Moving Past Procrastination to a Great Marriage: Encourage Your Spouse

By Lori Ferguson

Everyone procrastinates. And procrastination doesn't just show up in our work life - it's thriving in relationships also. Our marriage relationships are filled with the poison of procrastination. Become aware of the 9 reasons we all procrastinate, and then use the practical and actionable ideas in this book to overcome procrastination. Move past procrastination to a great marriage. Lead a life filled with meaning as husband and wife - not procrastination!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lori Ferguson
• Release date: Mar 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781530597161

Book preview

Moving Past

Procrastination

to a Great Marriage

––––––––

by Lori Ferguson

Copyright © 2016 Lori Ferguson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. Reviewers may quote brief passages in reviews.

Disclaimer: No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or transmitted by email without permission in writing from the publisher. While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein. This book is for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of the author alone, and should not be taken as expert instruction or commands. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions. Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, including international, federal, state, and local governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising, and all other aspects of doing business in the US, Canada, or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the purchaser or reader. Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of the purchaser or reader of these materials. Any perceived slight of any individual or organization is purely unintentional.

For Robert –

Thank you for being my encourager.

You believed I could do this, even as I procrastinated.

Table of Contents

TO BEGIN

FEAR OF THE OUTCOME

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

BOREDOM

PERFECTIONISM

LAZINESS

FATIGUE

REBELLION

LACK OF MOTIVATION

DISTRACTION

A MEANINGFUL LIFE

101 THINGS TO SAY TO ENCOURAGE YOUR SPOUSE

101 THINGS TO DO FOR YOUR SPOUSE

CONVERSATION STARTERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Your Notes and Ideas

TO BEGIN

1

My focus is to encourage husbands and wives to lead meaningful lives. I’ve been writing about encouragement in marriage for many years, and in that time there have been many topics which I’ve highlighted on my website EncourageYourSpouse.com.

However, I’ve noticed a trend as I read about, and speak to, husbands and wives: procrastination is getting in the way of a meaningful life!

Husbands and wives are busy, and they’re using busyness as a reason and an excuse when their marriage has issues.

Yes, busyness is a problem, but I think it’s just a symptom of something greater. What problem, you ask?

Busyness is one form of procrastination.

When we’re busy, we use our busyness as a reason to avoid the things we don’t want to do. In this day and age, it’s a reasonable alibi to say: Oh, I just can’t...  I’m too busy. And that’s happening between husbands and wives.

It progresses.

What’s the problem with procrastination in a marriage relationship? On the outside it looks like a great life, but inside there’s not much to show for the relationship except some possessions and a few kids. Later that life progresses to a point where the husband and wife ask themselves, Is this all there is?

Add more years, and this procrastination poison eventually shows up as a marriage breakdown.

We are all busy, however it’s what we do with our busyness that matters! Sometimes we do well - and sometimes we mess up. Fortunately, Robert and I believe in God, and follow His Son Christ Jesus’ teachings.

One beauty of a Christ centered view is that we all are given the grace to change after we make mistakes. We can then grow into something more - something better.

We believe this view is a beautifully illustrated truth for husbands and wives in a marriage relationship. No matter how much we mess up, procrastinate and start over, there’s always the opportunity and the grace to do better. 

That’s where this book started. Time management, procrastination and the affect it all has on our life and marriage.

I regularly procrastinate in different areas of life, and that behavior doesn’t encourage my spouse. It’s a good thing that Robert and I have been especially focused on our marriage relationship, so procrastination doesn’t usually creep into our relationship. (Oh, we have issues - we’re not perfect.) Being focused on our marriage relationship is a by-product of writing about marriage. It’s kind of difficult to write about one thing and do another – in essence, we convict ourselves. Unfortunately, my procrastination in other areas of life has negatively impacted our marriage.

Another hurdle for both of us, has been our ability or inability to manage time well. It’s been a challenge for all of our 32+ years of marriage.

That’s where this book started.  It began with my own need to address the issue of procrastination and time management, and a belief that husbands and wives are using busyness as an excuse for failing marriages. After lots of research, it grew into a book on marriage, how procrastination poisons marriages, and how to move past procrastination to a great marriage.

What’s the exact point for me, on this topic of time management and procrastination? Here's my confession: We have a small issue with doing things at the last moment. And when I say we, I mean me. And my husband, Robert. And our adult kids.

Are you seeing a trend? We have a new grandboy, and I really don't want to pass this trend on to the next generation... Our family's inside joke is using the hashtag #fergusontime -—usually in a text to each other, when we're running late.

Sometimes our lack of time