Procrastination can be the biggest hurdle to creating a successful blog. If you find procrastination is a daily occurrence in your life then you need to find ways to deal with it. Otherwise, you can quickly find you are wasting hours of key blogging time every day, and not achieve what you are truly capable of.

In this article, we look at the different reasons people procrastinate, and how to identify why and when you lose focus. We then discuss how to avoid distractions and ensure productivity, using a range of tools, strategies apps, and positive mindset. Once you have finished reading, you will be armed with actionable tasks to help you avoid blogger procrastination. 

Identifying Why and When You Procrastinate

There are many reasons for procrastination. So it is important to be aware of what is creating a barrier between you and your work. Blogging can be particularly difficult, as often you are working to your own pre-made deadlines, and with no immediate monetary rewards available once you have completed an article. Nevertheless, it is possible to cut down on your procrastination behavior with some simple changes to your day to day habits.

Firstly, it is important to identify when and why you are procrastinating. It may be because you are disorganized and have trouble with time management or juggling the different elements of blogging. Or, it may be that you have trouble sitting down and getting started on a new article. My problem without a doubt is that I lose focus after a certain amount of time writing, causing my concentration to wander. Stress can also cause procrastination, as well as feeling overburdened or unmotivated.

Understanding WHAT is the root of your time wasting, and being able to recognize WHEN you are not being productive is key. RescueTime is an effective tool for helping you identify your weaknesses, and what is causing your distractions. Simply sign up and let it run on your computer or other devices. It will then track and report back, giving you an accurate picture of your day and detailing time spent on different applications and websites. By pinpointing when you are productive, and what is causing procrastinating behavior, you will be empowered to make much-needed changes.

How to Avoid Distractions

Working on a laptop means that millions of distractions are at your fingertips. With social media, email, all your other favorite websites, as well as those sites yet to be discovered, hours can quickly pass with no blog posts being written. And not to mention messages and calls from your phone having to be answered. So what can you do to avoid these distractions?

Block Websites and Apps

Blocking websites that are stopping you from completing your work is a must. Freedom is a blogger’s best friend, as it can block any website and app as well as all social media platforms. By ensuring you can’t access any sites that cause you to procrastinate, your focus and productivity should quickly increase.

Check your Email At Set Times

Blocking your email is often not possible, as you may need to access your emails throughout the day. However, each time you read and answer an email you are losing time and concentration. Set fixed times to check your email throughout the day, then turn off email notifications and even log out of your email if necessary.

Turn Your Phone Off

If you work out of the house then leave your phone at home. If this isn’t possible then turn it off or leave it in another room. Be disciplined and only check your phone at lunchtime or at set times. And turn the sound down so it doesn’t interrupt your flow.

How to Be Impressively Productive

Apart from becoming aware of the distractions around you, what else can you do to ensure you avoid blogger procrastination? Let’s now have a look at some ways to keep you motivated and on task…

Have a Designated Workspace

Having a designated workspace will help you mentally switch into ‘work mode’ when you enter this space. A workspace may be another room in your house, an area in the corner of the lounge, or in a paid co-working venue. Try and keep your space uncluttered and calm, so you are ready to work as soon as you sit down.

Set Goals and List Tasks

It is important to set goals so you are clear on what you want to achieve before you start work. This should be goals for the long-term as well as for the month, week or even day. As your motivation starts to dwindle towards the end of a blog post, use your goals to push you to finish.

To stay organized, break each goal into a list of tasks that need to be completed. Try using Finish, a free app that will enable you to compile tasks into a manageable list. With this app, you can set deadlines so you know when each blog post you are writing should be finished and published. Then enjoy the satisfaction of ticking off each task once finished.

Plan Each Blogging Session

When planning your blogging sessions, always start with the hardest tasks (usually the writing). Then leave the admin tasks, like taking screenshots, finding images, uploading posts, or any social media promotion, until later. This is because your brain will be at its clearest at the beginning of a work session, so you will write quicker and produce higher quality content.

Many procrastinators use the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management method that promotes working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5 minute break. This helps keep your brain refreshed and stops you flagging. Check out the website Tomato Timer, that provides a free Pomodoro timer to help you work productively during every blogging session.

Use Music to Focus

If your work environment is noisy, or you just have trouble keeping your brain focused on the task in hand, then try listening to Focus@Will. This music service has been created based on human neuroscience and provides music that will help to alter your brain activity to improve your productivity. When you sign up with Focus@Will you will be asked some questions to help determine the right music for your brain. You can then listen to music chosen specifically for your personality type to keep you on track and reduce procrastination.

Final Thoughts on How to Avoid Blogger Procrastination

To avoid blogger procrastination you will need to create new working habits. Block out distractions, and be clear about what you want to achieve each time you sit down to work. And trial the strategies and tools suggested in this article to find the best ways to keep you on task. Good Luck!

Which strategies will you try to help you beat procrastination? Please share your thoughts in the comments below…