7 Ways to Smash Procrastination
Procrastination! Probably the worst possible enemy to any entrepreneur. Lots of ink has been spent on advice to combat this "evil" behavior. Lateral Action has this easy 7-step program:
1. Decide in advance - Decide beforehand when you’re going to start work. Then when the time comes, you’ve got one less excuse for not doing it.
2. Make a habit of it - Two simple sub-steps:
4. Accept that you are not perfect. [Who me?! I might not be perfect, but my work has to. I've never gotten over that...]
5. Break it down - [This is a typical "how do you eat an elephant" question. One bite at the time. I found that breaking down projects to tasks and sub-tasks helps. At least, with the psyche; it always feels good to cross "stuff" off my lists].
6. Sprint against the clock - [This means setting up a time for 25 min. It is assumed that we can work without interruptions for straight 25 min and then, as a sweet reward, we take a 5-minute break. It also implies that you turn the e-mail and all phones off and shut the door, or at least have a note on it "Enter at your own risk"].
7. Put yourself on the line - [This requires you to take a public pledge, like announcing to the world you will finish a certain project on a certain date].
What do you think? Any of these worked for you? Or, if you have great suggestions, please do share them.
1. Decide in advance - Decide beforehand when you’re going to start work. Then when the time comes, you’ve got one less excuse for not doing it.
2. Make a habit of it - Two simple sub-steps:
- Momentum – doing the same thing day after day can build up momentum that crushes procrastination.
- Association – you come to associate certain times, places, people and objects with focused creative work. In Pavlovian fashion, each time you encounter the same circumstances, you experience emotions and behaviors associated with creative work.
4. Accept that you are not perfect. [Who me?! I might not be perfect, but my work has to. I've never gotten over that...]
5. Break it down - [This is a typical "how do you eat an elephant" question. One bite at the time. I found that breaking down projects to tasks and sub-tasks helps. At least, with the psyche; it always feels good to cross "stuff" off my lists].
6. Sprint against the clock - [This means setting up a time for 25 min. It is assumed that we can work without interruptions for straight 25 min and then, as a sweet reward, we take a 5-minute break. It also implies that you turn the e-mail and all phones off and shut the door, or at least have a note on it "Enter at your own risk"].
7. Put yourself on the line - [This requires you to take a public pledge, like announcing to the world you will finish a certain project on a certain date].
What do you think? Any of these worked for you? Or, if you have great suggestions, please do share them.
Posted by Terra3.0 at 8/10/2010 2:08 AM 
Categories: Entrepreneurship, Business Planning
Tags: Business Planning
Categories: Entrepreneurship, Business Planning
Tags: Business Planning
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