Do you want to start an online business but just can't seem to get started? Procrastination is one issue that many potential online business owners face. It's easy to get distracted and focus on things that don't need to be done while ignoring important tasks. Today we will provide 11 tips on how to beat procrastination and start your online business.
1. Work First, Play Later
One of the best ways to beat procrastination is to always work first and play later. We all need some free time and relaxation, but the fact is that this is not something for the beginning of the day. If you start your day by relaxing, you will not want to start working. The best advice would be to schedule chunks of time to work on specific tasks – this management technique is called time blocking, and it's proven to be effective.
You're going to spend time thinking about that work, and the longer you think about it, the harder it will be to get to. It's always best to first get your work out of the way and then relax and have a good time. If you try to relax, but you know that there is work to be done, can you really relax?
There is a however here; if your one of those night owls, then the opposite applies. You work better later in the day so work to suit that.
2. Make a List With Actionable Steps
One proven way to beat procrastination is to make a list with actionable steps. If you have a list to look at to reinforce all the things that you need to get done today, it's going to be a lot easier to get it done.
A list is a constant reminder of the tasks that you need to accomplish to see success. If you have a list reminding you to do work, you are much more likely to do it. Moreover, the steps should be actionable, things that you can easily do. It's always nice when you can check something off your list because it makes you feel you’ve accomplished something.
3. Set Realistic Goals
These goals need to be realistic. The fact is that accomplishing goals feels good. Moreover, if you achieve your goals, it means that your business is moving forward. However, many people face the issue that the goals they’ve set are unrealistic goals that can’t be achieved, at least not in a reasonable time frame.
If you set goals that cannot be achieved, it will sap your motivation. The more complicated your goals are to achieve, the less likely you are to even try to achieve them in the first place. Therefore, if you want to stop procrastinating, set realistic goals that you can accomplish. It’s an easy way to feel good about yourself and to help your online business move forward.
4. Exceed Deadline Requirements
You should also set deadlines with your list of goals. These deadlines could be arbitrary in the sense that you set them yourself and that there are no consequences for failing to meet those deadlines.
However, there should always be consequences for missing deadlines in your mind, whether you set them yourself or not. If you’re aware that missing deadlines is negative for your business, it will be an incentive to meet those deadlines.
Moreover, if you really want to find the motivation to create a successful business, it's a good idea to exceed those deadlines and get things done well before they're due. Get the work out of the way; if you do it now, you won't have to do it later. It's as simple as that, and this should be all the motivation you need to finally stop procrastinating.
5. Keep the Fear of Failure in Mind
Many people might say that fear is a bad thing, but here when it comes to running an online business, fear can be a good thing, especially fear of failure. If you aren't afraid of failing, what’s to stop you from doing just that? You're obviously going to procrastinate because it's not going to make much of a difference in your mind.
Whether online or not, every successful business owner is afraid of failure, which is a great motivator for success. If you are scared to fail, it will motivate you to get the work done and stop procrastinating. It's all about loving success and fearing failure.
6. Time Management Makes a Difference
As an online business owner, managing your time efficiently and effectively is another way to beat procrastination. Let's say that you have two tasks to do. One of these tasks is something that you like, and the other is not.
Many people will focus their attention on the task they like while ignoring the other. This isn't going to get you anywhere because both things need to get done. One recommendation we would make is to get the jobs you don't like out of the way and then look forward to those you like.
It's also a good idea to schedule your time. Specify the amount of time spent on each task on your list and try not to go over that time limit.
7. Eliminating Things That Leave You with a Lack of Time
On that same note, eliminate the things that leave you with a lack of time. After all, one of the main issues that many business owners face is a lack of time.
Therefore, as an online business owner, eliminate things from your life that are sucking up time. Simply put, stop wasting time on unnecessary tasks that provide you with absolutely no benefit.
8. Start the Day the Right Way
Although we are fans of the work first, play later theory, if you want to be motivated all throughout the day, you need to start the day the right way. Have a coffee, eat a good breakfast, read your newspaper, and maybe get some exercise. A bit of caffeine, some calories, and a bit of cardio to get your heart pumping can go a long way in motivating you for the rest of the day.
9. Join a Community
Something else to fight procrastination is to join a forum or a community of like-minded people. For instance, you might be procrastinating because there are issues that you don't know how to solve.
If you join a community of like-minded people, one of them might have a solution or suggestion for you. Online communities are great ways to find people that can help you solve issues that you might otherwise not know how to deal with. They're also great because they can help you meet new people.
10. Be Around People that Motivate You
On that same note, it always helps to be around people that motivate you and push you to be better. Losers that sit around all day doing nothing and just want you to sit around with them, watching TV and wasting your time, are people to avoid in your life. If you expect to be motivated, you need to be around people who inspire you.
11. Eliminate Distractions
One of the biggest causes of procrastination is distractions. If you have the game on TV in front of you, you're not going to want to work. Eliminate anything that distracts you from your work. If it doesn't help you achieve your end goal, get rid of it.
FAQ
How Do I Beat Procrastination While Working From Home?
The best way to beat procrastination when working from home is to create a distraction-free space that you can work in. Create a list of tasks and realistic goals with actionable steps, and find people that help motivate you.
What is the Root Cause of Procrastination?
Some people might say that the root cause of procrastination is laziness, which, in some cases, may indeed be true. However, other common causes are a lack of energy, a lack of motivation, depression, the difficulty of the task at hand, or the inability to solve a problem.
Are Procrastination and Laziness the Same?
No, these are not the same things, but they can be related. People who procrastinate may not be lazy, but lazy people will usually find a reason to procrastinate.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that if you expect to be a successful online business owner, and if you really want to get your business off the ground, you have to stop procrastinating. We have provided you with 11 tips to fight procrastination. For the best chance of success, you may have to reorganize your strategies.
