It’s funny isn’t it that we all procrastinate for one reason or another. It is the one single reason we don’t get more done with our time. If you allow it to become a common and deeply entrenched behaviour, you will be drained of prime effectiveness – both at home and at work. So, that said, what can you do about it?
Why do some people have such a hard time to get the ball rolling?
I have my own opinion about why some people simply struggle to get moving, but today I want to share 7 simple techniques that can help put a stop to procrastination. Some work well in isolation, others work well combined with another. The short story here is try them yourself to see what fits. Enough said… time to share the knowledge…
1. Prioritise the plan
If you are simply faced with too many items on your ever growing ‘TO DO list’, then simply do the important things first. Prioritise your list from 1-5 (1 being the most important) and action everything numbered #1.
2.Use the elephant technique
Have you ever been asked how you eat an elephant? One chunk at a time. Yes, this too can help you get through a task that looks as large as an elephant. Break it into smaller, more manageable parts and focus on each one individually. Small accumulating victories will see you finish the elephant in no time!
3.Bribe Yourself
Promise yourself a reward if you complete the job at hand by a certain deadline. It could be small, like a coffee – to get you through the day, or large, like a night out, massage or the like – if it was the completion of a large piece of work.
4. Lock Yourself Away
Perhaps the problem you are having is constant interruptions, either from team members or your phone. Resolve the issue by turning off your phone and isolating yourself for a couple of hours to get a difficult job done. Make sure you tell the team not to interrupt you during this set time.
5. 33minutes and 33 seconds
I have a mate who sets a timer for 33minutes and 33 seconds. He is not allowed to get off his chair until the timer goes off. It helps to chunk his time to get things done.
6. Go public
Motivate yourself through possible public embarrassment. If you share your plans with someone, you’ll be forced to get the job done or lose face. Even set a wager with them for a $10 lotto ticket!
7. Peak performance
Do your toughest jobs at the time of day when you are most alert, rested and energized. For some that is first thing in the morning, and for others that is late at night.
7 Great ‘Procrastination Busters’ that you can start today to make your day more productive and improve your effectiveness immediately.
Up for a Challenge? Starting today I want you to take ownership of the first point above, Prioritise the Plan, and DO IT for 4 days straight. Then the following 4 days focus completely on point number 2 above. Continue to do this in 4 day blocks working through the 7 techniques to see which works best for you. It is critical that you TAKE OWNERSHIP and DO IT TODAY…
What’s next?
- Join our Kick-Ass Tradies Facebook Group, for access to trade business specific conversations, tips and resources, plus a like-minded community of tradies.
- Book a 15-minute Game Plan Call with Andy, owner of Dr. DRiP plumbing and co-founder of Lifestyle Tradie, to clarify your priorities and get clear action steps.
