How to Beat Procrastination from Your Favorite Orange County Bookkeeper

There’s a difference between procrastinating and prioritizing. Great entrepreneurs know how to put the most important tasks first. Would you call yourself a procrastinator? If so, you’re not alone, and with our to-do-lists growing daily, the percentage of people who procrastinate chronically has increased over the last few decades.

If you find yourself procrastinating and need a little motivation, here are five quick tips from your favorite Orange County Bookkeeper. Even if you aren’t a procrastinator, these tips may boost your productivity.

1. Check your willpower.

Think of your willpower like a tank of gas that you use up every day. If you leave tasks that you procrastinate on until the end of the day when you have no willpower left, chances are they won’t get done. Instead, re-arrange your schedule so that the tasks you are procrastinating on get done on a full tank of willpower, usually in the morning.

2. Set an internal deadline.

You might respond well to external deadlines when everyone is watching or there are consequences for missing them. If so, then make your internal deadlines external ones by announcing them. Being asked about the deadline will incentivize you to keep your promise.

3. Treat your success.

If you completed the task you have been procrastinating on, then stop and reward yourself. Your reward should be personal, something you enjoy. Perhaps it’s a spa day, a movie during the week, a long lunch with friends, or just a leisurely walk. Hopefully, you will want more rewards, so you can set a new one for the next tasks you complete.

4. Break it down.

Sometimes procrastination is the result of feeling overwhelmed. If you have a large project looming ahead, break it down into smaller pieces that you feel are more manageable.

5. Find your power hour.

Everyone has a time of day where they perform the best. For early risers, it’s the crack of dawn. For late-night owls, it’s past sunset. Find the time of day where you have the most energy and motivation, and plan your difficult tasks accordingly.