Procrastination is the fear of success
People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the “someday I’ll” philosophy”.
~ Denis Waitley
What is one thing you are procrastinating on that is costing you in your business and ultimately costing you personally?
When we procrastinate and deliberately delay what needs to be done not only do we waste time but we cripple our own potential. When we’re not realizing our potential it tends to affect every aspect of our life, both personally and professionally.
There are many ways we justify the act of procrastination:
“I just don’t feel like it”
“I’m bored”
“I’m afraid of trying and failing”
“I don’t know how”
These are familiar excuses we tell ourselves, and we’re all vulnerable to them at one time or another. For some, the act of procrastinating can be fleeting and harmless, but people who continuously procrastinate pay a far greater price. Postponing and ‘putting off’ essential tasks can become a bothersome burden, leaving you stressed out and full of regrets surrounding missed opportunities and unachieved goals. This ultimately leads to a chronic lack of motivation and low self-esteem.
A study conducted by management consulting firm Proudfoot Consulting found that the time cost of unproductive workers added up to a loss of around 33 days per worker, per year. [1] So not only does procrastination cost a pretty penny, but it also has a negative effect on the quality of work we produce and our overall job satisfaction.
So how can we teach ourselves to properly self-regulate, organise our time and find the motivation to quit procrastinating and jump start our productivity?
- The first step is to understand and recognise that you have a problem with low productivity and procrastination. Are you afraid of failure? Do you get distracted easily? A frank self-assessment will allow you to get to the root of the issue and identify the key areas you need to focus on.
- Eliminate Distractions and Clear your Mind. A tidy work space leads to a tidy mind. Create a work space that is free of unnecessary clutter, segment your work day so that you cut down on time wasting tasks like social media or email checking and create a daily to do list and save it somewhere prominent as a visual prompt of what you hope to achieve in a day.
- Find your sweet spot and set up a daily routine. Take stock of what works best for you. Do you need to take regular breaks or go for a jog during lunch? Do you treat yourself to coffee in the morning before logging on? Or perhaps you like to listen to jazz while you work? Make sure you take care of yourself and allow the time to do what relaxes you and makes you happy. This will increase your focus and encourage productivity.
- Set realistic goals. In order to maintain motivation and productivity you need to have a roadmap to guide you, without goals you’re like a sailor without a rudder, with nothing to direct and drive you. Make sure your goals are realistic, you can try breaking them down into goals that can be achieved that day, that week or in a year’s time.
Please feel free to call me on 0414 535 221 to discuss your needs.
[1] http://nichegeek.com/the_true_costs_of_procrastination