It’s very easy to convince yourself to put difficult jobs to one side, and much more difficult to actually get started on them. This might seem like a good short term solution, but in the long run, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. So here are some tips to help you get started on those jobs you always put off:
Don’t Fall At The First Hurdle
This is called the ‘transition point’ – that part of a project where you can either take the plunge and get started or you can procrastinate and avoid it again. It could be something as simple as making a phone call, booking a meeting and just opening the document in the first place.
Stay Focused
Prepare yourself to be entirely on-the-ball when you tackle the job by tidying your desk beforehand, getting headphones to block out distractions and turning off any notifications that might throw you off course.
Track Your Rhythms
We all have ‘ultradian cycles’ that dictate how much energy we have at certain parts of the day, so if you want to know when you’re at your best, try tracking yours and planning your day accordingly.
Stay Positive
We put jobs off for many reasons but it may be that you don’t believe you can do it, so you need to be aware of these thoughts for what they are and visualize a way to get rid of them. Picture them literally floating away and get back your positivity.
Make The Job More Manageable
Instead of viewing this project as one large mountain of work, try and break it down into smaller chunks, which will help you tackle it psychologically.
There will always be jobs that you want to put off but sometimes really do need to get on with it and, these tips will help you to get started.
This post was written by Taylor Tomita, an outreach specialist at NeoMam Studios. When not working, you can find Taylor collecting and writing about guitar equipment or trying to find a good burrito.
