Is procrastination affecting your nutrition business?

Helen Joubert - Director of Customer Experience and Business Mentor

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Do you procrastitidy? Or maybe you even procrasticlean…

If you’re putting off work by tidying the house – extreme forms include cleaning the oven – then keeping reading. We’ve all done it, but don’t worry, we have some top tips here to help you stop procrastinating and get those jobs ticked off your to-do list.

Why do we procrastinate?

Procrastination is very common. Some people are better at handling things they don’t want to do than others – fear of failure, tedious jobs, and tasks such as updating their website, writing that overdue newsletter or planning their social media calendar.

Think of one action now that you’ve been avoiding, and visualise yourself doing it. How does this feel? What procrastinations have you been doing to avoid the task? By avoiding it, you’re staying within your comfort zone – how does this feel? This is where we hide and feel safe, but the cost is high!

Time is your most precious asset

Life as a Nutritional Professional is full of possibilities, but with them come risks. As soon as we venture out of our comfort zone we meet pain and challenges. But remember the worst pain of all is the knowledge that you have wasted opportunities in your life.

Procrastinators squander their most precious asset – time. Every moment is an opportunity we’ll never have again. The secret to taking back control of your time is moving through the pain or discomfort to get the job done.

When we avoid pain it increases. When we face it, it decreases. When you move towards pain it turns into power. Moving through it reduces the pain and discomfort and sets us free. See pain as the access to something great, and turn it into power. Seize the power and move forward.

Never forget that you have choices

What kind of life do you want to live? Do you want to be limited by the fear of moving forward? Or do you want to live life to the fullest, free yourself of irrational fears and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead? It is your choice.

Remember that the worst kind of pain is the knowledge that you have wasted precious time. Avoid procrastination, welcome the pain and discomfort, move through it, and pat yourself on the back!

Forgive yourself for past procrastination then move forward. Remember your business success directly correlates to how far out of your comfort zone you are prepared to go. The conditions will never be perfect so seize the moment now and take action.

Time to stop procrastination and take action

Here are some top tips to get you on the right track:

• Remove distractions from your environment. If household tasks distract you, can you take a laptop to the library? Can you have a cut off point for domestic duties e.g. 9am?
  

• Mobiles are a major distraction. Switch your phone off and turn your email notifications off on your desktop so you’re not constantly checking your mail.
  

• Start with the hardest task and get it done first - you’ll feel great for the rest of the day.
  

• Break larger tasks down into smaller chunks that feel manageable.
  

• Don’t get overwhelmed by your entire job list - focus on what you need to do today.
  

• Avoid multitasking and focus on one thing at a time.
  

• Give yourself a pep talk - ask yourself what you’re so worried about and what you’re going to do when the task is done.
  

• Aim for good enough, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
  

• Build in accountability. If you have a Zest4life coach they will do this for you. If not, buddy up with a friend or colleague.

Beat procrastination with the Pomodoro Technique

Have you tried the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a simple time management method which has great results for procrastinators.

Although there are various apps that you can download, you can do it easily without one:

• Choose a task you need to do

• Set a timer to 25 minutes

• Focus on that one task for 25 minutes until the timer goes off

• Take a 5-minute break

• Set the timer to 25 minutes again and continue with the task or select a new task

• When the timer goes off, take another 5-minute break

• After every 4 sets of 25 minutes, take a longer break – 15-20 minutes

Pomodoro works because it gives you a clear end point and also instils a sense of urgency and focus.

Go for it!

I hope these tips have been helpful. Commit to taking action today irrespective of how you feel. Ensure those actions move through fear and take you out of your comfort zone to move you forward. Anyone can build a successful practice if they choose to commit to this approach – just remember to stop the procrastination!

Don’t forget that our experienced Business Mentors are always available to give support and hold you accountable to the actions on your business plan.

To find out more, book your 45-minute complimentary business strategy call.