Last Updated on April 7, 2017

How many times do you find yourself putting off making a phone call? Or, do you ever get to the end of a day and feel that important tasks slipped through the cracks? Putting off important tasks not only prevents you from maximizing your income, it can lead to stress, frustration, and ultimately burnout. But don’t get the procrastination blues. There are proven ways to address this common problem. First, identify if you have a bad procrastination problem by taking a simple quiz included below. Next, get a hold of your priorities with five procrastination-busting strategies you can implement today. Is Procrastination Killing Your Production? Take This Short Quiz… Choose the response that matches your behavior: I would quickly finish my work, but sometimes I get too tired, nervous, or upset. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree I need to straighten my car/office/home before I start working. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree When I’ve finished meeting with a client, I often start doing something else instead of starting on tasks for that transaction. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree I often carry around papers in my car or stack them on my desk but never get around to reviewing them. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree I like to do most of my work at the last minute, because I perform best when the pressure is on. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree Sometimes, I put off starting paperwork for a transaction until I have every last piece of information. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree If it weren’t for all these interruptions, I’d get more of my top priorities accomplished. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree When faced with a difficult client, I try to avoid speaking with them directly. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree If I get turned down for a listing, it takes me a while to start looking for another opportunity. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree If I take half-steps working for a buyer, I can often avoid or delay unpleasant tasks. 4 = Strongly Agree 3 = Mildly Agree 2 = Mildly Disagree 1 = Strongly Disagree Tally your total score, adding the numbers that match each response, and then rate yourself. A Score of 10: No problem. Between 11 and 20: You’re an occasional procrastinator. Between 21 and 30: You’re in trouble. Above 30: You’re nearly hopeless. If you scored over 10, here are my top five personal tips for beating procrastination: 1. Complete tasks first thing in the morning. All of the tasks for a transaction never end up being as bad as you think. And the later in the day you push them, the more likely you’ll get distracted with calls to make and other chores. So, create your action list the night before, blitz through your list in the morning, and give yourself a small reward for getting them done. 2. Break big jobs into smaller ones. If the details of a transaction seem daunting, most agents put off even starting. But if you break each major task into 5 smaller tasks, everything gets done faster and you feel better about your progress. 3. Team up with a friend or spouse. In this business it’s common to feel all alone. If you get others involved you’ll stay more accountable to your goals and schedule. First, write down your goals – what is it you want to achieve? Then share these goals and your schedule with a friend or spouse to make yourself commit. 4. Get rid of all distractions. What distracts you from getting work done? Is it your blackberry, checking the MLS for updates every hour, or another agent in the office? The key here is to identify what distracts you by writing it down every time you get sidetracked. Make a rule with yourself that you won’t do that thing again until you finish your scheduled task. For many agents the biggest distraction is checking email constantly throughout the day. Limit your email checking episodes to 4 times a day or less and you’ll be astonished at how many more priority activities get done each day. 5. Remodel your work environment. If you work out of your home, you have to treat it like a real office. Remove anything not work-related like TV, magazines, and non-work books. And this is especially critical: tell your family that you’re not to be disturbed when you’re in your office. Procrastination only sabotages your success. If you are going to achieve your goals for this year—and for your career—address this common issue without delay.