Getting Past Procrastination

Are you a procrastinator? I bet you are, because most of us are for different reasons, for particular goals, or at various times in our lives. Getting past procrastination is relatively simple to do… as long as you resist the temptation to procrastinate about dealing with procrastination!

Here are some tips to get past procrastinating:

1) Recognize when you’re procrastinating. You may be procrastinating if you regularly: 1) delay doing difficult tasks, 2) put off tasks that you don’t find enjoyable, or 3) avoid tasks which you are afraid of doing. 

2) Keep a to-do list. Keeping a list of to-do items close at hand will serve as a reminder of the important things you need to work on.Put tasks into ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’ priority status. Or, use a matrix where the most important tasks are categorized as ‘high ROI’ / ‘low time commitment’.

3) Find the motivation to get started. You are the best person to determine what will motivate you to get started on your goals. Here are a few ideas for you: 1) Promise yourself a reward if you stop procrastinating. 2) Think about the unpleasant consequences of not taking action. 3) Ask someone to check on your progress; peer pressure can work!

4) Set deadlines for tasks. Allocate time in your calendar for priority projects. When doing that, think about what’s the best time of day or day of the week for you to do a certain task. Does this task have a deadline imposed by someone else? Consider that too. And, don’t schedule everything in one day or one week; doing that can be overwhelming and slow down your progress.

5) Break the project down into smaller tasks. Large projects can and should be broken down into smaller tasks. This eliminates the question, “Where do I start?” and helps in project planning. It can also help you focus on one thing at a time. Use an action plan template to plan your work.

6) Stay focused and eliminate distractions. Eliminate distractions in your work environment so you can stay focused. This might mean closing your door and putting your phone on ‘do not disturb.’ It might mean working from your home office instead of coming into the office. Maybe you need to shut down your email for an hour or two. Finally, realize what is getting in the way of your progress. Are you missing critical information? Do you lack experience in one area or another?

If you need some help getting past procrastination and setting priorities for your business, you may benefit from the help of a business coach. Our programs create clear goals and objectives, generate referrals, and allow you to work ‘on’ your business instead of ‘in’ it. For more information, check out the workshops and coaching programs on our website.