Procrastination is a struggle that many of us can relate to; and while a small amount of it might seem harmless, it can lead to missed opportunities and wasted time. But how do we overcome this tendency to put things off, especially when it comes to work?

Well, this post is sort of a guide to beating procrastination once and for all! You can apply all the tips we’re going to share in areas of your life where this nasty habit runs rampant. Let’s dive in…

#1 – Understand Why You Procrastinate

The first step in overcoming anything is understanding what exactly it is that you’re overcoming. And in the case of procrastination, it’s misunderstood fairly often. People associate it with laziness, a lack of self control, etc. But while procrastination can certainly be caused by these factors, there are other potential reasons for it.

The trick is to find the unique reason why you procrastinate. This requires some self awareness, and quite possibly, some time. Maybe for you it’s…

• A fear of failure
• Feelings of being overwhelmed
• Confusion in regards to the task
• Too much self talk
• Or simply a bad habit that’s gotten worse over time

No matter what the reason, understanding it is pivotal in order to figure out how to beat it.

#2 – Eliminate Distractions

Next, try to ensure that there are going to be minimal distractions present when you’re working. Distractions can come in many forms, so you’ll need to cut down on anything that distracts you personally. For many people, things like phone notifications can pull them out of focus. But for others, it could be something as simple as the ticking of a clock.

But in general, the following are some steps you can take to cut down on distractions…

• Turn your phone to silent
• Make sure you workplace is as quiet as possible unless something like soft music helps you focus
• If you’re working from home, shut the door of the room you’re working from
• Some people even find it helpful to decorate their office space in a minimal style, so that there’s nothing to draw the eye

#3 – Break Large Tasks Into Small Ones

Specifically if you think your procrastination is being caused by you feeling overwhelmed, creating small goals could be a way to motivate yourself. Because if you’re being faced with an impossibly large task, it might cause you to not even want to start in the first place.

Let’s say that your task at work for the next month is to get 1,000 followers on your business’s social media accounts. That’s a pretty big goal! So split it into steps; get 100 followers, get 250 followers, get 500 followers, etc. Keep breaking down tasks until they become something that you can start on right now and “finish” within a reasonable amount of time.

#4 – Set Deadlines For Yourself

Some people even procrastinate when there’s a deadline looming. But for many, the reason behind their procrastination is that they have no pressure at all to finish the task. A deadline can give you that much-needed pressure, and could provide the kick in the pants you need to get started on something.

Keep in mind though, that your deadlines should be reasonable. The last thing you want to do is set too strict of a deadline and stress yourself out in the process. In fact, strict deadlines can even have the opposite effect if you’re someone who gets overwhelmed easily.

So always keep in mind your preferences when taking this tip into account.

#5 – Find A Way To Remind Yourself Of Your “Why”

One of the most powerful tools we have to defeat something like procrastination is motivation. But it can be hard to find motivation from day to day, particularly during work since it isn’t always the most entertaining time. However, as a business owner, you have a unique advantage!

You likely have a “why”.

Your “why” as a business owner is typically the reason behind starting a business in the first place. Maybe it’s the quest for freedom in your career, building generational wealth for your kids, or simply helping the general public with something you feel passionately about.

If your “why” was important enough to fuel you to start your entire business, then if you remind yourself of it consistently, it should be enough to push you past procrastination. Place a sticky note that states your “why” in a visible area, have a friend text you a reminder in the middle of the day, etc.

#6 – Break The Habit!

As with any negative action, procrastination has the ability to turn into a habit if it’s left for long enough. But as with any habit, it’s possible to break your procrastination cycle! The tips we’ve talked about today can help you do that, but in end, simply being aware that you have a procrastination problem might be enough. Allow me to explain.

Now that you’ve identified that you have a problem, you can keep an eye out. Next time you’re working on your business and you notice yourself putting off a task, just remind yourself that you don’t want procrastination to be your nasty habit and push through the urge!

The more frequently you overcome the urge to procrastinate, the less and less you’ll have those urges. Eventually, you’ll have defeated it once and for all!

Conclusion –

Procrastination isn’t as fearsome of a foe as you might believe, in fact, most of us struggle with it to some degree. There’s no need to be ashamed or upset about a potential procrastination problem, you just need to find a way to overcome the obstacle as you would with any other problem threatening your business. I hope these tips helped you, they’re tried and true methods to beating procrastination!