3 More Tips to Overcome Procrastination

Last week I talked about how being busy and productive are not the same. Self-employed people often struggle with procrastination. It’s easy to push aside the things that matter the most and get distracted by things far less important. Here are three more tips to increase productivity and reduce busy time:

1. Set goals and push aside items that don’t fulfill those goals. For example, let’s say you have four goals that are your highest priority: earning a living, being a good parent, improving your health by increasing your exercise routine, and spending more time reading for fun. As new opportunities come your way, measure them against your goals. If they don’t contribute to your goals, say no. Sure, we all need to set aside time to pay bills, clean the house and maintain the car, but these tasks can be simplified. Make sure you maintain time blocks for the things that are most important to meeting your goals.

2. Make lists and use them to keep you on track. Fulltime Freelance writer Yvonne Perry creates a list of weekly goals. This is an excellent idea to help you keep on track and help you focus on what is important rather than what seems like its important.In addition to maintaining weekly goals, I’ve started keeping a very short daily list on my desk. There is so much in life that can distract us from what we really want to accomplish. Having a short list I can glance at every day helps me refocus whenever I get distracted.

3. Network or have an accountability partner. Belonging to a writers’ group or co-op is a wonderful way to grow your business. Ironically, getting to know and helping your “competition” is one of the smartest things you can do for your own business. I love to write about a variety of topics. However, there are topics that do not appeal to me. Knowing another writer who specializes or enjoys that topic is a way I can help my client and another writer. In turn, I’ve received writing jobs when another writer had a request for an article within my areas of expertise. Prior to being a full time freelance writer, my friend Susan (a visual artist) and I became accountability partners. Once a week we would talk on the phone and tell each other our weekly goals. The following week we would report in, and support each other with love, compassion, and an occasional kick in the butt. We both benefited from this experience.