If you don’t surround yourself with positivity, we will all experience procrastination. The trouble is, it’s something that can quickly become a habit. And it’s a habit that will derail your business success. Successful people are people who have learned to tame that monster.
Here are five ways to help you finally nix procrastination when it shows up.
It Gets Easier
If you’ve been procrastinating in almost every area in your life, choose one task – preferably your most important – and focus all your energies on getting that one done. The sense of relief and accomplishment you experience will make it easier to tackle the next task. And the one after that will be even easier. So, pick a project (or even a small, specific part of one) and go for it!
Start it Today
Make ‘today’ the most important word in your vocabulary – especially if your particular form of procrastination involves goals that don’t have deadlines. Goals that don’t have tangible deadlines tend to be put off indefinitely.
That’s why you stay in miserable relationships if you don’t surround yourself with positivity. Don’t move out of your parents’ house, never go back to college, and don’t buy a ranch in Montana.
Realize that no matter your long-term goal, it will never happen unless you make a concrete start today.
Be Aware of Procrastination’s True Dangers
Procrastination is the enemy of excellence. It prevents you from polishing your work to its sparkly best. It’s the difference between enjoying the process and being proud of the work you do and just scraping under the wire by the skin of your teeth. It’s the difference between a feeling of accomplishment and the ailments of stress.
Procrastination is not your friend. It is the enemy of your goals and dreams.
Turn Your Back on Excuses
Procrastination and excuses often go together, encouraging each other. Accepting personal responsibility while you surround yourself with positivity and realizing that ‘reasons’ are just excuses will help you shut the door on procrastination.
(Hint: Using an accountability group or partner will also help you recognize and bust your excuses.)
Identify the Cause of Resentment
Are you procrastinating out of resentment? If so, stop right now and determine the cause.
- If you are resentful because a client is unpleasant and difficult to work with, fire the client and invite in a better one.
- Your resentment comes because you’d rather be on a beach in Barbados sipping pineapple drinks, realize that is up to you, then start planning that vacation and give yourself a reason to get your tasks done.
- If you feel that you are “working for peanuts,” raise your prices. Knowing you are receiving fair or even generous compensation is affirming, boosts one’s self-worth, and gives more incentive to deliver excellent value.
Resentment is often born out of feelings of inequality and powerlessness. Identify the cause, surround yourself with positivity, restore the balance, and get moving again.
Sometimes people procrastinate because there is a massive disconnect between the task they are facing and the goal they are working toward. Focus on why you need to do the work, what the possible rewards or payoffs will be, and its effect on your bank account, relationships, self-respect, and others. Find the connection, find the value, and it becomes much easier to stop putting things off toward your goal.
Procrastination is no friend to those who run their own businesses.
If you don’t surround yourself with positivity, no one ever succeeded through procrastination.
So, make the resolve you will no longer be one of those who fall by the wayside. Find out your reasons, throw away guilt or excuses, and start moving forward today.
Procrastination can be beaten. Sometimes all it takes is one little hack.
Get your hands on the Profit Planner ‘No More Excuses’. It comes with:
- Textbook
- Workbook
- Checklist
- Idea Generator
- Calendar
This tiny system gets straight to the point – no fluff or fillers!
Get this complete Profit Planner today.
