It’s really easy to keep postponing tasks you don’t want to do—or are afraid you won’t do right. Everyone procrastinates to some degree, but allowing procrastination to become a habit can be destructive and self-defeating. It can keep you from being successful. In general, procrastination creeps in when a task is:

• Overwhelming
• New, with an unknown path to success
• Something you aren’t good at
• Unpleasant, uninteresting, or downright boring

Whatever the reasons, procrastination can overtake you if you’re not on guard. Here are a few proven techniques you can rely on when the temptation to procrastinate seizes you.

1. When the task is overwhelming, break it up.  A huge task may seem impossible when looked at as a whole, but as Lao Tzu says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Figure out that one step, and take it. After that, identify a few more and build them into your schedule at a pace that will meet your deadline. Keep going.
2. When the path to success is unknown, start anywhere. When you’re headed into unfamiliar territory, you often don’t have enough of the big picture to know where the beginning is anyway. Pick some aspect of the job that seems approachable and start there. Once the task is underway, momentum usually takes over. Eventually, you’ll see how to fill in the rest.
3. When it’s something you aren’t good at, ask someone else. There’s no point in forcing yourself to do something you don’t really have the skill to do. Chances are there’s someone whose business is built on doing exactly what you’re not good at. Give that person the opportunity to grow their business!
4. When it’s unpleasant, uninteresting, or boring, set limits. Think about how much misery the task is truly worth. Decide the amount of time you’re willing to spend on it. Use the simplest approach and least amount of effort that will get the job done, and don’t feel guilty. Let yourself off the hook.

We all procrastinate now and then, but we also know the wonderful feeling of relief once we have finished a task we’ve been putting off! Procrastination prevents progress, and that’s something you really can’t afford when you’re a solopreneur. If you don’t keep your business moving forward, you may soon find yourself out of business.
How do you Fight Procrastination in your business? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If you’d like help Fighting Procrastination and support developing your business, schedule a no-obligation phone call with me here. Let’s see what we can do together!