Let’s be honest, we’ve all had our moments when procrastination completely takes over and we struggle to complete anything in our business and even our personal lives.
So, now that we know procrastination can be inevitable at times, how exactly do we avoid it in the future?
Well, it starts with a few mindset shifts that allow us to understand on a deeper level where exactly the procrastination is stemming from and the things you can do to actively overcome it.
MINDSET SHIFT #1: IDENTIFYING YOUR MENTAL BLOCK
When you’re procrastinating you're truly experiencing a mental block that’s arising from a past fear you’ve buried. The feeling of being shut down, negative feedback, or even times when you’ve gotten embarrassed all can create this type of negative association with whatever task you’re trying to complete.
The first thing to understand is that this mental block, as crazy as it may seem, is actually trying to keep you safe.
Yes, you read that right.
The way to overcome this is to really sit down with this fear and ask yourself what it is exactly you’re afraid of. Whatever is keeping you from taking action or forcing you to play small is what is holding you back in your progress.
MINDSET SHIFT #2: PRIORITIZE YOUR TO-DO LIST
One of the most common reasons for not being proactive in your work is having too long of a to-do list. It’s important to recognize the difference between which tasks should be considered a major priority and which ones can wait until a later date (or be removed entirely).
When you shorten your to-do list and focus on the tasks that actually move the needle in your personal life and your business, you set yourself up for success.
So, try this:
- Delegate one task to another person.
- Remove two tasks on your list that aren’t a priority.
- Focus on three tasks that will move the needle.
Minor adjustments like these can make a major difference in helping avoid procrastination.
MINDSET SHIFT #3: SET DEADLINES
Setting deadlines for yourself helps leave you accountable for the work you have to do. Why? Because once these deadlines are set it should be understood that if, for any reason, these are missed they will affect future deadlines on projects you haven't even started yet.
It truly is a slippery slope.
If you have a slight inclination that you will miss a deadline, start working on the project earlier and give yourself a few days' grace to get the job done.
MINDSET SHIFT #4: CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
When you change your environment you change your thought pattern. Oftentimes all it takes to overcome procrastination is a change of new scenery. Being around like-minded individuals will inspire you to continue to work toward success.
So if you work from home, try going to a local coffee shop to get your work done. If you typically listen to music while you complete your tasks, try an informative podcast instead. If you’re into spiritual self-care, try surrounding your desk with certain crystals and aromatic scents to help change the energy in the room.
Procrastination can absolutely be beat, it just takes the understanding of where it’s arising from and the acknowledgment of what actually are priorities on your list of things to do.
Our Circle membership is a great source of information to learn much-needed tips on time management skills and how to delegate tasks to other people. Click here to learn more.