Task Debt
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/13/2009 at 4:23 PM
With a weekend coming, it suddenly occurred to me today how much I have to do: Housecleaning projects to take care of, post-wedding thank-you notes to write, a garage to clean out, and, of course, that pesky book proposal to finish. I suddenly feel like I have task debt; the feeling is akin to realizing that you have debt on your credit card that you should have paid off months ago. Unfinished tasks upon unfinished tasks.
How did I accumulate this debt? Simple. I went to the movies when I should have been cleaning my house. I watched TV when I should have been writing thank-you notes. I slept in when I should have been getting the garage cleaned out. And I wasted time on Facebook when I should have been writing that book proposal.
And now I'm paying the price. Did I really need all those outings, TV episodes and morning sleep-ins. No. It was a discipline issue.
You've probably heard what the Bible says about those who sleep instead of work:
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." (Proverbs 6:10-11)
Well, there's more. For months, I've been saying that I'm going to take care of the aforementioned tasks. The Proverbs have a zinger for that one, too:
"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23)
Uh oh. Interesting that both passages talk about poverty -- a financial condition. Debt, anyone? I don't know if I would be financially better off if I completed my work (maybe if I got that book deal), but I do know my soul would feel richer. As things stand, I'm constantly worried about when I'm going to get things done. I think this weekend, I'll get going on paying off that debt. Then some day, maybe I'll be able to pay "cash" for that Saturday sleep-in.
1. Allison said the following at 6:26 PM on Nov 13:
This is rather applicable to my life these days as I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month...and so a lot of things (like laundry and cleaning) get shelved so that I write (or so that I can put off writing...). Life definitely is a lot brighter when I can relax without feeling like there's something I could or should be accomplishing.
2. Terese said the following at 7:07 PM on Nov 13:
Wow Suzanne, great analogy and sadly, true description of my life! Your post was very timely for me!
3. Tee said the following at 8:23 PM on Nov 13:
Wow, Suzanne - this post is spot on. I've been feeling exactly like this for the past little while and have only slightly managed to decrease my debt. It's amazing how far into task debt you can get. And even when I do complete a task on the list, the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment is dulled because the completion was so overdue!
I agree it's definitely an issue of discipline, though. It's so easy to say, "I'm so busy, and my life is so hectic," but I can easily spend an hour in front of the TV or two in front of facebook. It's something that I've only been able to get under control when and if I pray about it.
4. Andrea-Elena said the following at 9:09 PM on Nov 13:
Allison (#1):
Yay, another NaNo-er!!! *high five*
I have housework task debt AND NaNoWriMo task debt. I got stuck in week 1 and haven't even made it to the first daily word goal (that means 1,667, for the uninitiated). But I figure that if the purpose of NaNo is to get one to write more, then I still have 1,418 words that weren't on the page before AND a wee germ of an idea for a book.
What's your user name on NaNo? How many words have you got? And what's your book about?
*with apologies to Suzanne for my hijacking her thread*
5. Keith said the following at 11:28 AM on Nov 14:
For me, I have the opposite problem. I am chronically desperate for work to do. I have a full time job, and even there there isn't enough work for me to justify being there for 40 hours. I come home every evening and am bored to death.
Suzanne, I wish you and I could trade places !! Actually today I have been so bored that I asked my girlfriend if I could do her laundry. Sigh !!
6. Carol said the following at 4:39 PM on Nov 14:
Oh my. It's overshadowing me right now like the sword of Damocles. Because it's now late Saturday afternoon and I have not graded any papers nor written any lesson plans. If I were disciplined I would finish this stuff on Friday night and leave my weekend free, but on Friday night, I cannot make myself do anything productive.
7. Lucie said the following at 6:48 PM on Nov 14:
Well, this certainly described my situation lately...or, shall I say, for the last three months, with a few exceptions. I haven't worked on my novel...or my poetry collection...or on practicing the piano....And why not? Hmmm, it wasn't really movies; it was, well, weekend naps, and needlework, and mindless TV surfing...I'd better stop before I feel any more guilty.
