However much you love your job, there will be probably be some tasks that aren't much fun and you wish you could forget about. It's easy to put off the more challenging or boring tasks, but doing so can cause more stress in the long term. This is something I've certainly been guilty of in the past, but I've successfully tackled it with a few key strategies. Here are my tips on how to banish procrastination:
1. Find a buddy
Team up with a friend or colleague, goal-set together and catch up with each other's progress at the end of the day, week or month. You're much more likely to get those tasks done if you've got someone else holding you to account.
2. Eliminate household distractions.
Working at home and keep getting distracted by household tasks? I would love to advise you to make sure your house is tidy before you start, but with two under-fives this is certainly impossible in mine! So, my advice is to try and get any major tasks done before you start and make sure your work area is clean and tidy so that you're not distracted by unfinished chores.
3. Reward yourself!
Tell yourself that if you complete those tasks you've been putting put off you will earn yourself a treat. Perhaps that's reading a book, going for a walk, or having something delicious to eat. Having a reward to focus on will help you power on through.
4. Break the task down
If you are feeling overwhelmed by a task, plan it out and then break it down into manageable chunks. Ticking these smaller tasks off your To Do List will make you realise how much progress you're making and will make the whole project feel less daunting.
5. Remind yourself of why you're doing it
Think about what the core motivation is for doing your job / running your business and have a personal reminder somewhere - this could be a photo, a motivational quote, or a sales or business target. One of the key reasons I developed my business is to support my family and to be able to work flexibly to care for my daughters; I have a photo of them on my screen which really motivates me. I have also kept a text message from my mum telling me how proud she is of me which I go to when I'm having a difficult day (thanks Mum!).
Do you have any other tips about self-motivation? If so, I'd love to hear them.
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