#130: How to Stop Procrastinating as a Solopreneur – Tried and true methods to bust through procrastination!

Feb 6, 2022 | Office Operations

Welcome to a new Systems Sunday! The theme this month is How to Stop Procrastinating as a Solopreneur.

You’ll hear people give all sorts of reasons why they haven’t yet created a product, put together a membership site, started building a list, or even just start that exercise program. Everything they say is most likely valid. They’re being truthful. They’re not making excuses. But look one step deeper, and what you’ll also find is… procrastination.

We all do it. We all procrastinate for different reasons. We have different trigger points. And we all procrastinate in different ways.

The thing about procrastination is how sneaky our own minds can be. For example, one copywriter might procrastinate by doing endless research on a project. She’s not sitting around twiddling her thumbs playing Wordle. She’s doing vital work for her project, and her project is on her mind.

But she hasn’t started writing—and she should have started writing two days ago!

In this video, I go over ten of the most common reasons for procrastinating and the first two tried and true methods to bust through procrastination!

Welcome to a new Systems Sunday! The theme this month is How to Stop Procrastinating as a Solopreneur where I’m giving you methods this month to bust through to get things done!

I am Lisa Wells, Your Virtual Assistant Trainer.

You’ll hear people give all sorts of reasons why they haven’t yet created a product, put together a membership site, started building a list, or even just start that exercise program. Everything they say is most likely valid. They’re being truthful. They’re not making excuses. But look one step deeper, and what you’ll also find is… procrastination.

We all do it. We all procrastinate for different reasons. We have different trigger points. And we all procrastinate in different ways.

The thing about procrastination is how sneaky our own minds can be. For example, one copywriter might procrastinate by doing endless research on a project. She’s not sitting around twiddling her thumbs playing Wordle. She’s doing vital work for her project, and her project is on her mind.

But she hasn’t started writing—and she should have started writing two days ago.

She’s procrastinating. And in this case, her procrastination trigger probably has to do with self-confidence. She finds the subject intimidating or too technical. She doesn’t know how she’s going to spin a simple subject into an entire eBook, or her client for this particular project is difficult to work with, and she’s dreading the interaction. Three different problems, apparently—but if you take a closer look, they all stem from a lack of confidence.

Is the way she’s coping with it “bad”? No. She’s not avoiding the project itself, she’s merely avoiding putting pen to paper. Research can help, when you’re not familiar with a subject (and also when you are familiar with it)—but there’s such a thing as too much research.

And then there are those who have phobias. They don’t make telephone calls because they feel uncomfortable talking on the phone. They don’t make videos because they are self-conscious about some physical feature.

On top of the differing reasons for procrastinating, one also has to take into account learning styles and preferences, as well as personality traits and conditions like ADHD, chronic or acute health issues, past traumas, or learning challenges.

In this series, we’ll go over seven ways to beat procrastination. Try out the one that resonates most with you—or try them all – you might be surprised at what works for you!

In this episode, we’ll go over the first two. But before we do, let’s look at ten of the most common reasons for procrastinating:

1. You are a perfectionist.
2. You’re facing a task that is going to be unpleasant or boring or difficult. You simply don’t want to do it because it’s not fun.
3. You’re facing a task that feels overwhelming or just plain too difficult.
4. You secretly resent having to do the task. You feel as if you need a “reward” for doing it.

5. You’re a person who needs structure and you haven’t created a routine for yourself that provides structure.
6. You are afraid of failing.
7. You are afraid of succeeding.
8. You don’t have a “big picture” – that driving goal, therefore you lack motivation
9. You have too much to do, therefore you simply don’t have energy for non-motivating tasks
10. Doing so has become a habit.

What you need to find is a motivator that is more powerful than the habit and a strategy or tactic that is best suited to your root causes and personality traits—one that will help you overcome the bad habit and create a new, more rewarding one.

The first method is called The Reminder Strategy.

Creating a new structure or organization routine is not the perfect cure for everyone—but it might be your perfect strategy. The key lies in identifying the cause of your procrastination and then applying the right type of reminder system.

For example, tacking a brightly-colored sticky note on the lid of your laptop might be an unexpectedly powerful habit breaker for you.

For example, this is my routine. I spend way too much time in the morning scrolling Facebook, and before you know it, it’s 9:30 and I haven’t gotten anything done. What I do is put one of those app reminders so that it lets me know how long I’ve been on Facebook.  Sometimes the simplest solution, a big pink sticky note can be the most effective.

Method Two: Outsource it!

If you really hate to do a task or if it is really outside of your range of skills, experience, and interest, why force yourself to do it? Many entrepreneurs have personal assistants who take care of the “boring” stuff like making travel arrangements or arranging interviews, so why shouldn’t you? Also, many people have housekeepers or someone to do the yard maintenance. I have a ton of weeds in my yard so I hire that out because I hate spending my entire weekends doing it. There are a lot of things you can hire out for.

If bookkeeping turns you into a quivering lump of jelly, don’t force yourself to learn that accounting software you didn’t understand the last time you tried to tackle it: Hire a bookkeeper! Nowadays you can use virtual bookkeepers, it’s amazing.

If you enjoyed this episode and want more tips and strategies, check out my new Business Building Action Kit, “How to Stop Procrastinating as a Solopreneur.”

All of my action kits contain a full done-for-you action plan to give you guidance, resources, and keep you on track with checklists and worksheets.

You can find a link to the product below or visit my VA Business Builder Boutique and click on Shop.

Join me next week when I’ll give you more strategies to bust through procrastination. See you then!

Did you enjoy this episode and want to put it into action? Check out this action kit!

How to Stop Procrastinating as a Solopreneur

$25.00

You’ll hear people give all sorts of reasons why they haven’t yet created a product, put together a membership site, started building a list, or even just started that exercise program. Everything they say is most likely valid. They’re being truthful. They’re not making excuses. But look one step deeper, and what you’ll also find is… procrastination.

We all do it. We all procrastinate for different reasons. We have different trigger points. And we all procrastinate in different ways.

The thing about procrastination is how sneaky our own minds can be. For example, one copywriter might procrastinate by doing endless research on a project. She’s not sitting around twiddling her thumbs. She’s not playing Wordle. She’s doing vital work for her project, and her project is on her mind.

In this complete kit, I’m going to show you how to overcome procrastination. Try out the one that resonates most with you—or try them all – you might be surprised at what works for you!

What you Get with Your Kit:

  • 18-Page Guide giving you the solutions to overcoming procrastination
  • “21 Idea Blueprint” – While there are common causes and reasons for procrastination, there are even more “cures.” Pick through these twenty-one ideas to find strategies that work for you
  • 4-week done-for-you calendar to face your procrastination and become accountable for it (even if “accountability” is not your favorite word)
  • Comprehensive action checklist
  • Resource Directory with links to tools and resources
  • Worksheet – Use this Worksheet to isolate, identify, and define your procrastination points, habits, and tendencies, as well as plan strategies to bust them

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