10 Practical Tips for Osteopaths to Beat Procrastination
- Alan Zaia M.Ost
- April 4, 2022
- Mindset
How to stop procrastinating as osteopaths
Overcoming the habit of delaying important tasks
It’s the end of the week, Monday is looming, and that thing you were meant to do this week still isn’t done. Procrastination comes in many forms. From the hours that fly by while scrolling on social media to perfectionism, checking the thing off our to-do list has beat us again.
What went wrong? Why did you lose your focus?
Procrastination is a pitfall that many of us plunge into. Everyone procrastinates to some degree. While it may be comforting to know that you’re not alone, it can give us a wake-up call to realise how much it can hold you back from achieving your potential.
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Well, now it’s time for you to beat procrastination.
This article looks at 10 practical tips for osteopaths to beat procrastination.
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1. Just start working
It sounds simple because it is.
Osteopaths often procrastinate because they’re afraid of failing at the tasks they need to complete.
We spend too much time telling ourselves that things are hard and complicated when we really mean is that they’re tedious, annoying, intimidating, or anything else. Take the first step so you can get that ball rolling. Things are easier with momentum.
2. Manage your energy
No matter how disciplined you are, some days won’t be as productive as others. That’s okay. Know when to push yourself and when to give yourself a break. Burnout will always set you back further than giving yourself time to breathe.
3. Recognise ruts
When you’re in a rut, try Mark Manson’s do something principle. The author of the extremely popular book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fu*k, explains that the do something principle is the means to take action when you don’t have the motivation to do anything.
If you don’t have the energy to focus on your main goal, take care of a smaller task. Productive recovery is essential to maximising efficiency and mental health.
If you want to get out of a rut quickly, watch this video by Joey Schweitzer.
4. Change your environment
Don’t underestimate the value of an environment that inspires you.
It’s important to define environment as the people you surround yourself with and where you work. Furthermore, the place you work can be both where you treat patients and anywhere you work on your business. Yes, that includes the kitchen table where you reply to emails.
Here, I’d like to cover three topics:
- People
- Thinking space
- Working space
The people around you
As with all circles of society, it’s easy for us to find a collection of people to talk to about specific topics.
In season 01 episode 04 of The Share What You Know Show, Heath Williams talks about the importance of mixing with different people who challenge what you believe in. Building on the famous quote by Jack Welch:
“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
You can watch the full episode by signing up for our Free CPD For Osteopaths subscription.
In essence, if you’re struggling with procrastination, change rooms.
Top Tip
“You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.”
Thinking space
It’s critical to have several places where you can go and think about how you’re going to move your business and career forward.
Sometimes staring into the distance in a busy cafe while sipping coffee works best, then, for no reason at all, going for a long walk in the forest brings answers to questions you’ve been trying to solve for months.
When trying to beat procrastination, start changing things up.
Working space
Changing your work environment is not about quitting your associateship or finding a new location for your clinic. But more about where you think about moving your career forward, learning new skills, reading meaningful books or completing simple admin work.
Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, explains:
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.
As self-employed people who rely on themselves to earn money and develop their skills, osteopaths should also have several spaces to conduct deep work.
If you’re interested in learning more about deep work, here’s an excellent summary.
5. Set deadlines for yourself
Distractions feel excusable when you don’t have deadlines, and there’s no incentive to get started. Instead, reinforce that your tasks are priorities by holding yourself accountable. Good deadlines are concrete, realistic, and meaningful.
6. Become atomic
Minimise the chance for distractions by creating and adhering to habits. Don’t overcomplicate your habits. Be thorough enough with your schedule to keep you focused, but don’t overdo it. Start slow. Build discipline. Add more habits as you scale.
The constantly mentioned Atomic Habits by James Clear has been a game-changer for many osteopaths trying to overcome procrastination and master their time.
An atomic habit is a regular practice or routine that is small and easy to do and is also the source of incredible power, a component of the system of compound growth. Unfortunately, bad habits repeat themselves repeatedly, not because you don’t want to change but because you have the wrong system for change.
The 4 laws of atomic habits are a simple set of rules we can use to establish new habits:
- Make it obvious
- Make it attractive
- Make it easy
- Make it satisfying
Top Tip
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
7. Use a to-do list
Lists are essential tools in maximising productivity. Break down your goals into actionable steps and order them based on importance, difficulty, and deadlines. Use these metrics to create a plan, then execute it.
For effective goal-setting, read 5 Steps To Easily Achieve Your Goals as an Osteopath.
8. Accept the grit
Not all tasks are enjoyable, but you can’t let that stop you. The work has to get done. Incentivise yourself with rewards to push through the hard days, and remember that they are the stepping stones to the life you want.
As the author, Tim Feriss once wrote: “Develop the habit of letting small bad things happen. If you don’t, you’ll never find time for the life-changing big things.”
9. Increase your energy levels
Your brain needs the energy to overcome procrastination. Even as osteopaths, it’s important to remind ourselves and practice simple things to increase energy levels:
- Drink enough water
- Get enough sleep
- Eat healthily
- Exercise regularly
10. Forgive yourself for past procrastination
Procrastination is a part of growth. We all deal with it, but dwelling on lost time only results in wasted time. Instead, give yourself permission to forgive yourself for past mistakes, use them as inspiration to do better, and focus on building better habits.
Written by Alan Zaia M.Ost
Founder & CEO of Osteohustle. You’ll find Alan coaching osteopaths, travelling in a van or writing our weekly newsletter, The Hustle.
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