Strategies to Get Moving, Stay Motivated, and Tackle Your To-Do List
Procrastination can creep in when you least expect it. As handmade sellers, running your own business means juggling a million tasks—from creating products to marketing, customer service, and shipping. Sometimes, the to-do list feels so overwhelming that it’s easier to avoid it altogether. But procrastination can stall your progress and prevent your handmade business from reaching its full potential. So, how can you overcome it?
Let’s break down what procrastination looks like, how to recognize it, and most importantly, what strategies you can use to beat it and stay on track.
What Procrastination Looks Like for Handmade Sellers
Procrastination doesn’t always come with the classic signs of watching Netflix instead of working or scrolling through social media for hours. It can also show up in sneaky ways, like:
Busy Work: Organizing your supplies for the 10th time or fine-tuning your website design instead of tackling real priorities.
Waiting for Perfection: Delaying a product launch because you’re worried it’s not 100% perfect yet.
Putting Off the Hard Stuff: Avoiding tasks like setting up email marketing, doing your taxes, or reaching out to retailers.
While these tasks can sometimes feel productive, they’re often distractions that prevent you from moving forward with what really matters.
How to Overcome Procrastination
Overcoming procrastination isn’t about forcing yourself to work harder. It’s about understanding why you’re procrastinating in the first place and developing systems to help you move past it.
Here’s how:
1. Break Tasks Down Into Smaller Steps
One of the biggest causes of procrastination is feeling overwhelmed by a big task. When you have a lot to do, it’s easy to shut down because you don’t know where to start. The trick is to break those big tasks into small, manageable steps.
Example: If your goal is to create a new product line, don’t think of it as one giant project. Instead, break it down into smaller steps like brainstorming product ideas, sourcing materials, creating prototypes, and photographing products. Each time you check off a small task, you build momentum toward completing the larger goal.
Action Tip: Use a project management tool like Trello or Asana to break down big tasks into actionable steps. Assign deadlines to each step to keep yourself accountable.
2. Set Short, Timed Work Sessions
The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to push past procrastination. It involves working for a set amount of time (usually 25 minutes) and then taking a short break. This can help you stay focused and prevent burnout, especially on tasks you’ve been avoiding.
Real-World Example: When I was overwhelmed by creating a wholesale line sheet, I used the Pomodoro Technique to tackle it. I worked in 20-minute sessions, and after just a few sessions, I realized I had made significant progress without feeling like I’d been working for hours.
Action Tip: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on one task during that time. Once the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break, then repeat. After four sessions, take a longer break.
3. Prioritize Your Most Important Task
Procrastination often happens when you’re unclear on what your top priority is. One helpful strategy is to identify the most important task (MIT) of the day—the one thing that, if completed, will have the biggest impact on your business.
Example: If you have orders to fulfill, a blog post to write, and products to photograph, ask yourself which task will move your business forward the most. If shipping orders affects your customers and income directly, make that your MIT for the day.
Action Tip: Write down your MIT every morning before you start working. Get that task done first, and everything else will feel easier to tackle.
4. Use Accountability
Sometimes, the best way to overcome procrastination is to have someone hold you accountable. Whether it’s a business friend, mentor, or family member, telling someone your goals can help you stay motivated.
Action Tip: Join a community of handmade sellers or small business owners where you can share your progress, ask for support, and hold each other accountable. Facebook groups or business forums are great places to find these communities.
5. Stop Aiming for Perfection
Perfectionism is one of the most common reasons people procrastinate. It’s easy to delay launching a product, sending a marketing email, or reaching out to retailers because you’re waiting for everything to be just right. The truth is, nothing will ever be perfect. The key is to focus on progress over perfection.
Real-World Example: When I launched my first product line, I kept tweaking my product descriptions and packaging because I didn’t think they were “perfect” yet. Eventually, I realized that waiting for perfection was just holding me back. I launched, and my customers loved the products—even with a few imperfections.
Action Tip: Set deadlines for your tasks, and stick to them—even if the result isn’t perfect. You can always improve things later, but getting started is what matters most.
How to Prevent Procrastination in the Future
Overcoming procrastination isn’t a one-time thing. It’s about creating habits and systems that keep you focused and motivated. Here are a few tips to help you avoid procrastination going forward:
Plan Your Day: Start each day with a clear plan. Write down your top priorities and schedule time for each task. This keeps you focused and reduces the chances of wasting time.
Eliminate Distractions: Turn off notifications, close social media apps, and create a workspace that helps you stay focused.
Reward Yourself: Celebrate when you complete a task or hit a milestone. Whether it’s a coffee break, a walk, or simply checking off your list, rewarding yourself keeps you motivated.
Conclusion: Progress Over Procrastination
Procrastination is something all handmade sellers face at some point. But by breaking down tasks, setting clear priorities, and using techniques like timed work sessions and accountability, you can overcome it and keep moving forward. Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about making progress. And with the right mindset and tools, you’ll achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Question: What’s one task you’ve been putting off, and how can you break it down into smaller steps to get started today?
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