Avoiding Procrastination When Deadlines Are Tight

How do you manage your time, and your team's time, to avoid procrastination? As someone who's been in leadership roles for a while, I get it... procrastination can be a real problem. It's not just an individual problem... it can have ripple effects on your team's productivity and morale. Here's how I've learned to manage my time effectively and dodge the procrastination bullet: Identify Priorities: Know what tasks are urgent and important. It helps to make a to-do list every day and prioritize it. Break Down Tasks: Don't let big projects intimidate you. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. It's easier to tackle, and you'll feel a sense of achievement along the way. Eliminate Distractions: Identify what commonly distracts you in your work and eliminate or minimize these distractions. It could be social media, noise or even constant email checking. Monitor Progress: Keep track of how you're doing. I often set mini-deadlines for myself to keep the ball rolling. Seek Feedback and Support: Don't operate in a vacuum. Get feedback from your team or peers to know if you're on the right track. Sometimes, just talking about what you're working on can spark new ideas or solutions. Positive Mindset: Cultivate a can-do attitude. Procrastination often feeds on self-doubt and fear. Believe that you can do it, and half the battle is won. Use Tools: There are plenty of apps and tools to help you manage your time. Find one that works for you. I personally use a simple time-tracking app to stay on track. Accountability: Sometimes declaring your goals to someone else can keep you accountable. I often share my key weekly tasks with a trusted coworker. Time for Yourself: Believe it or not, taking short breaks and dedicating time for yourself can rejuvenate your mind and can be a cure for procrastination. Review and Adjust: At the end of the week, take some time to review what you've achieved and what fell through the cracks. Use this as a learning opportunity to plan your next week better. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Do one thing every day that scares you." Pushing through procrastination is uncomfortable, but that's how we grow. Feel free to share your own experiences and tips! How do you battle procrastination in your supervisory role? #Leadership #Productivity #PersonalGrowth

I’ve shared these 6 research-backed strategies with several friends wanting to avoid procrastination (at work and home), and they work every time: 1. Create a "Not-To-Do" List Most people focus entirely on what they need to accomplish. But research shows they should be equally focused on what they shouldn't be doing. Write down three things not to do alongside three things to do. If someone needs to clean their garage, their not-to-do list might include: • No Netflix  • Not putzing around in the kitchen  • Don’t check email/social before 10 a.m. Clarity on what to avoid creates mental space to focus on what actually matters. — 2. Make Public Commitments Studies show that public accountability increases follow-through. You can announce your goals on social media or to friends. For example: "I'm cleaning my garage this weekend and posting before/after photos on Monday. If anyone sees me scrolling Facebook, tell me to get back to work!" Public accountability creates just enough social pressure/accountability to push through resistance moments. — 3. Set Up Smart Barriers Shape your environment to make procrastination harder and progress easier. Digital barriers: • Create separate computer users (one for work, one for play) • Uninstall distracting apps from the work profile • Remove social media bookmarks • Install parental controls on their own devices Helpful shortcuts: • Set important apps to open automatically when they start their computer • Remove distracting apps from their phone's home screen • Keep only essential tools easily accessible — 4. Use the 5-Minute Starter Research shows that the hardest part of any task is simply starting. So I trick myself into it. I open the doc and write one sentence. I pull one box out of the garage. Once I start, momentum does the rest. That initial 5 minutes eliminates the mental barrier of "where do I even start?" — 5. Stop at the Peak (Never Finish Sections) Never end work at a natural stopping point. For example, I’m currently writing my next book and I never stop at the end of a section. I stop mid-sentence. The next day, I pick up exactly where I left off. There’s no inertia, no overthinking. (BTW my next book will ALSO start with a “C” can you guess what it will be?!?) — 6. Dream Big (Think Abstract) When bills pile up or clutter builds, it’s easy to stay overwhelmed. So I pause and visualize how I’ll feel after. A clean closet. An empty inbox. That emotional payoff actually helps push me through. These 6 simple shifts make it easier to follow through without relying on willpower.

