Are You A Procrastinator?

| by Paula Brett |

Are you a bit of a procrastinator? I know, that I can be sometimes. Did you know that `putting it all off’ may be one of your biggest obstacles to becoming more successful. Continually putting off what you need to do has a ripple effect on everything you need to do. The more you put off working, the more behind you get with everything else too.

Eventually something either goes undone or you’re forced to rush through your tasks and not do the best you can.

I’ve really had to discipline myself to stop the dratted procrastinating. Here’s my four tips that have helped me to stop procrastinating:-

a) break down your tasks,

b) write down your goals,

c) eliminate distractions,

e) work in blocks.

Break Down Your Tasks

Sometimes when I think of tasks I need to do, one of two of them seem very overwhelming. Going from start to finish seems like such a long journey that it’s hard to get started. I’ve found that it’s a good idea to break down tasks into smaller jobs.

By breaking down your tasks, what you’re actually doing is working toward your ultimate goal by setting many smaller goals along the way. These smaller goals should include what you want to get done each and every day. That way you are able to chip away every single day and you never feel like the job is too big.

It’s not enough, though, just to set many smaller goals; you have to take it a step further. And that brings us to the next tip.

Write Down Your Goals

Not only do you have to plan out smaller goals that lead up to your ultimate goal, but you also have to write down your goals. Writing down your goals does two things:

i) helps keep you organized

ii) makes you keep to your schedule.

Since you’re setting so many goals, you really need to write all of them down so as not to forget any of them and also so you can keep track of everything. I’ve found that writing down all my goals in this way makes them real to and helps me to stay true to meeting each goal, every single day.

Eliminate Distractions

Like many internet marketers, I work from home. While this is a great thing for many reasons, it’s also something that is dangerous for procrastination. The reason for this is all the distractions.

Perhaps there are kids or a spouse that you would rather spend time with. Perhaps the television is showing a filme you’d love to watch. And then the Internet is full of distractions with forums and information and entertainment sites.

It’s up to you to identify these distractions – especially the ones that influence you the most – and to get rid of them. Have you a spot where you work that is free from distractions? Try wearing earphones to block out the noise. Do whatever it takes to eliminate all the possible distractions.

Work in Blocks

Just as it’s often hard to tackle a major project, I sometimes find it hard to commit to sitting down for hours at a time. It’s much more tempting to put off work when the work requires you to sit for hours on end. Try breaking down the work into 20 – 40 minute blocks, which ever works best for you.

In between blocks of working, you can take 5-15 minute breaks where you visit other sites or get away from your computer and do something else. You can even allow yourself to do the things that usually serve as distractions. That way you’re killing two birds with one stone.

Stop Procrastinating Today

Procrastinating, or putting off what you have to do, is a very common problem for many people. It’s especially a problem for those of us who are our own boss. To stop procrastinating right away you should break down your tasks, write down your goals, eliminate distractions, and work in blocks.

If you have a serious problem with procrastination and need more help, I’ve heard some really good things about the “Defeating Procrastination” system. I have to admit that I haven’t actually checked it out myself yet, but two separate colleagues have recommended it to me. Feel free to give it a try!

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