Getting Things Done: How to Conquer Procrastination
We all do it; we push the things we enjoy least to the
bottom of our to-do list. Day after day that list builds
and builds. No matter how much you love your business,
there are always the mundane duties that you just can’t
stand to do. Putting off these jobs allows them to multiply
until the tasks seem insurmountable, creating stress and
anxiety. If you are one of the many entrepreneurs who find
themselves overwhelmed by dreaded duties, the following
tips may help you defeat the urge to procrastinate and
finally get those tedious tasks done:

1. Schedule these tasks early in your day. Decide how much
time needs to be spent on each task and mark it in your
calendar or agenda. If they need to be performed weekly,
work on them first thing Monday morning. If they are daily
jobs, work on them first thing each day. Deciding to work
on the functions you enjoy least as early as possible will
actually make your job more enjoyable. The rest of the day
or week will then be dedicated to carrying out the duties
you really enjoy. You will find yourself looking forward to
your days instead of feeling a sense of dread over the
mounting piles of monotonous work.

2. Reward yourself. When you have completed these
wearisome deeds, reward yourself by taking a break, getting
a coffee or having a snack. Knowing that there is a treat
coming when you finish may not make you enjoy these duties
any more, but it will likely give you the extra motivation
to get the job done.

3. If the job seems huge, break it up. Divide the tasks
into sections and schedule 2 or 3 times throughout your day
to work on them. After completing each section, give
yourself a little reward and move on to more enjoyable
work. Be sure to set some kind of alarm to remind you when
it’s time to get back to them, or you may get carried away
with doing the jobs you love.

4. Don’t allow yourself to get distracted. While
performing these despised duties, it’s very easy to become
distracted by anything and everything. In fact, you may
find yourself looking for distractions like looking up a GPS route, to avoid this work.
The more focused you are, the faster you will complete
these tasks and be finished with them. During this time,
don’t check your email, chit chat with employees or
colleagues, and don’t answer any personal phone calls.

5. Delegate. If you have employees, delegate some of these
responsibilities to them; that’s what they are there for.
If you don’t have employees, or your employees are as
overwhelmed as you are, consider outsourcing. As a result
of today’s advanced technologies, there are very few jobs
that can’t be outsourced. Decide which task(s) you enjoy
least and contract them to someone. There are Virtual
Assistants to handle administrative duties, Accountants and
Bookkeepers to manage financial functions, and there are
even companies and individuals to whom you can outsource
sales duties.

Procrastination leads to stress and anxiety, but these can
be easily avoided. Don’t allow the urge to procrastinate
overcome your desire to run your business efficiently.
Following some or all of these simple steps may help you
conquer your inclination to delay performing dreaded
duties, allow you to more thoroughly enjoy your work day,
and let you run your business mote effectively.

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Kelly Sims is a Virtual Assistant and President of
Virtually There VA Services. To find out more about
virtual assistance and how using a Virtual Assistant can
simplify your life, visit her website at =>
http://www.virtuallythereva.com . While you’re there,
don’t forget to sign up for her free monthly newsletter
providing useful information that enhances and simplifies
the lives of busy entrepreneurs.

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