When I first started seminary, I was all set on pursuing a degree in Biblical Studies. But somewhere along the way I realized that I’m drawn to working with people more than mastering ancient biblical languages. Don’t get me wrong, Greek and Hebrew are fascinating! I just stink at memorizing, and I’m going to take what I’ve retained so far as about all I can handle. Maybe I’ll tackle the languages later on in life when I’m not parenting elementary-age kids. For now, though, I’m switching gears to a Master of Arts in Ministry.
One of the best parts of this journey has been learning from my amazing professors. Their wisdom, humor, and real-life experiences have both challenged and inspired me. I’ve also learned a ton from my classmates—whether it was during deep theological discussions or just swapping survival tips for late-night paper writing.
That said, balancing family, work, and seminary hasn’t been easy. My struggles with anxiety and perfectionism have made it especially hard to hit “submit” on assignments. So, if you’re ever looking for something to pray about, I’ll gladly take a mention or two!
In the meantime, I’m tackling my procrastination problem head-on. I recently read Rory Vaden’s book, Take the Stairs, and let me tell you—it was a motivational kick in the patoot. Here are three tips I’m trying to follow (with varying degrees of success):
- Prioritize Self-Discipline – Procrastination is basically the art of avoiding pain. But guess what? Pain’s going to show up anyway—either now or later—so why not face it and get it over with?
- Focus on Action Over Perfection – Newsflash: perfect doesn’t exist. Sometimes you just have to hit “done” and trust that good enough is, well, good enough.
- Break Tasks into Smaller Steps – Giant tasks are scary, but tiny steps? Totally manageable. Plus, crossing things off a to-do list feels amazing—even if it’s just “write a to-do list.”
If you also wrestle with procrastination, I can’t recommend Take the Stairs enough. It’s packed with practical advice and just the right amount of tough love.
Now It’s Your Turn
What are your best tips for staying productive and avoiding procrastination? Drop a comment and let’s cheer each other on as we keep climbing and (hopefully) finish strong!
Michelle Perez 