Image source - Pixabay
Procrastination isn't a problem that only unsuccessful people face, it's a big problem that even the most successful people face every now and then. Especially when you own your business or you work from home, you have no one but yourself to account to. So it's easier to postpone important tasks. As opposed to if you're working for somebody else, you tend not to procrastinate because if you do, you'll get fired. And that keeps you on your toes.
Procrastination is a terrible monster, it's eating you up, and you may not even realize. This is because, when you procrastinate, you don't tell yourself 'I won't do this task', you tell yourself 'I'll do this task, but I'll do it later'. So your brain and mind gets a good feeling that you'll take care of it later. But the problem is that, later never really comes. Or until you're faced with the deadline, right on your very neck, that you get to work.
This isn't a good way to live. Especially as an entrepreneur. It's important to know how to kill this beast, every time it raises it's ugly head. There are practices that have been shown to help combat procrastination, I'll be sharing some with you.
First, is daily routines. In order to kill this beast, you should have a daily routine, of how you get yourself to get started on your important tasks. It's going to be difficult at the beginning. Here's an example, you may program your mind such that immediately after you meditate for 15 minutes, you get to your important tasks. Or you could also program yourself such that as soon as you make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, you get to work.
Image source - Pixabay
Second, is hand written to-do list. You should take a pen and a paper, and write down your most important tasks of the day. This physical activity of writing it down with your own hand would help create a clarity for you. I have found that when you write it down with a pen and paper, it helps you more than when you type it into your phone or computer. You feel more connected to your important tasks when you write it down yourself with pen and paper.
Third, map out your whole week. In your map, you may choose to start your week on Sunday or Monday. Write down what you want to achieve each day of the week. Sometimes we can't see the full picture that's why we procrastinate. When you do this, you'll realize the impact that each day has in making you achieve your overall goal. As an entrepreneur, it's important for you to see past one day, you should be seeing the full week, month and even year ahead.
Forth, finding your peace. You'll agree with me that if everywhere is noisy, you can't concentrate enough to get important tasks done. It's quite difficult that way. You want to be in some level of peace, so you can work. Different people find their peace in different ways. Sometimes, you could put on a head phone and play cool music or even sound with words. That could help you shut the noise of the world, and get you to concentrate on your task at hand.
Fifth, getting rid of distractions. Sometimes, you want to get to work and you hear a notification in your phone, someone messaged you on WhatsApp or Facebook or Instagram. You decide, OK let me reply just that message quickly and before realizing you're watching videos that you never played to watch, boom, one hour has past, you've not even started your most important task. Other distractions like this, can really slow you down.
In order to defeat the beast called procrastination, you have to find a way to get rid of your distractions when you're working on your important tasks of the day. These distractions add nothing of real value to you when compared to completing your important tasks of the day. Do well to get rid of them.
