First Things First
I have a terrible problem with procrastination. Not in everything, but in two areas.First, I put off entering my paperwork into my work computer until the last minute, though I do get it done in time. Second, my car is a mess of working material and purchased items I carry with me, such as medical supplies, non-perishable food, empty drink bottles and food wrappers.
I am a home health nurse. I am in my car every day, all day. Years ago I used to be better about keeping stuff caught up, then I went to counselling and stress management therapy and got over being stressed out all the time.
Now I am more relaxed and enjoy the moment because my job is more flexible and less stressful than working in a hospital. However, my supervisor wants my car cleaned out in case we have a state health inspector ride with us to see a home health patient.
How can I get myself not to put off entering paperwork into the computer and keep my car more presentable?

Trish
Trish, your letter suggests that you are not less stressed, but that you’ve found a way to kick the can farther down the road. You’ve exchanged the stress of the hospital for the stress you can inflict on yourself.
Your inner procrastinator tells you it’s no big deal. It doesn’t matter that your car is messy and you delay paperwork because you are good at your job. But if you think about it, that’s not true. Your routines affect your job and how people perceive you.
People will judge your work by the state of your car. From your car people won’t think you are competent and relaxed. They will think you are sloppy, disorganized and haphazard.
You want to be laid-back, but how does leaving paperwork till the last minute accomplish that? What if the computer is down? What if the state inspector shows up? What about complaints from your boss?
The quickest way to remove tension is to do those items first. Instead of calculating the last possible minute to file your paperwork, calculate the first possible moment. Instead of letting your car become a pig sty, clean it up. The first cleanup may take time, but if you do it last thing every day, or do it as things are being used, it takes almost no time.
These two things relate to your ability to earn a living, and they can negatively affect that ability. If you don’t do them promptly, you want the stress. You are seeking it out. That gets to a deeper question. Why? What is your why? Why are you doing this to yourself?
Wayne & Tamara