Its the biggest killer of productivity, many things get put off in our work and lives, like difficult conversations, goal setting, not going to the doctors/dentist/banking app.

There are 4 reasons….

1.A fear of failure 2.Not knowing where to start 3.Allowing distractions that interfere with focus 4.Avoidance of unpleasant tasks

FEAR OF FAILURE The surest way to achieve success and not failure is to model someone who is already successful. If you don’t have good models, find someone who is the best in your chosen field and emulate them. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel – simply learn from the best. Someone has already discovered how to get it — and you want to figure out what they are doing right. Saving you the time and pain with their knowledge they have gained. Success leaves clues. Follow their strategy and you sow the same seeds, then you’ll reap the same rewards.  Failure is about learning!

NOT KNOWING WHERE TO START Schedule milestones, chunk out the information. Simply begin with the deadline, then work backwards to block off time periods on your calendar to work on the project pieces. Set deadlines on every milestone. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time…dipped in chocolate. What does this mean? It means splitting big projects into small parts and making them more enjoyable. Perhaps playing lively music will help motivate you to tackle the project. Or, promise yourself some other treat after each small part of the task is complete.

ALLOWING DISTRACTIONS We are factually our biggest distractor…….Let me make a case for this with just this one question…..Do you randomly check email/social media, your banking etc?

Schedule specific times for checking or making a drink for you. Remember if you want to have that laser vision focus, you have to own it and protect that time. Our brains are finely attuned to distraction, so today’s digital environment makes it especially hard to focus. “Distractions signal that something has changed,” A great tool learnt at the Productivity Bootcamp™ is to have a list of areas of work that you can do in times of low energy, recharging, high energy etc.

AVOIDANCE Why are you spending your time doing tasks you hate? Is it something you can delegate?

I’ll give you an example, I LOVE cleaning, now I have a cleaner! I don’t feel the guilt of not having a clean house anymore and I certainly don’t feel guilty about the time that I have saved and can now provide more time to my clients.

Secondly, you need to ask yourself why it is so unpleasant! What is it you don’t like about it, why do you do it? Do you understand the value it brings? If you are doing a task that isn’t of high impact or value to you or your work or your business, then DITCH IT! In our intensive online program or our Snapshot webinar or LIVE intensive Productivity Bootcamp™, we talk about the 4 D’s, Do It, Delay It, Delegate or Ditch It! If you are doing a task that is NOT of high impact or value to you, your work or your organization then DITCH IT!

Ella Bates Master Trainer & founder of the patented formula for Guaranteed Corporate Training Success, Ella has over 20 years in the Learning Industry within Corporate and Higher Education. If you want to have a conversation with a training expert who has access to the latest learning knowledge, we would LOVE to chat more with you CLICK HERE to get in touch. Read more at www.ellabates.com