Procrastination – is it a good or bad thing in business?
We often see procrastination as a bad thing and sometimes it is. But it may also surprise you to know that it can be a good sign too! Procrastination can be alerting us to pay attention to things that aren’t how we want them to be and highlighting a need to make changes in our lives.
So if you want to understand why you’re procrastinating, you need to get clear on what exactly is going on for you and then seeing what you can potentially learn from it.
Procrastination can be caused by several different things and here’s a rundown of what they may be.
Overthinking what you need to do
This is where you stop doing things or delay in taking action because you’re worried about the ‘what-ifs’ that may or may not happen. You’re overthinking and have a story running through your mind; one that’s telling you all the worst-case scenarios that could happen as you try to predict the future.
You need to stop the story and replace it with a better one, preferably one that focuses on the next baby step you need to take, to achieve your main business goal.
If you want to read a little more about how to move forward from overthinking, check out our recent blog entitled ‘Is overthinking keeping you stuck?’
Lack of structure or overwhelmed by the amount of work or time we have
Other common causes of procrastination are a lack of structure and too much work on your plate. Both of these are a result of one or more of the following – bad time management, a lack of clear boundaries and/or no automation in your business.
If you’re facing either of these issues, you need to start being a little stricter with your time so you work set business hours and use some of that time to set up automated systems in your business. You also need to set some clear boundaries for yourself and others – and realise that sometimes, you are going to need to say no to other people.
Fear of failure or doubting our abilities
If you’re worried about getting it wrong, being judged, or doubting your confidence in our abilities and skills, you will need to work on a couple of different areas. The first is to stop worrying about what other people think of you – and the second is ensuring you think well of yourself. Start by really celebrating what achievements you have made and keeping a record of positive things others have said about you, as this will help give you the evidence you need to believe in yourself.
When is procrastination good for you?
And this brings us to our final reason why you procrastinate. Sometimes, you may be looking for reasons not to do stuff – because what you’re doing is not a thing that’s your true passion!
If you know that this is the case, you need to bin it and move on. Look for a new focus and goal, reconnect with what you do want and thank your procrastination for highlighting this fact to you. Because if you want your business to grow and flourish, you need to have a passion for what you do – otherwise it will never move forward.
When it comes to moving my business forward, I’d love to recommend my go-to task management tool with you. Trello not only helps keep me on track, but it’s also a great way to organise and prioritise your work. And when you’re ready to collaborate with others, it’ll be there to help make that easier and simple for you too. You can check out Trello, by heading on over to their website: https://trello.com/