5 ways to beat procrastination!

#timemanagement #procrastination #businessownerproblems

Procrastination is a major productivity problem for many people.

Most people, attempt to validate their procrastination practices by stating that 'they work better under pressure '.

While you might fall into the category of people who are able to produce good work/outcomes when you are down the wire, running your business or conducting your life under pressure is not sustainable or savvy.

Here are 5 ways to beat Procrastination. Comment below which tip you find most helpful.

#1 Identify the root cause for your decision to put off tasks you need to accomplish.

Procrastination is a byproduct of a deeper issue. Some reasons for procrastinating are:

• Laziness

• Disinterest in the task at hand

• Fear of success

• Fear of failure

• Lack of skills needed to get the job done

• Distractions - welcomed and unwelcome

• Subconscious self sabotage

Once you determine WHY you are procrastinating, you can work toward addressing the underlying issue.

However, in order to address the underlying problem, you have to be honest with yourself.

#2 Get an Accountability Partner

As a motivational speaker and business coach I recommend everyone to have an accountability partner. One or 2 will do. Your accountability partner(s) are people you can share your goals with. Your GO UP goals - endeavors you plan to accomplish and your QUIT goals - actions you plan to give up/habits you need to change. These are people you trust to remind you about your goals and tasks. They should be people you listen to and who's input you hold valuable.

When you are not sticking to your plans, your accountability partner should have your permission to call you out on your lack of productivity; and you should be mindful not to take offense to their constructive criticism.

It is wise to have at least 1 or 2 people who can give you objective insight.

Your partner(s) should be where you are, beyond you or on the same path as you.

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#3 Do the HARD Tasks First

Human nature is to seek the path of least resistance. Even the most productive people struggle with being motivated to get their large tasks accomplished. Over the years, I have realized that when I decide to address the hard activities on my to-do-list first, I am more prone to accomplish the smaller tasks thereafter.

Doing the harder tasks, or the activities that are less interesting to you first, gives you momentum and a sense of accomplishment that can fuel you to continue being productive.

#4 Focus on Discipline, Not Motivation.

Motivation is a feeling fades but discipline is not linked to any emotion. You will not always feel like being productive. You will not always want to get the tasks done. So the focus should not be on the feelings of motivation. Instead, realize that discipline, regardless of your emotions and feelings, is what will enable you to be consistent and productive, even when you FEEL like putting off tasks.

Discipline, like any other habit, comes with time and consistency. If you struggle with procrastination, start by making small steps, consistently. For example, if you know that your tendency is to wait until the very last minute to tackle your projects, decide to start 1 day earlier than you usually would. Even if all you do is begin to gather the resources needed to do the task or project. Then, for the next project, decide to start 2 days earlier then you usually would. Continue on with this small step approach and you will begin to see your timeline for productivity change. Be patient and consistent in your small steps. Those small steps add up.

#5 Trim Your List

If you have a long to-do list you may notice you are less than eager to get things done because the thought of all the work ahead is daunting. Maybe you have not even realized it yet, but you avoid your tasks because subconsciously you have what I like to call 'overload paralysis'.

It's similar to a computer that is working slowly or constantly freezing up, due to too many applications or programs being open at the same time or when the operating system does not have enough memory to process.

Are you taking on too many tasks? Is there a way you can pare down your lists to the most needed and vital activities? Can you delegate some tasks to others?

Even more, I have recently finished reading [listening to] the book entitled, Essentialism by Greg McKeown. What a great read! I listened via Audible. It was absolutely life transforming and full of valuable information to help focus on the actions that truly matter. The information is applicable to personal and professional life.

I highly recommend it. 👌

That being said, what are some activities that you are engaging in that aren't serving the purpose of your life goals? Are you doing unessential busy work? Let's talk about it in the comment section

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