When you put together your to-do list for the day or week, is there a specific task that seems to just stay on your list? And it’s been there for over a month. You keep telling yourself, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” And tomorrow never comes.
Most people have those tasks that they really don’t want to do, but they know they really need to get them done. It could be starting a large project or something that would take you five minutes to get it off your list, but it’s still there. Procrastination can result in delayed progress, lost opportunities or even cost you a lot of money in your business.
While it’s often seen as a simple matter of poor time management or laziness, procrastination is a far more complex issue that’s rooted in psychology, emotions and just plain old baggage from the past. It often leads to stress, guilt and a backlog of tasks that need to be completed under pressure.
Reasons For Procrastination
Fear of Failure (or Success)
One of the reasons for procrastination is fear. It could be fear of failure or even fear of success. Some people fear success even though they say that’s what they want. This is where the old baggage from the past comes creeping in.
What Others May Think
Maybe when you were growing up, your family didn't speak well of people who had money. So subconsciously, you may fear success because of what your family (or friends) may think. The truth is they are not thinking about you at all one way or the other.
Fear of Judgment
Fear of judgement or fear of what other people may think also falls into this category. It takes self-awareness to hash these things out so they don’t impact your life or your business. And once you’ve identified the underlying cause of the fear, you can take specific steps to address it.
Perfectionism
Believing everything must be perfect before writing, promoting or launching anything is another reason for procrastination. You may work on the task you are delaying, but it takes five times as long to get it done because it’s never good enough.
Completing a task, even imperfectly, is far more beneficial than delaying it indefinitely. Focus on progress. You can always improve it later. Done is better than perfect.
How To Overcome Procrastination
Set Time Limits
Set time limits on larger tasks. Use the Promodoro Technique. For example, work on something for 25 minutes and take a five-minute break. Segovia, one of the greatest classical guitarists of all time, used this technique practicing four hours and more daily. He divided his practice routine into 15-minute segments with short breaks in between. Segovia was well into his nineties when he gave his last performance, so this may also be a healthier way to work.
Manage Stress
Procrastination could be caused by something as simple as physical and mental exhaustion. This is usually the result of not getting enough rest, not having boundaries around your business or not managing your stress. You may be overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done, so you just shut down and do nothing.
The Two-Minute Rule
To help overcome the overwhelm, consider using the “2-minute rule.” If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it now. Also, break big tasks into small, manageable tasks. For example, break down the large task of “launch a website,” into pick a site template, write my home page headline, upload logo, write the copy for one of my site pages.
These are small tasks you can put on your list, and you will be more motivated to get them done because each individual task seems much easier than “launching a website.”
Revisit Why You Started Your Business
When motivation is low because of lack of passion, interest or not being aligned with why you started your business, it’s harder to muster the energy and focus required to tackle important tasks. Ask yourself a few questions.
- Am I still passionate about what I’m doing, or has it run its course?
- Is what I am currently doing in line with my real purpose in life?
- Does it align with why I started this business in the first place?
These are hard questions, but they are questions that need to be answered if you are finding it hard to get motivated in your business. You may find it's time to make a very difficult decision as to whether you want to continue in your current business or start something new.
Having an accountability partner can help you in all the areas above. Consider finding a business coach to help you prioritize and organize your tasks. A business coach will help you gain a new perspective in your business.
Final Thoughts
Overcoming procrastination, especially in business, requires a combination of mindset shifts, systems and self-awareness. It's important to have clear, specific objectives and a well-defined plan to make it easier to gain momentum in dealing with procrastination. You don’t need to “feel motivated” to act. Action creates momentum.
Would you like to explore ways to overcome procrastination in your business? I can help you build a simple action plan. Click here to schedule a free 15-minute discovery call. You can also text or call 615-308-8078 or send an email mike@mikecoleman.net.
Best,
Mike Coleman