Procrastination, quilting, and taking action to get what you really want from life

My sister is a quilter and shops for fabric whenever she happens upon an interesting fabric store or quilt shop.  She’s confessed to having a disorder she calls S-A-B-L-E or Stuff Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy, meaning she has more fabric than she will ever use in her crafting life.

Lately, I’ve been pondering whether this phenomenon is unique to sewing or crafting.  I think it exists in all our lives and relates to my chosen field of health and wellness coaching.  I wonder if procrastination doesn’t intervene and cause us to be in a state of chronic contemplation or chronic preparation—where we look for idea after idea to implement, only to be certain that there must be an even better method or plan out there that will guarantee our success. We are on the hunt for the best course of action.  I now think it’s possible to read too much, listen to too many podcasts, and sign up for too many improvement programs.  We can become overwhelmed by too many ideas and concepts and not be able to select one to begin to work with and try out to see results.  

I’ve done this with some of my favorite podcasts, so I am a good example and I’m willing to share my experience.  I’ve listened to one health related podcast on sleep, after another on nutrition, after another on movement and not taken a step on anything.  Listening to the information might make me feel smarter or wiser, but it doesn’t move the needle on improving my total sleep or get me moving more.  I have the illusion of progress in that I’m doing something—listening to all these amazing podcasts.  I feel so smart.  I’m amassing a treasure trove of knowledge!  

But having a closet filled with fabric doesn’t get my sister a finished quilt, no matter how perfect the colors go together and how thoughtfully she’s selected the patterns.  She must pick a course of action—select a pattern, pull out her fabric stash, and cut and piece fabric scraps together to come out with a finished quilt.  She must try stuff.  It doesn’t always work out.  Colors don’t match up quite right.  Seams come out a little wonky.  She makes corrections and improvements, and eventually presents some lucky recipient with a finished quilt.    

I would suggest this to you: you already know what you personally need to do to take the first step toward a healthier you.  It all starts with taking the initial step and seeing what happens and adjusting from there.  You likely have enough information in one area that could really propel you forward in your health and wellness journey.  Now’s the time to act.  Don’t take all these plans and ideas to your grave—put them to use and just try something to see what happens and what you can learn in the process.  

What step can you take today to begin?  How might you respond if you need to course-correct along the way?  What support will you need to have in place to improve your odds of success?