A Menu, Please

Written By Betty Chan

I used to consider myself a chronic procrastinator, always pushing things to the last minute. I could pull off good work under pressure, but it didn't feel good.

During this, my mind would mercilessly taunt me:

  • Betty, you're so lazy! You could've started this days ago.

  • Feeling tired and cranky? Tough luck, you did this to yourself.

  • Will you ever learn? Maybe you're just not cut out for this.

No one else said these things to me, but they felt like the harsh truths I had to accept. So, I tried every strategy in the book and took advice from well-intentioned people. I made plans, schedules, and tried time-management techniques like Pomodoro. The results were inconsistent.

“Sometimes, I ended up spending more time preparing to work than doing the work.”

So, I ditched the traditional productivity tactics. Instead, I used how I eat to inform how I work.

Whenever I’m indecisive about food cravings, I would opt for multiple dishes. Following this pattern, I would put down the rigid schedules, take an hour to reflect on what activities move me forward, and created a smorgasbord of activities for myself.

After all, who doesn't love a tasting menu? 😋

Eventually, I realized a few fundamental truths:

  • I need variety like we all need fresh air.

  • I need the agency to decide how to spend my time.

  • I need the freedom to switch gears.

  • I need to follow my joy, not stifle it with relentless pushing.

  • I'm not weird or defective for needing these things.

It felt great!

With some practice, I realized nothing I did was wasted:

  • If I dabble in a subject briefly and switch gears, that knowledge stays with me forever because of my presence.

  • I'm 3-4x more efficient when I'm genuinely interested in a task. Enjoying what I do makes the less enjoyable tasks more manageable.

  • My ability to navigate complex concepts and scenarios has improved because I've honed my ability for “tangent” thinking.

Having a menu made it easier to regain momentum when I was feeling lost, distracted, or just needed to slow down.

So, if you find that procrastination is in your way…



💬 ASK YOURSELF:

What would progress look like if there is no right choice, order, or speed to get things done?

If you need a gentle space to explore this question, make progress with scheduling a Discovery Call.

Let’s explore how showing up more as yourself can reshape your life. 

Betty Chan
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