Procrastination Is Your Mortal Enemy

It's so easy. We've all had to deal with it. I've had to deal with it while writing this post with the TV on in the room. Some call it laziness, others claim it's just a lack of motivation. These descriptions diminish just how sinister it truly is. It is procrastination, and it must be avoided at all costs.

Completely discounting personal projects, if you have ever had a job with a deadline you've probably dealt with procrastination. Staring at that deadline that is seemingly far in the future, before you know it you've allowed an hour or two to slip by with no productivity. This tends to build upon itself, and eventually you look at the tasks ahead of you and there is no way to complete them on time.

Part of the problem seems to be accountability. This is offered by default in a team environment, but if you are starting up on your own you'll quickly find that no one is there to push you. You must set deadlines for yourself and HOLD to them. Can you impose a punishment on yourself for missing a deadline? Will you just let your tasks slip and have nothing to show for your initial drive?

A lack of motivation could also cause you to procrastinate. Even if you are doing something you feel passionate about, you'll have days where you simply don't feel like doing the work. Most of the time this is something you should tackle head-on...just make yourself get right to work. Start with something that is an easy win and go for it, promising yourself a small break once it is complete. I have found that this can spur my drive in unexpected ways and I may even cut my promised break a bit short.

Finally, disorganization or a general lack of direction could cause the problem. You find yourself meandering all over the place, not really focused on any single task. In this case begin a task list. Just write down everything you think of that needs to be done and prioritize. If you are working on a project for yourself this could be the toughest problem to tackle. You may not even know what needs to be done next. In this case you should make it a priority to find a mentor, or at least someone who has been where you are and can answer some questions to get you on track.

Unrealistic expectations can destroy your motivation, so avoid them at all costs. Manage those expectations from the very beginning, whether they are internal or external. Discipline yourself and try to develop a rhythm to your work, and you'll find the accomplishments begin to pile up. Otherwise the worst thing possible will happen: nothing.