How to Stop Procrastinating

Got a half-ticked to-do list?

When you’re running a business, you’re often running a mile a minute. It can feel like a never-ending to-do list. Projects pop up out of nowhere and while we may be great at jumping on them and getting started, it’s not always as easy to wrap them up.

If you can relate, keep reading!

Here are four tips to help keep you on track:

It’s easy to forget how distracting our surroundings can be. Whether it’s someone knocking on your door for a “quick question” (hint: there’s no such thing) or your stream of open browser tabs, little distractions cause big interruptions. Don’t get derailed! Set your focus and block everything else out with an intentional space to work in.

Bonus tip: Turn your phone to “Do not disturb.” 

Going into a work session with a long list of things to tackle is only setting yourself up for failure. Prioritize your to-do list and tackle one thing at a time. This declutters your headspace and dramatically improves your focus.

Nothing urges productivity more than a deadline. We’re all guilty of taking as much time as we have to finish a project, but you can set yourself up for success by creating your own deadlines. Sure, you might not need that pitch deck for another month, but if you finish it in the next seven days, you’re one step ahead!

People will always be knocking on your door asking if you “have a minute.” This “minute” often turns into a whole lotta minutes, so instead of letting them derail your focus, use these tips:

• You don’t have to be blunt. Saying “no” doesn’t mean being rude, it can sound more like “not right now, I’ve got to finish this.”
• Offer an alternative. “No, I haven’t got a minute now, but let’s book in a chat for tomorrow morning at 10.”
• Set a limit. “Sure, but I gotta wrap it up in 3 minutes.”
• Next time you feel overwhelmed by your list of unfinished projects, remember these four tips. Be intentional and zero in on your top priorities.

Now, what about that list? Is there a way to keep it more manageable?

Of course, there is! In fact, there are three:

What items on your list could you (or should you) have delegated to someone else on your team? I guarantee there’s at least one.

Are there any tasks you could get rid of completely? This might look like reassessing their impact when you get a chance and cutting out things that aren’t really worth doing.

We’re living in the age of technology, people! If there are tasks clogging up your workflow that can be automated, automate them.

Take charge of your to-do list with these game-changing tips and conquer unfinished projects before they start piling up!