Procrastination to PublicationSample

Someday Syndrome

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin

Maybe it’s that backyard project you’ve been meaning to tackle. Perhaps you’ve had plans to get a gym membership. It could be the friend or family member you know you need to call. For many of you reading this, it’s the book you’ve had the desire to begin writing.

What do all these scenarios and others we could mention have in common?

They’ve all fallen victim to something called “Someday Syndrome.”

Someday I’ll get around to doing that thing.
Someday I’ll give him/her a call.
Someday I’ll start that exercise routine.
Someday I’ll finish that book.
Someday I’ll change.

We assume that with many of these things, we have plenty of time. We say, “I’ll get to it when I’m able.”

Even the more serious parts of our lives are susceptible to Someday Syndrome,

Someday I’ll find help for this addiction I’ve dealt with for years.
Someday I’m going to get my finances together.
Someday I’ll work on my marriage.
Someday I’ll schedule that doctor’s appointment.
Someday I’ll get right with God.
Someday I’ll give Jesus what He deserves.

Before we know it, our "Somedays" turn into weeks, months, and years. 

Some things are time sensitive. Have you ever had a book idea that you felt God put on your heart but never got around to starting? Years later you might find yourself in different circumstances and the idea no longer seems relevant. Like a bag of apples we had good intentions of eating, time has a way of spoiling some of our best ideas.

Listen to these sobering words by James who was an apostle and little brother of Jesus,

“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16 NLT)

James is essentially saying, “Who do we think we are to say that we have plenty of time left?” 

One of the side effects of Someday Syndrome is arrogance to assume that tomorrow is guaranteed. We boast that, “Someday I’ll obey the call of God on my life…someday I’ll see that dream come true…someday I’ll finally have the time to work on that book.”

James will have none of our "Somedays,"

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17 NLT)

Friends, if we’re not careful, Someday Syndrome will eventually rob us of our future and many of the ways God wants to flow through our lives. If we want to see God impact others through our books, we have to replace someday with today.

By making the most of today, our procrastination has a chance to turn into publication.

What is that God-glorifying thing (book?) you know you're called to do?

If you’re ready to break free from Someday Syndrome and begin taking action today on your book, download our short eBook for Christian writers: Writing Wheel: 5 Writing Strategies to Help You Finish the Work God Called You to Do