8. Larissa form Australia said the following at 5:57 AM on Nov 15:
What good timing... I've realised in the past few days how much I waste time, and tonight I gave up facebook indefinitely.
And those verses from Proverbs - I use them on my phone as an alarm in the morning to try and not sleep in...so far it hasn't worked. But with God's help, that will change!
9. P&P said the following at 1:23 PM on Nov 15:
I'm in the same situation as well. I'm a "planner" by nature, but I'm also an expert procrastinator when it's something I don't like (housework) or am afraid of doing (a proposal to the new CEO).
Time management and organization could be covered on the podcast or in more articles on this site. Regardless of how someone's life turns out (married or single, children or not) our responsibilities increase as we get older and these are good habits to develop as early as possible.
10. Mike said the following at 3:27 PM on Nov 15:
Not sure about this one. While I agree that the financial budgeting idea is a good analogy to time management, there will always be more to do than hours to do it.
I think in this world, we'll always be in "task debt" - unless we recognize that there are some tasks that are just not worth doing, just like there are some places not worth spending money on. You have to say "No" to lots and lots of tasks, just like you have to say "No" to lots and lots of spending opportunities, if you ever want to operate "in the black".
And a little down time - a Sabbath - isn't just a good idea. It's divinely mandated. So give yourself a break. And don't beat yourself up because there's stuff to do. That will always be the case.
Just my $0.02.
11. Nicole said the following at 3:40 PM on Nov 15:
I don't know, I'm sure it's a good thing to get your chores done, but sometimes it's better for you just to take a nap and not worry so much about if the laundry is folded.
12. Emily said the following at 11:22 PM on Nov 15:
I wish I could find the exact quote but I'm at a loss, but this totally reminded me. Several weeks ago SOMEONE (can't remember for the life of me who) posted an amusing status (that linked to a longer article I believe) that paraphrased that verse Something to the extent of:
"A little Facebook, a little Twitter, and little folding of the hands to use the iPhone - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man"
SO TRUE! :P
13. Elizabeth H. (Russia) said the following at 9:11 AM on Nov 16:
Ouch! I have the feeling of task debt, too. Even "relationship" debt as there are people that I have been needing to catch up with for months.
But I also feel guilty about not having had a Sabbath Day at all for the past few weeks as I've tried to catch up. So I think sometimes we need to be diligent, yet have faith enough that if we take a break, God will still provide.
14. Racquel said the following at 9:19 AM on Nov 16:
Suzanne. I'd buy your book. Actually, you're my favorite poster on Boundless. (Shh don't tell the others) and I have often thought about how great it would be to see a book come from you! Your walk through singleness and recent marriage have been an awesome inspiration to me! So please, get busy and stay busy! Finish that proposal!
Blessings & Love!
Racquel
15. Loris said the following at 11:59 AM on Nov 16:
Timely for me, too. I've been running myself ragged and yet slowing down more and more. My husband tactlessly said I was being boring because all I wanted to do was lie on the couch instead of pursuing my hobbies in my tiny little scraps of free time. That was an ouch. But it turns out I have an excuse for my low energy. I found out today that I have an enlarged thyroid. Somehow that news made me even more tired, lol. However, having something wrong with me doesn't excuse my poor time management. There's always something to work on.
16. Anna said the following at 12:35 PM on Nov 16:
I'm with Mike (10) and very much appreciate this line from Elizabeth (13): "So I think sometimes we need to be diligent, yet have faith enough that if we take a break, God will still provide."
Wisdom in the way we use our time is required (and I'm continually learning) but I think when we beat ourselves up about not getting things done (and I do this quite frequently) we're only making things worse. There is a time for rest, a time to realize that we really can't do it all. This is very real to me lately as I gave notice at my full-time job and am planning to take a short break from work before looking for a part-time or closer full-time job. My husband and I decided this is best for our marriage as I will be better rested, less stressed, and also can do housework during the week. We all must be sure our priorities are in the right place, recognize that we're human, and trust God.
