All our advice on how to stop procrastinating!

1 - Set yourself achievable daily goals

Before you start your day, take the time to make a to-do list. List the day's priority tasks (those that seem most important to you) and set yourself clear, achievable goals.

The most important thing? Stay realistic. A working day lasts 7 hours on average, so you can't put 20 important tasks on your to-do list. Write down 3 to 5 objectives and concentrate on achieving them.

2 - Do complicated tasks in the morning

In general, we are more concentrated in the morning than in the afternoon. So it's best to reserve all the more intellectual tasks requiring more thought for the start of your morning. You'll find it easier to finish your day with operational tasks that require less analysis.

3 - Let your friends and family know that you are not available during working hours

When you work from home, the people around you tend to contact you more often and ask for your services. It's easy to give in to their requests and put off your work.

To avoid this inconvenience, you need to make it clear to your friends and family that you really are working and that you are not available during working hours.

4 - Create a dedicated workspace away from distractions

There can be many distractions in the workplace, even more so if you work from home. To avoid succumbing to temptation, create a real workspace for yourself, separate from your living room and kitchen if you can.

Ideally, you should have an enclosed office specially designed for your work, with no television, console or other equipment.

5 - Establish a routine

Establishinga routine is perfectly suited to the self-employed, as it creates a framework within which you can work. Set up a routine that suits you, with built-in breaks and work times that you have to stick to. That way there's less room for procrastination!

Example of a typical day: you could start work at 9am with your to-do list, take a 10-minute break at 11am, leave for lunch at 12.30pm, start work again at 2pm, take a break at 4pm with a snack and finish your day with 30 minutes to 1 hour of administrative tasks.

6 - Bear in mind that you have a business to run

If you're a home-based sales assistant, you earn your living through your own hard work and motivation. If you bear in mind that your turnover depends on what you do, you'll be less inclined to procrastinate.

Be careful, though, not to exceed the working hours you've set yourself, otherwise you'll burn out, and keep more "relaxing" days to rest when you need to.

7 - Choose a job you enjoy

This tip may seem simple at first glance, but it's perhaps the most essential! People who really enjoy their work tend to procrastinate less than those who are bored or don't like their job.

Are you interested in door-to-door sales? Become a VDI for Elora!