Procrastination

I deal with this daily, which results in a lack of sleep and anxiety. I’m really good at getting the work in as a freelancer, but getting the job done can sometimes be a whole other story. This often results in extensions on deadlines, burning the midnight oil, late-night emails to clients, and endless to-do lists, which feature many of the same tasks that I don’t manage to complete over and over again.

Sound familiar?

Thought I would write this quick blog on the topic, although I have to say I feel like a bit of a fraud as dealing with procrastination is a work in progress. Anyway…. I’m not a psychologist, but I have read some helpful stuff on various sites, and some of it I have found really useful, so I thought I would share.

I also think sometimes it’s good to hear that you’re not alone on these work issues and it really doesn’t make you crap at your job – whatever you do, don’t let those thoughts set root in your brain as they are completely redundant.

 

What is procrastination?

Definitions suggest this is an active process that means doing something else instead of the task in hand that you know you should be doing.

This differs from laziness, which is about apathy, inactivity, and an unwillingness to act.

So, hopefully, for most of you, it will be clear that you are not lazy but procrastinating!

 

 

What are the signs of procrastinating?

There are some common signs that you are procrastinating, and these include:

• Filling your day with easy and low-priority tasks
• Leaving a task on your to-do list for a long time – usually the most important ones
• Reading emails over again without making decisions on what to do with them
• Making a high priority to-do list, then hurry off to the gym or take a stroll outdoors to get a coffee
• Filling your day with menial tasks rather than ones people have asked you to do
• Waiting to be in the “”right mood”” or the “”right time”” to complete a task – I’m great at writing a to-do list then saying, “I’ll do it in the morning!”

Why are you procrastinating?

You have to understand why you are doing this before tackling this. Maybe you find the task boring or unpleasant – get these ones out of the way first. I sometimes pay another nutritionist work for me if it’s within budget.

 

Are there any quick tips for tackling procrastination?

Procrastinating is a habit, and like all habits, it’s a really tricky one to break. I found these tips online a while back, and they are pretty helpful. However, I understand it still takes effort to put them into practice….

 

Forgiveness 

Don’t dwell on giving yourself a hard time for being a procrastinator or procrastinating in the past (on some occasions, this may have led you to lose work or feel you didn’t do the best you could give the time you finally assigned to the project). Self-forgiveness has been shown to help you feel more positive about yourself and reduce the likelihood of future procrastination.

Commit to the task at hand

I am terrible at this as I always focus on everything I have to do rather than what I need at time. Write down what you need to do and a time scale for doing them. Be realistic about this, and if you organise yourself enough in advance, it’s easier to set goals you know you will be able to achieve in the timescale required.

Reward yourself

When you assign yourself a task, promise yourself a reward for completing it. I know this sounds a bit naff, but I actually find it quite useful to do this, and my reward is usually a stroll out to grab a coffee. It actually feels so good to know I can grab that coffee with a sense of accomplishment and not feeling guilty and anxious that I should be working on something.

Create a network 

Create a network of other freelancers that can help motivate you. Now, this can go the other way, so choose this group carefully – I have spent hours in the day on the phone with other procrastinators stressing about what we should be doing!

Shift the easy stuff

Get the straightforward stuff off your desk as soon as it comes in – I get asked all the time to contribute to articles or give quotes. Nowadays, I try to get it off my desk as soon as it comes in rather than leave it all to build up.

Change the narrative 

Stop saying I “”need to”” or “”have to”” as this can leave you feeling disempowered. I have also found this a quick way to self-sabotage with my work as I just leave it right to the last minute or miss deadlines. Think in your head that “”I choose to”” which helps you feel more in control of your projects – you work for yourself, so it is your choice what you do as the expert.

On this note…. I know we all need to make money. Still, sometimes it’s better to let a job go if you know it’s going to be a nightmare or use some of the cash to get another nutritionist to do it for you.

Avoid distraction

If I have a crucial deadline, I leave my phone in another room on silent so I don’t fall down the social media rabbit hole or get tempted to pick up a social call. I also close down the email on my computer. Honestly, you don’t need to be available every hour of the day!!!!!

Do the shit stuff first!

On a big project, Always prioritise the things you dread – it always feels good to get this off your desk.

Hope this is useful!