Donโt put off until tomorrow what you can do today. It is good advice, but it doesnโt mean we always follow it. Weโve all put things off at some point due to various causes f procrastination. Some of us, however, procrastinate more than others. If youโre a classic โavoiderโ, nothing of any real importance will ever get done, which negatively impacts productivity and how you feel. On a positive note, procrastination isnโt a sign of laziness. The science behind procrastination reveals that it is a struggle between two sections of our brain. Take a look at 5 different causes of procrastination that could be holding you back in your franchise business and what you can do about it.
5 Causes of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them
1. Distraction and Lack of Focus
We can blame smartphones, the internet or whatever, for distracting us but the truth is, these causes of procrastination arenโt a 21st century problem. If we want to, weโll find a way to put off a tricky task. Admittedly, the aforementioned technology makes it easier to find a distraction at the swipe of our fingertips but cognitive therapists believe we can work on focusing our attention.
How to Overcome It:
Regular sessions of mindfulness meditation can help franchise owners deal with these causes of procrastination while retraining their brain to focus more. Recognize bad habits. Instead of checking your phone or emails every 5-10 minutes, extend this time cycle to every 60 minutes. Find a mentor or take up the offer of franchise help โ make the most of the ongoing assistance when offered.
2. Fear of Failure and Chasing Perfection
What if it all goes wrong? It is natural to have a crisis of confidence at some point in your career. This is especially true for franchise owners and entrepreneurs who are taking on the ultimate role as boss. It is unfamiliar territory, which can trigger a fear of failure – one of the most common causes of procrastination among entrepreneurs. Perfectionism can also contribute to procrastination; we put off difficult tasks because we set impossibly high standards. Nothing will ever be good enough, therefore nothing ever gets done.
How to Overcome It:
Donโt be overly concerned about what others think of you. People are far too involved in their own lives to be paying close attention to every move you make. Overcome fear and build confidence. Planning, organizing, and learning new skills will help you deal with the โqueenโ of causes of procrastination. Check out some business productivity tools that can help you perform a task more efficiently.
3. Too Much to Do and not Enough Time
Procrastinators love excuses. โI donโt have timeโ and โIโm too busyโ are favorite ones. Modern life is hectic. No one has enough time, therefore we need to make time. Fortunately, tasks, even business ownership ones, rarely take as long as we think. The trick is to start with the smallest jobs that take the least amount of time or break down larger tasks into manageable time slots.
How to Overcome It:
Different causes of procrastination call for different coping techniques. This one in particular calls for setting aside a half an hour to work on a task with no interruptions. Mute your phone. Go offline. Try the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management method. Set the timer for 25 minutes; commit to working solely on one task without any interruptions.
4. Anxious Thoughts and Negative Feelings
Regardless of what the causes of procrastination are, the result is work that mounts up. Then the pressure mounts up, which takes an emotional toll. Dr. Fuschia Sirois, who has dedicated 15 years to researching procrastination, suggests that it comes down to the difficulty in managing our emotions. If we feel anxious about a task, weโll postpone it, which is a short-lived sense of relief. All too soon, we feel anxious again simply because we delayed the inevitable.
How to Overcome It:
Look for the positives in a task. If, for example, you need to organize a car wash marketing plan for your franchise, think about the potential new business it will generate. Write down tasks in order of importance; it is a useful visual aid and helps to organize the mind and reduce stress.
5. I Donโt Like It and I Wonโt Enjoy It
Lack of motivation is one of the major causes of procrastination among business and franchise owners. We put off our least-favorite tasks; anything that we perceive to be dull or boring rarely gets our immediate attention. You canโt force yourself to like a monotonous chore but you can set achievable goals. More importantly, donโt multitask and try to do everything at once; choose just one job and see it through.
How to Overcome It:
Our brain loves rewards. According to research from Kaitlin Wooley at Cornell University, immediate rewards motivate us to try harder. It could be as simple as a walk outside or a fresh cup of coffee. You will enjoy an emotional reward too; a sense of accomplishment when you complete a task.
The good news is that you can stop procrastinating right this very minute. Take the first step to start a car wash business with DetailXPerts and fill out the application form today!
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