Procrastination is a massive problem for people. In fact, it’s something I’ve been meaning to write about for some time. (See what I did there…)
Everyone procrastinates about something – it’s part of life. But if it’s getting in the way of your business growth, you need to do something about it.
The key is to work out what you’re procrastinating about and why. Notice what you’re moving from one to-do list to another without ever actioning it.
You’ll tend to procrastinate about two main types of tasks – things that are boring for you and things that are really challenging.
If it’s the former, then it’s never not going to be dull for you – but get serious about it. Then set a time and just get it done. Set yourself a reward if that’s what you need.
Far more important is the second category of challenging stuff with a big payoff. Here, procrastination is a massive problem and happens because of either overwhelm or fear of failing at something you want to work.
Here’s what to do about it:
Step 1: Get your mindset right. Stop focusing on the obstacles and instead ask ‘what will I GAIN if I crack this’, so you’re focused on the payoff.
Step 2: If it’s a big challenge, you’ll procrastinate because you don’t know the way forward. So, shortcut your progress and gain motivation to get cracking by asking for help from someone who has had success with your challenge before, so you know it’s possible and how to start.
Step 3: Finally, make sure it’s condensed into a specific next action. Getting a new level of client in a different category of business is not an action, it’s an aspiration. Identifying and calling three people to find out if they’re interested in your service is a clear next step that is easier to do without hesitation.
Need some help?
If you’d like some more tips and advice on cracking procrastination, contact us here for an initial discussion.