Procrastination is a common challenge for many creators, especially when they have to juggle multiple projects, deadlines, and platforms. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and poor quality of work. How can you overcome this habit and stay focused on your creative goals? Here are some strategies to help you avoid procrastination as a creator.
One of the reasons why you might procrastinate is because your goals are too vague, unrealistic, or overwhelming. To avoid this, you need to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This means that you have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish, how you will measure your progress, whether you have the resources and skills to do it, how it aligns with your purpose and vision, and when you will complete it. SMART goals can help you break down your projects into manageable tasks, prioritize your actions, and track your results.
Break down large goals into tasks that are so small you can't help but succeed. "Posting quality content every day" is hard but posting *anything* 1x per week is almost embarrassingly easy. Once you do 1x, go for 2x. Then 3x. Once you build the daily content muscle memory, start adding time for review to find patterns of what is working better. Then do more of that. If you fail, break the goals into smaller steps. "Draft one sentence of one post today." will get you further along than waiting until you're perfect to start.
Creating a schedule that reflects your priorities, energy levels, and deadlines is an effective way to avoid procrastination. A calendar, planner, or app can help you plan your time, allocate resources, and avoid distractions. To make your schedule more effective, consider batching similar tasks together to save time and increase efficiency. Additionally, block out time for deep work without interruptions and set reminders and alarms to stay on track. Finally, reward yourself for completing tasks and reaching milestones to stay motivated.
Learn what your productivity patterns are. When you know the time of day when you do your best focused work, for example, try and plan meetings and other interruptions so they happen outside that golden flow time.
As a creator with ADHD, the only effective method of keeping my projects within their timelines is daily/weekly checklists. By breaking down the components of the project you are able to make progress and see things get accomplished without making it overwhelming.
I like the "...stick to it" part. Setting SMART goals and creating schedules is something anyone can do; I have done that multiples of times but I always end up not doing anything. So, procrastination can be beaten by self discipline; STICK TO IT! Another way to get your task done, especially if you are a chronic procrastinator, is to get a tiny bit of the task done every time your mind reminds you of the task. A friend would say; PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION.
Distractions are a major obstacle to productivity and creativity, both from external sources such as social media, email, phone calls, or noise, and from internal sources like boredom, fatigue, or negative emotions. To minimize their effects, you must first recognize what triggers them and how they affect you. Then you can take steps like muting notifications and devices while working, using tools or apps that block access to distracting websites or apps, creating a quiet, comfortable workspace free of clutter, taking breaks to recharge your energy and focus, and using positive affirmations and self-talk to combat doubts and fears.
Sometimes, you might need some external support and motivation to avoid procrastination and achieve your goals. This is where an accountability partner or a community can be beneficial. An accountability partner is someone who shares your goals, challenges, and feedback, and holds you responsible for your actions. A community is a group of people with similar interests, values, and aspirations that provide inspiration, advice, and encouragement. You can find an accountability partner or a community online or offline through platforms, forums, groups, or events. By connecting with them regularly, you can set and review goals and tasks; celebrate wins and learn from failures; seek and offer help and guidance; as well as challenge and inspire each other to grow and improve.
Community is an absolute hack for creators. Find your crew of solopreneurs, freelancers, coaches, consultants, and content creators who are all putting in the reps to become stronger creators. Surround yourself with people who set goals, build skills, solve problems, and give actionable support. Together, a community will make success a lighter lift. Your success depends on the company you keep. And nothing helps you grow stronger, faster than good training partners. Have like-minded peers support you, cheer you on, and hold you accountable to your business and content goals.
I have often found this useful even as far back as when I was an undergraduate. Being in and with a community of people with common/similar goal helps a lot; iron sharpens iron.
Finally, one of the most important strategies to avoid procrastination as a creator is to be kind and realistic with yourself. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or scared at times, but it is important to acknowledge and accept these emotions and thoughts without judging or criticizing yourself. Additionally, recognize and appreciate your strengths and achievements, no matter how small or big. It is also beneficial to forgive yourself for mistakes and setbacks, learning from them in the process. Adjusting expectations and goals according to your situation and capabilities can also help you stay on track. If needed, seek professional help or support.
To make money, you need 3 kinds of support. People usually only have 2 out of 3: 1) Critical (direct & honest) 2) Unconditional (loving & optimistic) 3) Advisory (wise & experienced) When you have all 3 legs of that stool, your growth takes off. But you may work for years before you can find all 3 legs. Even then, there will still be staffing changes to that "board of directors" as your needs evolve. It's a process that never ends, but always improves. More than a network, you need a tribe you can tap into. Surround yourself with a thriving culture of growth — people at different stages, but on the same journey. That's how you fill the 3 key support roles you need. No one can walk this path alone. That's the power of community.
What works the best for me is these three things - - Keep a notion board checklist - Give myself tiny rewards frequently for motivation - Record the time taken and track improvement (basically gamification)
Creators — We are quick to chastise our own imperfections. But the quality of our character drives success much more than any perceived weakness detracts from it. Community is a chance to remember this because it provides objective outside perspective. Opportunity is abundant if we can persist and persevere. Being a part of a tribe that has your back makes the grind that much easier.