Overcoming Procrastination

There it is. PROCRASTINATION rears its ugly head again.

I've definitely been a victim of this monster, and I don't think I've ever met anyone that hasn't struggled with it in one form or another.

The fact is that putting something off that needs to be done makes us feel lousy. And something that makes us feel so bad about ourselves, and keeps us from getting things done needs to be dealt with...now, not later!

Let's face it, as entrepreneurs, we all have to do some things that we really don't want to do. It's part of our job description. We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to become the successes we know we can be. We wear many hats, and I have yet to meet an entrepreneur who loves every single thing on his or her to do list.
You should know that procrastination isn't something that you just get over. It's like a muscle. The more you use it, flex it, and refuse to be the victim of it, the more you'll see it fade away.

The time is now for you to bust through the chains of procrastination. Lucky for you, I have learned some pretty great ways to work through it.
So, my friend, here are my best tips (the ones that I personally use) to eliminate procrastination:

1. Identify the project you are procrastinating about. It sounds easy enough, but you need to make sure that that particular project is clear in your mind.

2. Figure out if this is something that YOU YOURSELF need to do. Is this absolutely something that needs to be done by you or can this project be delegated to a member of your staff or be outsourced to an independent contractor? If it can be delegated, take the time to do so and get it off your to do list.

3. Break it all down, Baby! When we look at everything as one big, long string of things to do with no end in sight we naturally get overwhelmed. I'm sure the thought, "Why even start this? It's not even going to make a dent!" has gone through your head a time or two. But when we break each item down into individual projects with a definite beginning, middle, and end, then each becomes more manageable.

4. Dip your toe in and just do a little now. Now with each project, tell yourself that you only have to work on it for fifteen minutes and then you can stop. This is where the magic happens because once you get into it for fifteen minutes, you will feel so great about yourself that you will want to keep going. And before you know it, you'll be done.

When you finish a project (no matter the size), congratulate yourself and let yourself feel fully, unabashedly proud of yourself. You will begin to reprogram your subconscious mind to associate feeling great with getting things done. And the more you keep taking action and going through this process, the easier it becomes!

Now, go get started!

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