How To: Turn Procrastination Into Action in Your Third Sector Role
Some people find themselves writing list after list, without ever getting round to undertaking the majority of actions on the list in front of them – does this sound familiar?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your seemingly never-ending to-do list, it might be that you are procrastinating more than you are taking action.
Individuals who work in the third sector are incredibly passionate about their roles. Because of this, it can be easy for them to focus on the parts of the job they really love doing – connecting with and helping people. But this can mean that the necessary, more laborious tasks can
get sidelined and unfortunately build up.
In this blog, I want to share with you some career advice on how to stop procrastinating in your third sector role – starting with understanding your working style.
What Type of Procrastinator Are You?
To beat procrastination, first, you must find out what type of procrastinator you are. The main styles of procrastination generally follow three patterns:
The indecisive perfectionist – this individual is so preoccupied with getting everything perfect they find it hard to act.
The fearful avoider – these procrastinators find specific tasks more challenging through fear of being judged or getting something “wrong.”
The last-minute thrill seeker – some people thrive under pressure, and for this reason, they put off tasks as they believe they will perform better when a tight deadline is looming.
Do you associate with one of these working styles?
Whatever your procrastination style, there are easy ways to manage your hesitation, which I will go through now, starting with how to plan your working day and week to beat procrastination.
Do the Most Important Things First
A to-do list is no use if you keep on adding less essential tasks to it and ignoring the pressing matters that need action right now.
Lists are incredibly useful, but my first piece of advice is to forego the to-do list for now and find the most important thing you need to do that day.
Before you start on any other errands, even ones you consider to be such a daily occurrence that they don’t make it to the list, such as checking your email, take on the most important task. Tackling essential tasks this way reduces the amount of space they take up in your mind, and starting on them first thing will make them seem less daunting than if you put it off until lunchtime, then inevitably after lunch, and so on.
A top tip here is when you start on the task – set a timer for 5 minutes and tell yourself that you will work on it for this time only. In most cases, you will realise that spending just 5 minutes on a task can be all you need to get into the mindset to allow you to complete the whole thing.
Of course, there will typically be more than one essential task on your list, and so my next tip is about prioritising.
Three is the Magic Number
To manage daily and weekly tasks with ease, work in threes. Set a list of three daily objectives and three for the week, and agree on these with your line manager.
Giving updates of your progress during daily and weekly team meeting will allow you to hold yourself accountable. It will prevent you from reverting back to doing the “easy” tasks and ignoring the important ones.
Three is a key amount as tackling three crucial tasks each day will give you a sense of accomplishment, while not being an unachievable target to strive for.
Exercising Self-Discipline
Having autonomy in your role is a wonderful thing; it allows us to prioritise and work in a way that suits us.
But therein lies the problem. As I mentioned earlier, many third sector employees are so passionate about their positions that they can tend to focus on the elements of their role which fill them with the most satisfaction; the parts which help them help others.
Third sector employees must remember to give all parts of their position equal effort to provide an efficient and beneficial service, and the only way to do this is to exercise excellent self-discipline.
In your office or near your desk, have a reminder of your organisation’s aims, or vision and mission statement. This will remind you of the good work that you are there to provide and should help you snap out of moments of procrastination.
Additionally, rewarding yourself with a short break or a cup of something hot and frothy for completing a task that you have been avoiding is a great way to build a positive association in your mind.
Finally
While this guide should help you overcome moments of procrastination, whatever your working style, it is also important to bear in mind whether you are procrastinating, or are you overwhelmed?
If your current third sector position isn’t working out for you, and you would like to discuss your career options, get in touch with us today.
Heather Clarke - Managing Director
Harris Burns are specialists in Executive Search and Senior Finance appointments within the Public Sector; with particular expertise in NHS, Housing and Charity Sectors. With over 60 years combined experience, we have extensive knowledge of the market, proven track records and established networks, allowing us to provide a wide range of services to both clients and candidates alike.
To learn more about how we can support you to either build your team or career, visit our Get In Touch page.
