I prefer the term “creative delay” to “procrastination.” It involves dreaming up the most elaborate and unlikely way of doing something, so that by the time the scheme is worked out to the smallest detail, it’s too late to start.
With no boss or set schedule, it’s very easy for work-from-home professionals to just never get around to tasks they don’t want to do—or are afraid they won’t do right. Everyone procrastinates to some degree, but when you own your own business, a procrastination habit can be destructive and self-defeating. Some of the very things you love about working from home—no boss and no set schedule—can keep you from being successful.
In general, procrastination creeps in when a task is:
- New, with an unknown path to success
- Overwhelming
- Something you aren’t good at
- Unpleasant, uninteresting or downright boring
Whatever the reasons, procrastination threatens to overtake the work-from-home professional who is not on guard. Here are a few strategies you can use to fight back.
When the path to success is unknown….
Procrastinate without guilt. Allow yourself to procrastinate—but set a time limit. Some tasks have unclear starting points. It’s tempting to think about them for a while to see if some point of entry presents itself. In fact, it’s often effective to let things sit until they sort themselves out. If you’re going to do this, set a time limit. Enter a date in your planner when you will stop thinking and begin working, even if you’re still not sure where to start.
Start anywhere. The truth is it’s often easier not to start at the beginning. And when you’re headed into unfamiliar territory, you often don’t have a big enough picture to know where the beginning is anyway. Pick some aspect of the job that seems approachable and jump in. Often momentum will carry you once you get going. Soon you’ll see what should come before and what should come after whatever point you started at. The key is simply to start.
Reach out. Chances are you know someone who has done some type of similar work and can help get you started. Ask if they can give you some insight, ideas or direction.
Most tasks don’t have to be done perfectly; they just have to be done. It may be necessary to adjust your personal standards somewhat. Many small business owners are accustomed to excelling in everything they do and approach every task with this mindset. Yet perfection isn’t always necessary—or even desirable. If you worry about doing everything perfectly, you won’t get anything done. Do the best you can and move on.
If you’d like more tips on Working from Home, sign up for our newsletter and get a free report.
