Seven steps to overcoming procrastination

Procrastination isn’t a long term strategy, but sometimes us soloists treat it as though it is! If you're constantly putting things off that need to be done, then read on for ways to overcome procrastination and get you off the avoidance treadmill.

Procrastination happens to the best of us. And we rationalise our action, or lack of action in this case, in so many ways.

The harsh reality is that procrastination is just a nice way of saying avoidance. Why do we avoid things? Simple - because we don’t enjoy them, or because they take us out of our comfort zone.

So instead of succumbing to the dreaded beast – try these tips for overcoming procrastination:

1. Be honest about why you are avoiding the activity. Is it fear, is it that you don’t get on with someone, is it because you have to deliver bad news and you’re not sure how to go about it?

2. Commit to doing it at a certain time. I usually do the things I'd prefer to avoid in the morning, so they are out of the way.

3. Prepare! If you need to write yourself a script, do it. If you need to have absolute quiet, switch off the phones for a couple of hours. Whatever it takes – set yourself up for success.

4. Just do it!

5. Reward yourself when you are finished – but only when you are finished. I reward myself by going out for coffee afterwards, or taking a break.

6. Appreciate the feeling of getting something done that would normally sit in your in-tray for ages.

7. Consider whether you should actually be doing this job. There are some things that we just aren’t suited to, or that we don’t have the expertise for. If the things you avoid fall into this category, consider outsourcing them to an expert.

What tasks do you tend to put off? Which of the above strategies for overcoming procrastination might work for you? Let us know via the comments.

Megan Tough runs Complete Potential, a company that helps businesses solve their strategy and people problems. She loves being a solopreneur, and when she doesn't have her nose to the grindstone, is fulfilling her other passion of fitness and health.

3 comments | Add your own

Procrastination is certainly a problem everyone faces periodically. Different techniques work for different people, and some listed above are definitely worthwhile. I have found that just taking a deliberate break before attacking the task can help. But I go back to my desk with the firm resolution to get the job done.
It seems easier to procrastinate when deadlines are fluffy. The tighter the deadline, the harder I work! Michele Hackshall from Belrose | Read my articles
I agree with Michele about deadlines. Sometimes I put a deadline on a task that I don't want to really do to push myself to get past it. Deadlines have the effect of making me more efficient. Often then it takes less time and less resources to do that thing I have been avoiding. Sofia from Joshua's Trumpet from Frankston Victoria
Another tip that works well for me (I came up with this idea recently and it's doing me wonders) is that we all have times of high energy and low energy. At high energy times, you feel strong, and almost anything feels easy. At low energy times, things can feel overwhelming. These times of course can be influenced by sleep, rest, and the right food/drink. But the trick is, on those moments of high energy, to get your 'high resistance' tasks done. The ones you're procrastinating on (which most of the time happen to be the highest value tasks in your work). On the low energy times, get on with other tasks, and trust that a high energy moment will come (build one in for sure with rest/energy food etc). This will help for some people in certain situations. Good luck. Link to my profile: http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p228579001_Learning-and-performance-consultant-Sydney.html Mark Moore from Sydney | Read my articles

3 comments | Add your own

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