Set a deadline.
What comes first? Set a due date for a project before you start it. If you’re putting things off, give yourself a deadline. It could be 30 minutes, an hour, or a whole day. Set a timer for 30 minutes and start working on the project you’re putting off. If you don’t get it done in 30 minutes, stand still for 30 minutes or do whatever else helps you get started. If you don’t think you’ve finished the job, take a 30-minute walk and try again. As you do your work, the deadline will help you keep your mind on the task at hand.
Put tasks in order.
Start putting tasks in order once you know when they need to be done. Start with the ones that are easiest and work your way up to the most important ones. For instance, if you have a deadline for a project, do the most important tasks first so you don’t put off the less important ones. This will help you stay on task and keep you from getting too tired. A timer is another way to put things in the right order. Set a timer for 30 minutes and use that time to do the most important things. This will help you stay on task and keep you from getting too tired. If setting and watching a timer helps you stay on task, you can add some music to the mix to keep you going.
Network, network, network.
The best way to stop putting things off is to start making connections. This could be with other professionals who work from home or professionals who do the same kind of work as you. When you’re connected through a network like the Go Network or LinkedIn, there are so many ideas and chances to work together, Shareholder’s Guide owners and more. Joining a LinkedIn group or the LinkedIn Association is a great way to get started. You’ll meet people from all over the world and have the chance to network and share ideas with people who share your interests. You can also search LinkedIn groups by topic to find professionals with open minds who are interested in the same things you are. There are apps that can help you stay focused and on task if you have a hard time getting things done. Check out Wunderlist and To-Doist for lists and to-do lists, respectively. Evernote can also be used to keep track of tasks, meetings, and other things. You can list and prioritize tasks in Evernote by making task cards or using the web app. You can also make lists of things to do in Evernote or with apps like Evernote Business while you’re on the go. You can also use your computer, phone, or tablet to get to Evernote.
The best way to stop putting things off is to realize when you’re having trouble finishing a task and then give yourself a deadline. When you do this, you give yourself permission to start working on another project or organize your to-do list so you don’t have a mountain of work to finish before the deadline. Conclusion Procrastination is an invisible enemy that steals hours of time that could have been spent working. But there are a lot of good ways to deal with it. You can stop putting things off and get more done in life if you set a deadline, organize your tasks, and talk to other people.
by @MarkPavelich CEO The Mark Consulting & Marketing