Strategies For Conquering Procrastination

Even the most goal-oriented, organized and driven lawyers suffer from procrastination from time to time, while other attorneys battle it every day.  Wherever you find yourself on this continuum, learning skills to overcome procrastination is an important aspect of your practice management, career advancement and professional well-being. 

Conquering procrastination necessitates a blend of self-awareness, effective planning, and behavioral adjustments. It is a gradual process, requiring time to develop new habits.

Experiment with these strategies to discover what works best for you and practice patience as you strive for improvement

1. Identify the Reasons: Pinpoint the reasons behind your procrastination, whether it’s fear of failure, perfectionism, lack of motivation, task aversion, or feeling overwhelmed. Understanding these factors is crucial for addressing the root cause.

2. Divide Tasks into Manageable Steps: Large tasks can be daunting, leading to procrastination. Break them into smaller, more manageable steps to make the overall task less overwhelming and to focus on one aspect at a time.

3. Define Specific Goals: Set clear, specific, and achievable goals instead of vague objectives. For instance, specify tasks and deadlines, providing a sense of direction and purpose.

4. Establish a Schedule: Create a daily or weekly schedule that allocates dedicated time for work, breaks, and leisure. Adhering to the schedule helps build a routine and minimizes the temptation to procrastinate.

5. Prioritize Tasks: Identify and prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines. Tackling high-priority tasks first fosters a sense of accomplishment and reduces stress.

6. Utilize Time Management Techniques: Employ time management techniques outlined  in one of my previous blog posts, Want 8 – 10 Hours Back in Your Week? How to Increase Productivity, Create Workflow Efficiencies and Manage Your Time. (add hyper link)

7. Minimize Distractions: Identify and reduce distractions in your environment. Turn off social media notifications, establish a dedicated workspace, and use tools to block distracting websites during work periods.

8. Set Realistic Deadlines: When setting deadlines, be realistic and avoid overcommitting. Unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and procrastination.

9. Connect with Intrinsic Motivation: Relate tasks to your personal values and long-term goals. Understanding the importance of a task can boost intrinsic motivation and diminish procrastination.

10. Establish a Reward System: Introduce a system of rewards for completing tasks. Positive reinforcement fosters a sense of accomplishment and enhances the enjoyment of the task.

11. Accountability Partner: Share your goals and progress with a mentor, coach or colleague.  

12. Learn from Setbacks: If you do procrastinate, avoid being too harsh on yourself. Analyze the reasons behind it, learn from the experience, and adjust your strategies accordingly.

For more information about leadership training programs or for a no cost consultation on your approach to marketing, business development or practice management, contact Paige at [email protected].