Stop faffing & read this

Photo by Eunice Lituañas on Unsplash

It’s mid morning on Monday - are you raring to go? Focused? On track?

Or are you perhaps already struggling to prioritise your to do list?

Is there something that you told yourself on Friday that you would DEFINITELY get done this week and you are already making excuses about it? Are you folding laundry or answering non urgent emails instead of getting started?

Procrastination is real for many of us. There's lots I can tell you about it but essentially, think of it as your way of avoiding a difficult emotion. That's it.

You're not lazy, incapable, stupid. You're just avoiding feeling bad. By doing something that will make you feel bad. I know...but it’s makes sense when you look at it like this.

A lack of systems and structure is the downfall of many a business owner or freelancer, especially creative ones who have so many ideas and for whom being focused and 'business like' seems, well, weird.

Once we step outside of a ‘job job’ where you have all that external accountability to get things done, your ability to get on with the task in hand can evaporate - especially if the tasks are boring/ difficult / outside your comfort zone.

So if this is you today, here is a three step plan to stop the floundering and faffing.

1. The world best 'to do' list

Take a sheet of paper or a page in your notebook and divid it into 4 sections. These sections are;

• Important/ Urgent - these must be your priorities for the week

• Important/ Not urgent - these can be left until the above is done

• Urgent/ Not important - these are prioritised ONLY if you have time

• Not important/ Not urgent - reconsider if these even deserve to be on the list at all

The first two are where your energy and attention goes - because they are IMPORTANT.

The second two, not so much and the more you use this categorisation, the more you will notice that these two are often lists of 'shoulds' and things you don't really want to do simply because they just don't feel right - or they are in fact, someone else's priorities.

Ok, now you have your priorities for the week sorted out, onto the next idea.
 

2. 5 minutes of journaling

Grab a notebook and pen and answer the following questions;

Which of my priorities am I resisting and why? And how will I feel when I have done it?

Answering these questions will bring out the emotions of why you feel drawn to procrastinate on that task. Do you feel like you don't know how to do it? Are you concerned about your ability to do it well? or something else?

By also focusing on what you will feel like when it's done (relieved, accomplished, stronger, fulfilled) it incentivises taking the first step.
 

3. Pomodoro - sort of!

The Pomodoro technique is well know in project and time management terms - read more about it HERE.

To use the principle of this technique, all you do is take the priority task from urgent and important. Then, get everything you need to start the task. Remove distractions. Set an alarm for 25 minutes time. And...GO! Get started and get as much as you can done in that time without moving on to anything else.


I hope this is useful and sets you up for a better week! Let me know if you try it and how it works out for you.

If you'd like to talk about how I can help you add structure and accountability to your business - as well as work with you on all those pesky marketing things that you aren't getting done either, click HERE and book a free session with me.

With love,

 

Sarah x