How to Avoid Procrastination

In the United States there is a chain restaurant called Joe's Crab Shack.  Since 1991, this hugely successful business has had the slogan "Free Crabs Tomorrow".  In all that time no free crabs have ever been served for the simple reason that ‘tomorrow' never comes. 

Resolving to do something tomorrow can be pointless because that day will never arrive.  When the day you call 'tomorrow' arrives you will call it 'today' and the following day will then become 'tomorrow'.  Even if you sincerely mean to do something the day after today, you never know exactly what that day will bring.  I know it's a cliché, but there really is no time like the present to get something done.

Procrastination is the thief of time.  It is basically poor time management combined with a lack of discipline.  Habitual procrastination is one of the biggest obstacles to progress, achievement and success.  It takes time and determination to change but the good news is that it can be done.    

Let's have a look at what causes procrastination.  In many cases the task at hand appears as too complex or so large that we don't know where to begin with it.  If something is boring or unenjoyable then it always seems very easy to find something better to do.  Perfectionists are often prone to procrastination because they fear they won't be able to accomplish the task as they would like.  Often we delay having to make an important decision because we are afraid we'll make the wrong choice.

Procrastination can have a demoralising effect to your business and personal life.  The worst consequence of delayed action is that momentum is stalled.  The progress that was happening is suddenly stopped due to fear, indecision, lack of motivation or simply poor discipline.  As performance suffers, your self-esteem drops and it can be often difficult to regain the direction you had.    

If you've ever procrastinated doing something you can probably identify with these consequences.  It's important therefore, to know what you can do to avoid it.  While these things are usually easier said than done, following some simple guidelines will definitely offer improvements.

1.  Create an environment that is free from distractions.  This will give you a peaceful place to contemplate and make important decisions.

2.  Create a 'to-do' list and prioritise the tasks.  Don't deviate from doing what are the most important.  Ticking them off as you complete them will create momentum. 

3.  Do the most difficult, mundane or unenjoyable things first.  Reward yourself in some way for completing them but deprive yourself if you don't!  Once they are accomplished, the way is cleared toward your overall goal.

4.  Break large jobs down into smaller, more manageable ones.  This will offer you a sense of progress and maintain your motivation.

5.  A very important part of avoiding procrastination is creating deadlines for tasks to be completed.  This prevents them from taking longer than necessary.  A key to successfully doing this is to make others aware of your deadlines.  That way you will create a stronger sense of urgency and be less inclined to extend or ignore them.

A very close relative of weak phrases like "I'll get around to it" and "I'll do that some day" is "I'll try".  There's no place in the business battlefield for this vocabulary.  Either you do it or you fail to do it.  A harsh reality of the business world is that nobody cares greatly if you tried.  They want to see results and success.  So don't tell anyone, including yourself, that you will try to do something.  If you make a positive statement such as "yes, I will do it" you aren't giving yourself an excuse for failure.

Avoiding procrastination is particularly important when you are self-employed.  Often your very livelihood depends on the success of your business.  You cannot afford to have it obstructed by indecision and not getting things completed in a timely manner.  When you make goals they need to be done with honest commitment.  Without this, a goal is merely hope in disguise.  With a firm dedication to the task though, you'll soon see tangible and measurable results.

Perhaps even more important than continuing a project is actually starting it.  Once again, the same reasons for procrastinating come into play.  The idea may seem too daunting, the fear of failure may loom large or the logistical aspects may seem too complex.  Sometimes it's easier to focus on the reasons why something shouldn't be done but these are hurdles that must be cleared.  The key is to become more positive and find the opposite reasons to your doubts.

Instead of the possibility of failure, contemplate of how your lifestyle will change when you are successful.  Of course there is a lot to think about in starting a business but it can be done a step at a time.  Think of helpful resources rather than how difficult the task may be.  Believe in your own abilities.  Every problem has a solution and these are the key to avoiding the terrible habit of procrastination and moving forward confidently in the direction of your dreams.   

Another common reason we procrastinate is what we commonly refer to as the 'comfort zone'.  We delay making changes because we are comfortable in our existing situation.  It's only when that begins to deteriorate that we feel any sense of urgency to make a change.  Once again, this requires a shift in our thought patterns and also using our imagination.  It's an opportunity to dream of what could be and what awaits us if we actually take action.  Comparing in your mind the reality to the potential is generally good motivation for ceasing procrastination.  

Words have exceptional power and it's often the smallest that have the most impact.  Phrases like "I can't", "if only", "it won't happen", "not today" and "no" are crippling weights that suffocate us both personally and in the business environment.  If you ask yourself a question and get "no" as an answer you basically have two choices.  You can accept defeat and quit or you can use it to fuel your determination.  You can view it as a temporary setback that makes the challenge more interesting.  It doesn't need to be a reason for inaction.  Let it be a catalyst for making the required changes so that when you next ask the question of yourself you receive a resounding "yes".