I am often being asked how I get so much work done in a day. Depending on how I’m feeling, I can get more work done today than most people get done in a week.
First, I want you all to know that I am not perfect. There are definitely days when it feels like no matter how hard I try, I can’t get anything done. This is because I’m human, not a machine.
However, there is a difference between being naturally tired and being unfocused. There’s also a difference between taking a necessary break and procrastinating. This article is for those who are struggling with moving out of procrastination so they can get more work done today.
Identify your internal blocks to making money.
I’m occasionally surprised by how much money people leave on the table simply because they don’t move fast enough. For example, like when I email someone telling them I need their services and three weeks go by without a response.
I’ve done enough coaching around money mindset to know that this is usually a sign of self-sabotage. Usually, the service provider has some sort of internal block to earning money. We all have them, it’s just stronger from some than others.
At this point, you need to question what makes you uncomfortable about making money. What internal dialogue do you have going on when these opportunities arise? If you’re unsure, you may need to work with a coach to help you figure it out.
Just start.
Sometimes it’s hard to get work done because you just can’t seem to start. For example, I will find myself avoiding work by watching interviews on YouTube. If I’m not careful, I will do this all day. In fact, I almost did it today.
The main thing that helps me is to give myself a cut off time. For example, I can mess around on YouTube while I enjoy some of my coffee, but at 10 am on the dot I get to work. Simply starting when I say I’m going to usually gives me enough momentum to keep me going for the rest of the day.
Create a workspace you love to work from.
Let’s be real, it can be hard to get work done if your workspace is a disaster. Just recently I realized that was part of my problem, so I cleaned out the area I work from when I’m home.
I cleaned off the table, lit a candle and started playing music I enjoy. These small actions actually help me focus because my mind isn’t distracted by the mess that used to be there.
Sometimes it may even look like leaving my apartment all together. On these days, I go to my coworking space to get a change of scene. Since I do a lot of creative work, I often find myself needing to work from different places to stay inspired.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it’s the simplest tweaks that can set us up for a productive day. Often times people think they need to move mountains when in reality you just need to walk over a small hill to get the momentum going.
Amanda Abella
Amanda is a best-selling author of "Make Money Your Honey", a book that helps freelancers and business owners understand their relationship with money and how to make it more productive. She's driven by helping others live the most productive and fruitful way possible.