Here are ways to stop the avalanche of procrastination

Last week we looked at what our procrastination does to our lives. Here are some ways to stop the avalanche of procrastination. If you did not see last week's column, check it out online at www.deseretnews.com or find last week's newspaper in that pile you haven't yet recycled.

If I can ever get you to feel the peace that comes from just a few simple routines in your life, you will never go back to living this way. Here is what you do:

• Set your priorities! I know you hear this all the time, so I am going to make this very clear to you. Is talking on the phone or the computer more important than your children or your life? Is watching that movie better for you than a good night's sleep?

• Lay out your clothes for tomorrow; use your creativity to accessorize your clothes. We love to do this, but we never have time when we are so rushed. Look at your calendar and see what you need to do tomorrow. This will help you to pick out your clothes.

• Go to bed at a decent hour; we can have time for ourselves in the morning when we are not rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off.

• Put the alarm clock on the other side of the room so you will not be tempted to hit the snooze button, which is an ineffective habit that you have. When you start getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night you will not need that snooze button anymore. You need to get your feet on the floor to turn off the alarm.

• Put gas in your car when it is not empty. Look for times when you are not in a hurry to stop; fill up before you are running on fumes. This will not cost you as much money if you are only putting in half a tank. You never know when you may need gas to get you to the emergency room in the middle of the night.

• Put everything you need to take with you by the front door or in the car. This will keep you from searching in the morning and from forgetting that important paper.

• Start your day without the chaos of the television by listening to beautiful music. The television is filled with bad news that we can do nothing about.

• Get up 15 minutes before the rest of the family so you can be dressed to lace-up shoes before their little feet hit the floor. You will be in control! Put on those shoes whether or not you have to wear heels to work. You can change just before you walk out the door. (You would have put them by the front door). All this is done because you laid out your whole outfit the night before, from jewelry to shoes and hose.