5 Ways Business Owners Can Break the Cycle of Procrastination

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Procrastination is common in life and business. Most people I talk to on a daily basis seem to be juggling many different tasks, which can lead to forgetting things.

In this article, I will focus on the reasons behind procrastination and outline five ways to increase your work productivity, with the ultimate goal of beating procrastination.

Many hats

I've noticed that many business owners tend to take on many responsibilities. Those with an entrepreneurial mindset are often driven to pursue more opportunities. While I see the value in being proactive and ambitious, I believe that trying to juggle multiple tasks at once makes it difficult to stay focused.

About ten years ago, I found myself juggling a lot of responsibilities before I decided to focus on commercial real estate. In addition to this field, I am also involved in residential real estate, photography and a promotional products business. After a year of trying to manage all these different pursuits, I realized I wanted to focus solely on commercial real estate. I learned that it is extremely challenging to establish yourself as an expert in a particular business when you are trying to manage multiple ventures as a sole proprietor.

Shiny ball syndrome

In today's culture, the terms “shiny ball” and “squirrel” are often used to describe people who frequently jump from one project to another. While I have seen individuals with this characteristic achieve success, I have also observed that it can lead to negative results.

Not long ago, I found myself experiencing shiny ball syndrome. For example, I would be focusing on a specific property when my phone would ring. The caller was usually looking for a property and asked for my help. In those moments, I tended to drop what I was doing to help them right away.

Fortunately, with the guidance of my mentor, I learned the importance of stopping and asking more questions before acting. While it's admirable to want to help as many people as possible, effectively running a business requires careful time management. It is essential to understand when to ignore the shiny ball and stay focused on your priorities.

Inability to prioritize

If you don't document your tasks in a list, it's extremely difficult to prioritize them. You need to keep track of the items you need to do and determine the order in which you will do them. It's easy to get sidetracked and jump from one task to another without fully completing it. It's important to stick to your list and complete your tasks when you commit to them.

I often use the low-hanging fruit method when I'm overwhelmed with tasks. For example, let's say it's Monday morning and I have six high-priority tasks to complete by noon. I will prioritize and complete any task on my list that can be completed in less than thirty minutes.

Once my to-do list starts to shrink, I'll feel less overwhelmed and be able to start on other items that might take more time. An additional tip I have that works for me is to tell myself not to be lazy. Whenever a task comes up on my to-do list and I don't feel like working on it, I'll tell myself not to be lazy. Most of the time, I will listen to myself and get on with the task as I would never want to think of myself as a lazy person.

Here are five ways to increase your work productivity, with the ultimate goal of beating procrastination.

1. Set reminders

I am a fan of memory. I've given myself so many reminders that I often fight procrastination by nagging myself. When I have a task I'm reluctant to tackle, I use different reminders to push myself. I rely on everything from Alexa and Siri to sticky notes and email notifications. I admit that sometimes I put off reminders, but having multiple reminders motivates me to stop procrastinating and finally start working on the task.

2. Never overdo it and never give up

If you commit to another person to complete a task in a certain period of time, if you don't do it, your credibility will decrease. One tip to avoid this is to give yourself a range. Instead of informing a client that a task will be completed by one fixed termI recommend giving yourself a set time limit.

For example, instead of telling the client that a task will be completed by Thursday at 9:00 am, you can say that the task will be completed no later than the end of the work week. By giving yourself some buffer time, you won't put too much pressure on yourself. You also have a higher probability of overestimating by completing the task earlier than the client expects.

3. Eliminate distractions

Procrastination often stems from distractions. It is essential to identify any distractions in your life that may be hindering your productivity or causing you to procrastinate. For example, if you need to do cold calling – what I like to refer to as a scavenger hunt – maintaining your focus is key. Monitoring your email or social media during the time allotted for specific tasks can make it extremely challenging to complete these tasks within the scheduled time frame. If you go through a jam once during the day, it can negatively affect your entire schedule.

4. Set achievable goals

Many entrepreneurs tend to have goals that can be difficult to achieve. Although I'm a fan of pushing yourself, I also think that if your goals are truly out of reach, you'll be disappointed if you don't reach them.

Then this frustration can be another cause of procrastination. You can avoid this loop by setting clear goals that you know you can manage.

5. Mindset

I believe in the power of the mind and personal will. It may sound cliché, but maintaining a positive attitude can significantly increase your chances of success. Instead of dwelling on the negativity, focus on the positive aspects and believe in yourself.

Now that you've read this article on avoiding procrastination, it's time to take action. Start by prioritizing your to-do list, setting reminders and identifying potential distractions. Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. By planning carefully and believing in your abilities, you will procrastinate less and achieve more.

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