Procrastination can be good.

The next time someone says you're procrastinating tell them no, you're "incubating". Apparently this is a real thing. Incubation. (I read it on the internet so it must be true.)

People who procrastinate might actually be "incubating" their idea. Their brain brain works behind the scenes to process, sort and organize whatever they're working on. Then when they actually start the project they do much better.

I've noticed this with writing. I'll have a pretty good idea for a story or novel and, instead of sitting down and writing it, I feel compelled to mull the story in my mind for a few days, weeks, months.

The trick is forcing yourself to stop the mulling. Stop the incubation when it's complete. If you don't stop the incubation, it will turn into procrastination.

I think we all have a window for the things we need to do. Depending on motivation, money, skill, luck and circumstance the window is either open for a long time or a short time.

If the window closes and we miss our opportunity, it's very difficult to open it again. So the trick is to never let that window close.

Two weird things I do at work.

1) I found this cup filled with pens, pencils, highlighters, a toothbrush (?), markers and a ruler. It's one of those old-fashioned, wood rulers from way back in elementary schools. I now carry this ruler around wherever I go at work.

I love holding it! It has just the right amount of weight and thickness. I often slap my palm with the ruler as I walk around. If I'm going to a meeting and I walk into the office, SLAP! If someone asks me a question and I need to think for a few moments, I use the ruler to rapidly slap my palm as I think. SLAP, SLAP, SLAP.

Occasionally I use the ruler for drawing straight lines. For example, I use a marker to scratch out entries into the computer program. I always used to free-draw the line and it looked horrible. Now, with my ruler, I draw a perfectly straight line.

2) I hike my pants up pretty high. So my waist is just under my belly button. Sometimes I tuck my shirt in as well. It looks awful, ridiculous. When I do this at home, Cindy lambastes me and rightly. The thing is, this look feels so naturally in an office. Hiking your pants up like a dweeb feels good. It feels right. The only problem is that it makes your ass look huge. Because the ass part of your pants is halfway up your back.