Procrastination by Keeping Busy

Today I found myself with 2-3 “free” hours. I wish I could say I rocked 2 hours of working on the blog, but I didn’t. Why?

I didn’t waste those hours. I did plenty. Cleaned the kitchen. Tackled two junk drawers.

Started cleaning out the fridge before I stopped myself.

Sure, I was getting stuff done. Important stuff. But not the most important stuff to reaching my goals.

My goal date for doing this blogging thing full time is coming up fast, so I really need to bear down and get going. Instead, I deep-cleaned the kitchen. Why?

Because it was easier. It was an easy task with a defined procedure.

That’s what is so tough about striking out on your own. You create your own procedures. You set your working hours. There’s no one on you to force you to focus on the tasks that are most essential.

It may be the toughest part – but it’s also the best.

Some quick tips for staying focused:

Each night, write down 3-4 things you absolutely need to accomplish that day. When it’s time to get to work the next day, no time is wasted thinking about what you need to do. Just sit down and start plowing through the list.
Keep your work area clean (but work on that “after hours”). This is the thing that distracts me the most. A cluttered work area always gives me the “out” I’m looking for. “Once I get this area clean, I’ll get to work…”
Be mindful of whether you’re “spending” or “investing” your time.

What about you? What have you found toughest about working on your own? What tips do you have for staying on task?

SimplyJo

That's one nice looking fridge!!! As someone very attached to my stomach I find that I reward myself with food/drink if I stick on track. Working by myself and from home I find snacking is generally an issue for me – so I try and combat this problem by aligning it with what I need to do. Write something and complete it… get a coffee/tea you get the idea….Just found the blog via You Simplified and have subscribed…
http://www.pursuitofchange.com/ Mike Tiojanco

Full disclosure – that's not our fridge… I actually thought about the idea of using a picture of a really dirty kitchen, but I thought people might have the same idea – that it was my kitchen – and then my wife might actually kill me.

Good call on the reward system. Maybe once I get back on the video games I'll try that out. Write a blog post, game of NHL 10'. That could work…

Thanks for the subscribe!
http://artofgreatthings.com Jeffrey Tang

I hear you, Mike. Sometimes the hardest time-wasters to get rid of the tasks that are “useful,” but not relevant to your most important goals.

One tip I'd share: differentiate between clutter that distracts you from work and clutter that's just there. If having too many papers on your desk physically interferes with your ability to work, then take the time to organize them. On the other hand, if having papers on your desk looks messy but doesn't actually get in the way, then resist the urge to clean for the sake of cleaning.
http://www.ridiculouslyextraordinary.com KarolGajda

Hey Mike,

It happens to the best.

It's important to set goals and accomplish those tasks, but if you let the other stuff go life will be a mess. Your “after hours” idea is great for this. Set aside a certain amount of time to get your important tasks done and only then get the “necessary but not important” done. Many of us have that backwards.

Thanks Mike,
Karol
http://www.pursuitofchange.com/ Mike Tiojanco

Yeah – here's a little bit of the problem. Our iMac is set up on the kitchen bar area – so kitchen clutter is sitting right in front of me! It's the one part of the house I like to keep spotless, but also the part of the house the kids (2 and 4) love to clutter up! Maybe it's time to put these kids to work…
http://www.pursuitofchange.com/ Mike Tiojanco

Actually my wife and I just made a plan today – she is working on a major certification for teachers right now. We'll work at the same time and clean at the same time. Should result in more productivity (is “more” the right word or is it “better”) for us both.

Thanks for the read and comment!
ryantiojanco

In order to be productive:

1. I need to eliminate all applications of facebook… phone and computer and email alert.
2. I need to get away from people that talk to me… parents, friends, coworkers.
3. I need to put my phone on silent.
4. I need some form of energy; caffeine, red bull, diet coke, monster

It sucks that I need all these in order to focus and get work done. I constantly find myself wasting hours of my time on facebook. I really think I have ADD because of my short attention span and lack of focus. I will definitely think of my to-do list for the next day at night.

Good luck cuz.. stay focused!
http://www.pursuitofchange.com/ Mike Tiojanco

If you talk to some relatives, ADD runs in the fam…

When are you getting back to your blog? It was a great idea!
http://website-in-a-weekend.net/ Dave Doolin

Honestly, it's good that you clean up.

Because Lord help you if you don't!
(don't ask)
http://www.allthingsgerman.net/ Graham Tappenden

I make a list each morning of the 10 things to be done on that day. They are numbered 0-9 so I only have space for a single digit and can't cheat!

If I don't finish the list, then the unfinished items get carried over to the next day – I won't take them back off the list.

If something else comes up that is not absolutely urgent it get's put on a reserve list. The next morning, if my work does not fill up the 10 spaces, I take something off the reserve list to do so.