Wealden Business Group prides itself in securing interesting speakers for its weekly meetings, and among the most engaging recently was a presentation by Andrea Barker, a Confidence Coach.
Andrea’s talents stretch beyond instilling her clients with confidence, and she had some useful advice to offer to WBG members confronting that age-old business problem – procrastination.
We all do it. Putting off that job again and again, because it’s something you really don’t want to do, or perhaps (you think) exceeds your capabilities. No wonder they call procrastination ‘the thief of time’.
Andrea’s suggestions for overcoming procrastination, include…
- Work on what your strengths are, which enable you to do well, and be truthful about where you may need support…and ask for the support
- Focus on being problem solving – there is always a solution
- Focus on the outcome and what it could mean for you and how it would make you feel – happy, relieved, free, less stressed, proud….
- Switch off all social media, for example one hour, and set a timer with the intention to be focused for that hour. Or you can set longer slots for an uninterrupted, distraction-free period, particularly useful for a large task. It can help to break the assignment down, and reduce ‘overwhelm’, as each little piece of action, no matter how small, takes you towards completing your overall goal.
- As the Chinese proverb says: ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time’
- Find out your own daily rhythm – maybe you are more focused in the morning, so do important tasks first thing.
- Make a list you can see – on a notepad, whiteboard, wherever – and tick off each task. If you are particularly visual, there can be a positive psychological boost from ticking off tasks as completed. (warning – so long as you don’t procrastinate by making endless lists!)
Andrea Barker can be contacted by phone on 07984 047557 or email ConfidenceCoach@andreabarker.co.uk
Her website is www.andreabarker.co.uk