How do you stop yourself from procrastinating at work?

Since it is a Monday and you’re here looking at our content, I can feel pretty confident that at least some of you are sneakily getting your DDG fix while procrastinating at work. And hey, in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with that from time to time. The problem seems to arise when you get to the end of the day and go, “Crap. I was meant to do all this work, and instead, I spent 7 straight hours watching cat videos.” We’ve all been there, amiright?

As someone who started their own business a couple of years back (insert shameless Sizeable plug here!) I found that the procrastination monster doesn’t necessarily get off your back when you’re working for yourself. In fact, my procrastination style has simply warped so that now I’ll spend my time reading business advice or searching for a new theme instead of, you know, uploading stock and nonsense like that. Naturally, I’m trying to get past this, so I had to ask a couple of businesspeople how they stopped themselves from procrastinating at work and steal their advice.

“I think about what I want to achieve and get excited about a project. When I feel that burning passion, procrastination doesn’t come into it at all because I’m so driven and can’t wait to see how something will turn out.”

Karolina Stysiak, Designer & Director, Karolina Couture Lingerie

“I always remember this quote I heard once. ‘Successful people make decisions quickly and change them rarely. Unsuccessful people make them slowly and change them often.'”

Tanya Felli, Founder of ivadore

“Prioritising my tasks the night before really helps me perform the next day. I still use a diary to record each task and set myself deadlines throughout the day. The tick box next to each task keeps me going and gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.”

Sharon Blockley, Director of Fake Bake Australia

“I get into my workout, turn up tunes and go for a run or do a bodyweight workout at home. The endorphins created from a workout — even if it’s only for 20 minutes — will make me feel alive and ready to smash my to-do list.”

Lauren Hannaford, Former Elite Gymnast, Personal Trainer, and IsoWhey Ambassador

“I set myself goals and a daily to-do list which I mark off as I go.”

Danielle Newton of pureTAN

“I am a big believer that we make time for what is important to us and excuses for the things that are not. I always ask myself how much I really want something, and then if I find myself procrastinating, I really look at the deeper reason why. Fear? Inadequacy? Not important enough to me?”

Fiona Tuck, of Fiona Tuck Nutritional Medicine

“I do a big mind map of what I need to do, and then begin with the most important action steps first. I always follow my intuition and heart, stopping when I feel tired or need a break — from this space of clear energy and intentional actions, it actually becomes hard to procrastinate! It’s all about inspired intentional and aligned actions.”

Cassie Mendoza-Jones, founder of Elevate Vitality

“I don’t. I embrace it and do everything at the last minute. Procrastinating is usually when the good stuff starts mulling in my brain.”

Erica Andersen, Goodness Brand Manager

How do you stop yourself from procrastinating at work? Give us any of your tips and tricks (apart from not reading DDG, of course, because we don’t want to stop that!) in the comments below!