17. New Bride said the following at 12:55 PM on Nov 16:
I think Task debt was something I inherited d from my mother, how there is always something to do, and always something to take care of...there will always be bills, paperwork, dishes, and laundry. That will always be there, sometimes in greater quantities. For me the beast has been thank you notes, so I do a few at a time, and then move on to something else, but it sure has been a task debt that has hung over me for a while. I have other things like that…. I have a list of someday’s....
Someday I'll write a book
Someday I'll relearn the piano
Someday I'll have all my scrapbooking done
Someday I'll have art masterpieces
Someday I’ll have a beautiful flower garden
Someday I’ll be an amazing chef
Someday I’ll have traveled to every continent
Someday I’ll have my life journal all written out
Someday I’ll have my house in complete order, a place for every thing, all junk sold, all books alphabetized, all corners vacuumed and dusted….someday….
I could go on. There will always be things that vi for our time, things good and bad, life changing or rudimentary. Tasks that need to happen, discipline is key to helping to keep it from piling up…something I am working on so things get done, but there is down time thrown in too. I’ve had to learn not to feel guilty sitting down and just watching a movie, My husband has been good about taking the tasks out of my hand and laying them down and just spending time with him. For I always had a notebook of lists of things to do, or working on this project or another for “making the most of my time” at all times, I rarely would just sit down…I always had to multitask. And that wasn’t good either.
Sometimes in our culture we get so caught up in how much we have to do, and how busy we are, we forget who to invest in. I am as guilty as anyone putting off what I could do today; procrastination is the key to keep yourself in misery….hence the list of someday’s…and there are things I need to turn off the computer and just go do, or turn off that movie and go read that stack of books. Or indeed throw in a load of laundry before taking that shorter nap, so that there is time for the dishes to get done.
I am however reminded of a poem, and I don’t remember the author….
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
I do believe this applies to even friends and family. I think too many times we do worry about task debt and forget that people around us, our families are the most important and should be where most of our time spent. So sometimes, when we sit down with a movie with our family, or take a nap to rejuvenate for an evening of friends. I don’t think that is so wasteful after all; a true balance I think is necessary.
18. DannieA said the following at 1:24 PM on Nov 16:
Task debt is quite simple to eradicate
Do a little every day and make time for the yearly things (carpet cleaning, window/screen washing, major housekeeping items) and things are in control. At least that's how my mom taught me.
If you do a little every day, you don't have to spend 6 hours in one day trying to get everything done.
Yes tasks will always be there just like paying bills will always be there, but the key is to manage it and then you can enjoy things, and in general enjoy life more.
19. Jessie said the following at 2:03 PM on Nov 16:
I love this task debt analogy and know it to be true. I also know that the "I went to the movies when I should have been cleaning my house" statement can also be a true reason behind financial debt. It's easy to over-spend during the week, stop off at a movie, go out with friends, do some needless shopping after work -- instead of focusing on what I have, caring for my home, and staying on top of mundane tasks. I have a better sense of financial reality and within-budget spending when I've cared for my "home work" first.
20. Amir Larijani said the following at 8:49 AM on Nov 17:
DannieA says:
I agree. That is my operative principle at home: get the work done. Especially the little things. Keeping the little things squared away ensures that they will not become big things.
When dishes need washing: wash them. When the trash is full: take it out. When the laundry is done: fold the clothes and put them away. When you're done with something: put it away and don't leave it sitting. (Okay...I tend to slack on those last two...)
Besides, the sooner you get the work done, the better the downtime enjoyment will be.
When I drive down to Chattanooga to visit FutureMrsLarijani, I've been a stickler for insisting that we get the packing out of the way first. Why? That way, we don't have it distracting us the rest of our weekend.
This last weekend was really nice. We got to make bagels, go for walks downtown, spend some quality time in one of the local cafes, and just hang out.
That is because we got most of our "work" done early.
The two times before that, we also got the packing done earlier. That made it easier for us to enjoy the engagement party, and also have more time to hang out and do more enjoyable things.