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How to Beat Procrastination Get More Done Have more fun

How to Beat Procrastination and Have More Fun

Are you a workaholic or a procrastinator?

Would you be surprised to find out that the two are very similar? I was! But, it’s totally true. Both underestimate how much time they really have in a day, both put a lot of pressure on themselves (yep, procrastinators too), and both base their self-worth on external factors rather than an inner sense of value.

A big difference between them is that workaholics often take a lot of pride in that label while procrastinators don’t. A workaholic might not want to change, seeing it as a positive trait. I can identify with that. I’m embarrassed to admit how much I used to tell anyone who would listen how busy I was, how I worked on weekends, how I worked when I woke up and often worked into the late evening.

It wasn’t anything to brag about.

In fact, workaholics are less productive than people who have a healthier work-life balance and the quality of their work is often poor compared to their peers who take the time to live their lives.Click To Tweet

Unlike the badge of honor worn by workaholics, procrastinators fret over their inability to get things done on time. They’re so scared of messing up; they just get stuck.  A procrastinator is often viewed as lazy and careless, even though the issue might be that they care too much. They worry so much, they avoid getting any real work done. At the same time, they don’t enjoy their free time because they’re so stressed about falling behind. It’s the worst of both worlds.

With both workaholism and procrastination, a skewed sense of how productive one person can be in a day and over-committing are to blame. This can be easy for anyone to do. I’ve been guilty of making very elaborate Google calendar schedules, basically assuming I’m a machine with one thing right after the next, no breaks for lunch, etc. It’s impossible to keep up for more than a few days before crashing.

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So, what can you do about it?

Figure out what tasks you dread doing the most and delegate! Make room for the projects that use your strengths the best and you enjoy doing. One of the best ways to do that is to track your time. This isn’t super fun, but sites like RescueTime help you to see how much time your spending on different websites. You’ll need another system: pen and paper, a spreadsheet, something like that, to track your offline time. After you’ve got that figured out, it’s time to take MORE breaks!

In The Now Habit, there is a technique called Unscheduling that I’ve been using, and I think you’re going to love it too. You schedule in fun things to do throughout the day, and you commit to just 30-minute work blocks during the workday before those breaks. You keep getting rewarded for completing 30 minutes of focused work, and you end the day achieving so much more and feeling awesome. Schedule your whole day, not just your workday. Include the things you choose to do in the morning, throughout the day, and even the evenings.

These breaks aren’t just fun.

They’re good for your brain. Brain breaks reward you for the time you worked, relieving anxiety and stress as well as encouraging creativity. Not only that, but you’ll be surprised at what a work beast you become when you’ve only got 30 minutes at a time. You’ve got to respect that 30 minutes, for this to work. Shut out any distractions and be singularly focused on your task.

Some of my favorite breaks include coloring, meditation, making jewelry with Polymer clay, putting on a face mask, or painting my toes. I also like to schedule bathtime. I’m not so great at scheduling in exercise and fitness yet, but I hope to do that more soon. For more ideas on fun make breaks, check out my Pinterest board Work From Home Make Breaks.

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What are some breaks that you might enjoy? Taking a walk? Cooking or baking? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.

Want MORE tips to stop procrastinating and start taking action? Check out my board Take Action!

 

Also, if you need any help with social media or blog management, I’m available to help take some things off your plate 🙂

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. Thank you for your support 🙂

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*I sometimes link to books, tools, and other things that I adore and may receive a small commission for it. Read my full disclosure here.

Comments

  1. Pam says

    March 9, 2016 at 11:46 am

    Thanks for sharing this. Going to go check The Now Habit out… Definitely something I need to work on!

    Reply
    • Ali says

      March 9, 2016 at 12:24 pm

      My pleasure! I think you’ll find it helpful. I definitely did.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Anna Lovind » The surprising truth about procrastinators and over-achievers says:
    September 21, 2016 at 5:01 am

    […] read a great blogpost that made me think about this in a new way, and I realized we’re not that different after all. I […]

    Reply
  2. How to Create a Home Office that Inspires Productivity & Creativity - Ali The Happy VA - Virtual Assistance for Women says:
    May 18, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    […] like coloring or regular books, art supplies, notebooks and fancy pens. I wrote more about this in another post if you want to know more, but giving your brain a break and a reward will keep you going strong and […]

    Reply

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CHARMING FICTION BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE🙏🏻✨

What a week! (Also what a year+) I hope to spend the weekend reading here in this bed that I love so much. I'd love some escapist books to get lost in. 

What do you read when you are looking for a mental vacation?
LONG BEFORE I WAS A VA, I WAS AN ESTHETICIAN. And LONG BEFORE I WAS A VA, I WAS AN ESTHETICIAN. And I thought it would be my "forever" career. Except for one tragic flaw. I could not do a Brazilian wax to save my life.😱 

This was 2005/2006 so that was a big deal.

If I could go back to that time, I’d have a few things to tell my young self that are probably important for any service provider. Things that might have helped prevent me from burning out, getting frustrated (and honestly scared I might get sued), and ultimately giving up completely. 

GO INTO BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF NOW
As an esthetician, I’d planned to start my own business all along. But I told myself I needed to work in a spa or salon first, observe, and then I could do my own thing in, like, 5 years.

That was just not true.

Other estheticians skipped the traditional spa and salon jobs and went directly into working for themselves, renting out cute rooms in local buildings or even setting up mobile practices. They were able to offer exactly what they wanted to offer and decide on their own pricing.

** I am NOT saying “jump and the net will appear/quit your dayjob now without a plan” because I think that is terrible advice. I’m saying if you know, like I did, that you want to work for yourself eventually, you have what you need to get started and you don’t need to “learn the ropes” for years on end.**

DO THINGS YOU SUCK AT – BUT ONLY UP TO A POINT
Since I did not enjoy providing Brazilians, I sucked at them, and since I sucked at them, I did not enjoy providing them. I had no business providing such a personal service that I sucked at. Leave it for the estheticians who are great at them!

It is important to let yourself be bad at things and be a beginner, but at a certain point, if you're not into what you're trying to get good at anyway, I don't think it is going to work. 

DON’T DO THINGS YOU HATE
Even if that service is in high demand. This might seem like a “no duh” to you, but it really wasn’t to me in the beginning. 

Trends come and go but if you’re seeking ways to be of service in ways that feel good to you, you’ll find your people.

Those 3 lessons I think made me a better #virtualassistant.
Last week I made myself a big batch of very beige Last week I made myself a big batch of very beige soup. It tasted okay but made me sad to look at! It got me thinking again about this #joyfulbook by @aestheticsofjoy I read a couple of years ago... Vibrancy is a nutrient!

PS I should give Alex his props because he always plates our meals beautifully. I just want to step it up when I prep my own meals. 💗
Toasting to the new year! Hope you are staying saf Toasting to the new year! Hope you are staying safe and cozy. We made it to the end of this crazy year!
#kombucha #kombuchamocktail #mocktails
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