Every three years, accredited veterinarians get that dreaded e-mail from the USDA saying that their accreditation will be up in a few months and here’s a link on the USDA website to complete the required modules. For those of you not familiar, veterinarians must be accredited in order to write health certificates, perform TB testing, or other official tests or duties usually required for animal importation, exportation, or herd certifications. Because I work with small and large animals, I am a category 2 accredited veterinarian. When you are accredited for large and small animals, you have to do extra modules. Six to be exact, and each module lasts about one hour! I know what you’re thinking. Six hours of work once every three years isn’t that bad, but if you had ever read the material in these modules, you may think differently. It’s not exactly Gillian Flynn and Gone Girl type of material. It’s horrific in a whole different way, like a mental anguish sort of way. Like many veterinarians, my first response to these e-mails is denial. “I have plenty of time!” I think as I star the e-mail for future reference. Once June 1st (that deadline) comes closer and closer, I choose procrastination. Dr. Ferrari, a psychologist and organizer of the Procrastination Conference (yes, that actually exists) defines procrastination of “the purposive and frequent delay in beginning or completing a task to the point of experience objective discomfort, such as anxiety or regret.” While most of us procrastinate, only about 20% are true procrastinators. Studies have also shown that highly intelligent people procrastinate a lot. That’s it! I’m a genius! Even though I may not be a true procrastinator, my procrastination skills can be expert level when I have a task I TRULY do not want to complete. The following are all the things I did in my efforts to procrastinate completing my modules: 1. Random mundane cleaning tasks- I’m probably not alone, when faced with a task I really don’t want to do, I immediately think of all of those cleaning tasks that I would normally do like once a year, maybe twice a year if I’m highly motivated. My procrastination usually begins with dusting, like dusting blinds, baseboards, dryer vents, air conditioning vents, the crown molding of the cabinets, and all the window frames (my house has a lot of windows). I hate dusting, but I hate accreditation modules more. Other random cleaning tasks include organizing cabinets under the sink, organizing spices, scrubbing the trash cans, cleaning out the refrigerator, or polishing silver or copper cookware. 2. Cleaning/organizing your office- Okay, if any of you have seen my office, you’ll see that it’s not terrible, but it’s not pristine. I’m planning on doing this the next time I have a task I want to avoid. Clearing my desk, dusting the desk and keyboard, taking files out of my file cabinet from three years ago that I no longer need, alphabetizing the files in the file cabinet, and updating the family photos on my shelf that are six years old. 3. Blogging! My blog has been great in a lot of ways. Not only has it provided a creative outlet for me, but it is a form of procrastination. In fact, while I have finally completed my modules, I am currently procrastinating filling out the official form for accreditation renewal… and it's May 30th. 4. Bathing the dog- My dog is a Great Pyrenees. She’s 90 pounds with LOTS of hair. Bathing my furry beast is a process, and one method of avoiding my modules. 5. Learning a new song on the ukulele- This is my latest hobby. I picked up the ukulele not long ago so I could sing and play children's songs for my son, and then hopefully teach him how to play. I used to be musical and even be in a band, but veterinary school pretty much beat all of the artistry and creativity out of me. Now at six years out, I'm learning to use the right side of my brain again. While I mostly learn children's songs, I learned a Meghan Trainor song for my own enjoyment a few weeks ago, and I'm currently working on Cups by Anna Kendrick. It's a fun distraction. Far more fun than dusting blinds, I must say. 6. Toddler distractions- Most moms would say that having a toddler or children in and of itself comes with a lot of fun, but also a lot of responsibility. Even though I try to complete necessary tasks during my son's naps, spending time with my son during what little free time I have is a priority. Momming isn't necessarily a distraction, it's a way of life. When you're a mom, sometimes that means you do mundane tasks like accreditation modules and renewal forms during naps on the weekends or late at night after everyone goes to sleep. While I try to get everything I need to get done, sometimes I choose instead to play outside with the little one, read to him, play songs on the ukulele, eat/cook dinner with my family, and much more. Sometimes that means I'm fighting hard to meet deadlines, but I wouldn't change it for the world. 7. Facebooking - I just caught myself scrolling uncontrollably for what seemed like 30 seconds as I looked away from my task, but it turned out to be 10 minutes. I even repeated in my head multiple times, “Look away, look away,” but then I’d quickly forget any self-discipline as soon as I saw a funny baby video or an inappropriate meme. 8. Making a long to-do list that lists “finish modules” - I put it first thing so I’d do it first, but then I do everything else instead. 9. Rereading the directions and the parts of the module I’ve already completed - Don’t ask me why? I just can’t help myself. Instead of barreling through, I just keep going back and looking at all the other stuff, like I might find something in there like those trick math tests from junior high that say in tiny print, “You can stop here. You’ve read all the directions. Now let all the stupid people finish the whole thing.” 10. Just stare off into space - You know you do it too! It’s like I suddenly begin meditating as the computer is loaded and the questions are right in front of my face. I immediately look away and either draw a complete blank or imagine a white sandy beach that I would much rather be on right now. So I have two more days to complete this. Six hours have only added up to about 16 hours if you include all this procrastination. I decided about 1.5 modules and 1.5 Angry Orchards into the process, that I would simply click through the modules and skim. I found that the questions were surprisingly easy to answer even when you don’t really read the material that thoroughly. Perhaps it’s because I remember it from three years ago, which is kind of miracle. Or maybe I know just enough from being accredited for the past six years. Now that I have completed my modules, I have to muster up just enough motivation to complete my renewal application. Sorry, Dr. Potter. You may have to write all of the health certificates for the first week or so of June due to my procrastination. What I should have been doing during these breaks in my module sessions was scheduling an appointment for an adult ADHD diagnosis, but I’m sure the doctor will probably assure me that it’s just a lack of motivation and my friends will remind me that it’s also a big portion of mommy brain. I’ll get it done though, and maybe I’ll come out of this with a spotless house where I’m the only one who knows where anything is anymore.
1 Comment
JOHN FLASPOHLER
6/8/2018 07:17:47 pm
As busy as I know you are you find time to write the most interesting blogs. I hope you will continue, I love reading them.
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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