments are a good example of this. We have none in our home yet — in any of the rooms. But I haven’t wanted to address that until other things are done first. I haven’t gotten any pushback on that, so perhaps my wife is in agreement. The roman shade looks really good! – Marty

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    • I get that. I wouldn’t buy the kitchen carpet until the kitchen was completely done in case there were any surprised and I ended up with something that didn’t work (mostly size wise). I have only changed out a very few window treatments or reused what I had. I’d rather go room by room in case I want to change out something else. That gets done first. I get linear.

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  12. I’m a terrible procrastinator. When I realize that the project overwhelms or intimidates me , I make a list. Steps necessary to get it done. I try to make it detailed and for each step to be small. Just doing the list is a major relief for me. It’s like a guide book and a progress bar.

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  14. Great quesitons, Kate. In general, I’m the opposite of a procrastinator (I think it’s so rare that there isn’t a real word for it). If I know I am going to have to do something — I like to get it done, dusted and out of the way. The big problem with this plan, is that more stuff jumps in to fill the void. So next life, I will be procrastinating all the way! 😀
    Still, I love the sound of the Roman Shades and am impressed that you are willing to give them a try. I know that whatever you attempt will be great. I look forward to seeing the photos.

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    • I’m a lot like you. I like to get the nasty out of the way. That seems to work best for me at least until I hit a wall. I made some progress on the shade yesterday but I’m pacing myself. I’ll do more prep today and hopefully finish them tomorrow (Friday) if all goes well. If it doesn’t I’ll rethink it.

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  15. I keep trying to find ‘the right starting point’ for particular projects, the key thing that will help it all happen, and that can be hard. That difficulty in finding the best first step feels like the trouble more than me just putting something off out of laziness or preference for something else.

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  16. I am a procrastinator on things I don’t want to do. Have you looked on youtube? There may be videos, I find seeing someone else make something helps me. Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog for the loss of Sammy. XO

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    • I have a YouTube video that I keep referring too and it does make it easier. I lost Mollie two years ago and every time a friend loses their pet, I feel the pain all over again. They are very special.

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  19. I do tend to procrastinate on thiings I know will be BIG FAT PROBLEMS……everything else I do when I think of it. I’m also a list-maker which helps me SEE what needs to be done and I love marking those things off when they’re done. Seeing progress helps push me onward. Bravo for you wanting to make roman shades – I got beautiful dark green ones for the “bump out” window in the kitchen – only problem was over time the sun faded certain parts of them (my fault for getting dark colors!). I now have a standard but beautifully decorative window shade in each of the bump out’s three windows. GOOD LUCK – I think you CAN do this – (be like “The Engine That Could” and just repeat “ITHINKICANITHINKICANITHINKICAN”! )

    Hugs, Pam

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    • I’m sure I can if I can only get started! Fortunately this is a north window so the sun doesn’t hit it. I need to do something on my but west decorative window but it’s up high so I’ll have to get a professional to do it. Maybe just a shade or something that I can have permanently down with light coming through. It’s arched so that makes it harder (and more $$).

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  20. I like to accomplish things straightaway, but life doesn’t allow me to do that. There is always something I have to wait for, or someone who needs to come through first, so that everything drags on, and on, and on. It’s infuriating but whatcha gonna do?

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  21. I procrastinate on starting things I don’t really want to do. Worse yet, even if I’m gung-ho to start something, I can only put a couple of hours into it until I’m tired of doing it; it sits half-finished and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how tired I got working on it before and procrastinate getting started again. I used to get a great deal of positive feelings of achievement when I’d finish a project, especially a project I wasn’t keep on doing in the first place. Now that feeling is almost non-existent because I don’t have any one to show it off to or even brag to about it.

    I like the look of Roman shades, and I really applaud you for thinking of doing them yourself. Now THAT would be an achievement I’d find a way to tell the world about (I don’t sew, for starters!).

    I have no doubt you will have success – when the time is right – and once you feel confident with starting. Go for it!

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  22. I am a procrastinator with most things. No tricks or rewards do I promise myself to get motivated. I am one of those people who decides on blinds and calls it done. The current house came with plantation shutters on most of the windows. I think it is awesome that you can do window treatments. It would take me a year just to decide on fabric. I will be looking forward to roman shades or a floof!

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    • The fabric took a long time to chose. First there aren’t many shops that carry fabric and the selection was limited. I tried a beautiful designer store but the price per yard was $$$. I don’t want it to get pricey when it’s the first time I’m doing it. Just as I was going to settle, I made one more trip to one of the big box craft shops and they got a new fabric in. The scale is just a little larger than I wanted but it’s ok and the colors are perfect. The fabric took a lot of running around, then I waited until it went on sale. I finally picked it up on Monday.

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    • My last house had mini blinds. Won’t do those again. A bird got caught between a screen and a window (small tear in screen). Morgan went nuts and almost totally destroyed the blind. I had to walk outside to cut a bigger hole in the screen so the terrified bird could get out. Morgan took a nap and I tried to unbend all the slats.

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  24. Since retirement, I’m a procrastinator on “errands” ~ I get taxes done on time, I exercise daily, I cook healthy meals, BUT shopping (for a printer, a mattress, a watch) seems to be on hold for perpetuity. I expect blinds would be the same.

    We only have one window in the villa ~ and 4 sets of sliders. So we just have vertical blinds for privacy. On the window there is a valance (which I made out of pillow cases):

    https://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/no-sew-valance/

    Good Luck!

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    • I was fortunate to be able to use the window treatments from my last house here for many of the rooms. I didn’t take take the valance I had in the old kitchen and I’ve been kicking myself ever since. That would have worked out great here. Once I get what I like, I let it there for a long time. We did solar shades in the music room and I love them. It’s a long box window. I may put a cornice over it at some point but I don’t have to.

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  25. Like you, I procrastinate on some things, but usually have such a strong impulse to get things done that I resist procrastination. If it is something I really don’t want to do, or am nervous about doing, however, it can move from one day to the next on my daily “to do” list.

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