In my 6+ years of Salesforce career, I've rarely missed deadlines. Missing deadlines isn't just frustrating, It can: → Cost the company more money → Mess up their reputation → Cost them customers If you never want to miss a deadline again… Read this post (& apply what you're about to read): 👇🏻 We miss deadlines for 2 main issues: 1/ Some unforeseen problem 2/ Being lazy, procrastinating, or trying to be perfect Nobody can do anything about the 1st issue. Sometimes stuff happens, and you have to drop some work... But issue 2 can be solved. Here's what works for me: 1/ Using Google Calendar Religiously • Put the main deadline as an "event" in the calendar • Add notification reminders a day before and 6 hours before the deadline This makes it physically impossible to miss a deadline by "accident" 2/ Break down the entire project Think of your project as stairs. You can't reach the next level in one step, right? Similarly, divide your project into small, daily-doable tasks. This will make the entire project digestible. 3/ Put something precious on the line Take bets with your co-workers or friends. Whenever someone misses a deadline, they must do something they hate. Example: Making coffee for the entire team for 7 days Whatever it is, take the bet seriously. If you're gonna brush it off, there's no point in placing a bet anyway... This makes you more accountable and the tasks less boring. 4/ Probably the best tip of the collection: Start early! Make a habit of not waiting till the last minute. Start working as soon as you can and cover at least 70% of the work in half of the total time. This way, if anything unexpected happens, you won't have any issues getting back on track. Also, you'll have enough time to review your work before sharing it with clients. This makes the business trust you and want to keep using you This simple 4-step process helped me rarely miss any deadlines in my entire career. What do you think of these steps? Let me know in the comments. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your network and make sure you follow me for more posts like this. Lastly, if you're a business owner thinking of Automating Salesforce, you can book a free consultation call with me. {Link in comments}

Procrastination isn't about time. It's about emotions. You're not lazy. Your brain is protecting you from difficult feelings. Fear. Anxiety. Self-doubt. I've seen it steal dreams. Maybe you have too. Here are 8 powerful ways to break free: 1. Create Space Between Trigger and Response 💬 "The moment I face a big task, I grab my phone." ➟ Pause for 30 seconds when avoidance hits ➟ Take three deep breaths ➟ Ask: "What tiny step can I take now?" 💡 Viktor Frankl: Our power lies in the space between trigger and response. Try: Set a 30-second timer next time you feel the urge to avoid. 2. Face Your Fears Head-On 💬 "I keep delaying because what if everything goes wrong?" ➟ Write down your worst-case scenarios ➟ Rate how likely each one is ➟ List one action to prevent each fear 💡 Named fears lose their emotional grip. Try: Write down your biggest fear about your delayed project. 3. Build Instant Rewards 💬 "Important tasks feel painful. Netflix feels good." ➟ Pair tough tasks with immediate pleasures ➟ Create small celebrations for completion ➟ Track your wins visually 💡 Your brain craves instant gratification. Use it to your advantage. Try: Choose one small reward for your next completed task. 4. Design Your Environment 💬 "My workspace doesn't inspire action." ➟ Place visual reminders of your goals ➟ Set out tools needed for tomorrow ➟ Remove distracting triggers 💡 Your environment shapes your behavior more than willpower. Try: Put one inspiring image where you'll see it tomorrow. 5. Use Social Power 💬 "I keep my goals private so I can't fail publicly." ➟ Tell someone your deadline ➟ Share progress updates ➟ Set public consequences 💡 Social pressure creates positive emotional urgency. Try: Text one friend about your next deadline. 6. Reset Your State 💬 "Bad moods make me avoid everything." ➟ Take a 2-minute meditation break ➟ Step outside briefly ➟ Do 5 jumping jacks 💡 Physical state changes create emotional shifts. Try: Stand up and stretch right now for 30 seconds. 7. Create When-Then Plans 💬 "I have good intentions but never follow through." ➟ Write specific action triggers ➟ Link habits to existing routines ➟ Remove decision points 💡 Clear plans bypass emotional resistance. Try: Write one "When X happens, I will do Y" statement. 8. Track Visible Progress 💬 "It feels like I'm getting nowhere." ➟ Use a progress calendar ➟ Mark daily wins ➟ Share your journey 💡 Seeing progress builds emotional momentum. Try: Draw a simple progress bar for your current project. Your dreams are waiting. Your emotions shouldn't stop you. Pick one strategy. Start now. Which one will you try first? ♻️ Repost if this resonated with you! 🔖 Follow me Suren Samarchyan for more.