Am I doing this right?
Here’s something I struggle with: I don’t really know how to relax.
By “relax,” I mean “engage in leisure activities” (such as the following):
I’d just rather be doing something. To keep it simple: accomplishing things makes me feel good, and not accomplishing things makes me feel bad.
It’s April 15th.
The un-holiday.
Tax Day.
Most people’s feelings about taxes range from mild annoyance to white-hot anger, but I believe it’s possible to feel good about paying taxes. I know it’s possible, actually, because I’ve learned to feel good about paying them.
I was watching an old Jim Rohn seminar on YouTube when I first came across the concept of “becoming a happy taxpayer.”
From 2008 to 2012, I was a freelance musician. I played gigs of all kinds and taught students from ages 2 to 22. It was a great experience.
My gig these days is in academic advising (8-5 instead of 8-midnight), but I still think like a freelancer. In addition to “working for” my students and the university, I’m constantly asking myself “What new skills have I learned this week/month/year? What am I doing to become more valuable in the marketplace?"
In college, I maxed out a credit card at a dive bar.
A dingy, dirty hole-in-the-wall, Ryan’s had $3 pitchers of Bud Light and cheap tacos on Thursday nights. I spent way too much time and money there.
Handing my credit card to the bartender at the end of a long night, I often said to friends, “Future Jonathan’s got this. That guy is the best.”
Today is April 4th, and I just finished my taxes.
My next actions list tells me I’ve been putting off my taxes since January 3rd. Not my proudest moment, especially since I, you know, have a blog about productivity. Come on, Vieker, this is a little embarrassing. What’s the problem?
The problem is perfectionism. I struggle with trying to do things perfectly instead of just doing them.