As entrepreneurs, one significant issue we face regularly is delaying on taking the necessary steps toward starting a project. This delay is usually as a result of lack of motivation, which over time can cause a lag in project delivery and stagnation. “Procrastination” as a word is not strange to us yet repeatedly get caught in this habit.
To overcome the habit of procrastination, one has to first understand the reasons behind procrastination and use these findings to focus on ways to achieve your goals. Below are five strategic tips to help overcome procrastination,
1. Focus on one task at a time: As an entrepreneur, there would always multiple projects to handle and more tasks thrown in your direction. All these tasks can be perceived as overwhelming, and this is one of the causes of procrastination. However, it is advisable to break down large tasks into smaller components to make it manageable and focusing on one at a time becomes easier.
To avoid being overwhelmed, it is pivotal to break down goals and projects strategically. In respective of the size of a project, there would always be a way to break it down hence giving room for orderly work and completion.
2. Set realistic deadlines: Deadlines are crucial when beginning a task or a project. Either we set these deadlines by ourselves, or we adopt deadlines set by clients. These deadlines give an insight into the end of the project and compel one to get things done. More often than not, when a deadline is not clearly defined, we tend to fall behind on project completion, or worse, fail to get anything done.
3. All ways aim for “good enough”: Entrepreneurs, are always stock in the process of trying to perfect thing. By this Perfectionism, you are pressured to procrastinate. The end of so many brilliant ideas is often caused by the need to be perfect. Striving to achieve the best is important, but as an entrepreneur, you need to know when to send in your ideas and then work around an improvement process.
You may not know this, but the longer we stare blankly at our screens, the task seems even more challenging to achieve. We all have an internal dialogue, and this dialogue tends to work against us when a task takes longer to complete. The more this happens, the less likely we are to complete the task or project.
4. Take a walk without thinking: Take periodic breaks from tasks. Cultivate the habit of leaving your desks periodically to take a walk. Sometimes this is the most productive thing you can do as consistently thinking about a task can make one feel overwhelmed or filled with anxiety. Taking rests would charge up your mind, help eliminate the habit of procrastination and allows you to work towards your goals. The simple act of walking without thinking will allow your subconscious mind to process your work.
5. Get to work: This final point is the most point as without this every other step listed above would yield no result. As these steps would need you to follow through with them and sit down and get the work done. If you fail to begin a task, all these steps will not help you
It is very easy to fall into procrastination, however, quickly detecting this trap and take the above steps would help eliminate procrastination
Leave a Reply