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:
- Overwhelming
- New, with an unknown path to success
- 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 task is overwhelming . . .
Break it up
Deconstruct large projects into smaller steps. Large jobs can seem overpowering and tempting to put off. But a series of small jobs done over time are more manageable. Identify the small pieces that make up the larger whole and build them into your schedule at a pace that will meet your deadline. Once it’s clear just what specific tasks you need to do—and when and how you’ll be able to do them—you’ll be less tempted to procrastinate.
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.
Remember that 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.
When it’s something you’re not good at . . .
Outsource it
There’s no point in forcing yourself to do something you don’t really have the skill to do if you can hand it off to someone else. It may take you longer than it’s worth to do a poor job when your time could be more profitably spent on your core business activities. There is undoubtedly someone else whose business is built on doing exactly what you aren’t good at. Find that person!
Learn how to do it
If the task is an integral part of your work, or something you can’t justify outsourcing, accept the fact that you need to take a class, get a tutor, or read a book. Learn what you need to know and get the job done.
When it’s unpleasant, uninteresting,
or boring . . .
- Use the simplest approach and minimum effort that will get the job done.
- Do it first thing in the morning and get it out of the way.
- Decide on a way to reward yourself when it’s done.
- Remove distractions that will divert your attention from the task at hand.
- Relocate yourself to more pleasant surroundings to minimize the unpleasantness of the chore.
- Standardize the process so you don’t have to think much about it.
- Limit the amount of time you require yourself to spend doing unpleasant tasks. Promise yourself that after fifteen minutes you can stop if you want to.
- If it’s a difficult interaction with another person that you’re putting off, rehearse the conversation in your head so that you know what you will say. When you feel prepared, it will be easier.
Procrastination prevents progress, and that’s something you really can’t afford when you’re on your own. If you don’t find ways to keep moving forward, your business will suffer and you may soon find yourself out of business.
Since everyone procrastinates to some extent, we all know the wonderful feeling of relief once you have finished a task you know you have to do. Stop getting ready to get ready and just do it!
