Organize all of the paperwork on your desk. Keep your folders, both physical and those stored on your computer, organized and labeled for ease of use.

Use color-coding or other organizing systems like numbering or lettering for prioritizing and to track and separate the different segments of the project and make them easier to work with.

If you have implemented all of the above techniques and still find yourself battling with the pitfalls of procrastination, motivation may not be your problem. More likely, you have problem differentiating between the importance of each task and end up doing to many things at once.

This "being busy without actually accomplishing anything" mode can get out of hand and lead to your being bogged down with numerous areas of unfinished work. To defeat this type of procrastination problem, you need to learn how to better differentiate between important projects and urgent ones.

Important tasks are those that must be done in order to further your career, build your business, or add to your personal life. These projects must be done on a regular basis and are usually easy to focus on because they are driven by personal reasons to succeed.

Urgent tasks or projects, on the other hand, are those projects that require immediate action- your website is experiencing problems, your shipper cannot make a deadline, your wholesaler will be unable to deliver the promised product- yet are not as important to your overall goals as the important projects.

Contacting your web designer to fix a problem with an ordering button will, of course, make business run better today, but it is still a problem that is easily fixed and will not affect the long-term outcome of your business.

Again we see organization and establishing priorities are key in reducing business stress and frustration.

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Benjamin Franklin once said, "You delay, but time does not". That statement pretty much sums up the problems of procrastination. Those individuals who fall prey to procrastination often find themselves putting off important tasks, time and time again, until time has run out.

In order to beat procrastination, you must first understand why you let it happen. Maybe it comes from a subconscious fear of the project at hand. Maybe the pending task rates as the least enjoyable thing to tackle on your "to do" list. Maybe the project seems too large to ever accomplish. Maybe you are waiting for the "best" time to take on the project - a time that never seems to come.

Whatever your reason is for allowing procrastination to destroy your plans, it is time to learn how to control this major time management problem. While you will probably not be able to beat this destructive habit overnight, taking small steps each day to improve your situation will inevitably result in success.

The first step in beating procrastination is recognizing the problem. Do you put things off because you lack motivation or because the project scares you? If the problem is lack of motivation you need to pinpoint areas that you need to change. For example, if you usually tackle high-energy projects after lunch when all you really want to do is lay down and take a nap then you need to reschedule your workday to reflect your most productive hours.

If the problem is your fear of a certain project, review the project to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. For example, maybe the third part of the project involves using software that you are unfamiliar with. This fear can keep you from tackling the project thus allowing you to avoid the possibility of failure. To overcome this problem break the project down into achievable segments and learn what you need to about the project to become more confident in your abilities.

After you have identified why you procrastinate you need to remove the word procrastinate from your vocabulary. The more you call yourself a procrastinator the more likely you are to become one. To help with this step, start replacing the negative word with a more positive motivating one.

For example, if you have put off deciding on a new banner ad campaign instead of saying, "I need to stop procrastinating" say "I will begin this project in one hour and impress myself with how much I can accomplish". With the first statement you are cementing the negative habit and turning the act into a self-fulfilling prophecy. With the second statement you are reinforcing a positive action and increasing positive energy.

Another way to overcome the mental causes of procrastination is to stop and think about your behavior each time that you find yourself falling into this time wasting trap. The next time you find yourself jumping at any excuse not to tackle a pending project, stop, take a breath and ask yourself what the problem really is. Why do you not want to complete or even begin the project? Even if this step doesn't motivate you to change your behavior right then and there, at least it will help you become aware of the problem and the thoughts that lead to the continuation of the cycle. This step may be your ticket out of the procrastination station.

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This is one big mistake that too many people make. When you first start your business you will be in the dark about how to get it making money. Some people try and figure this out on their own without any help. That is fine if that is what you want to do but you will be a long time from achieving success of any kind.

There are all kinds of places that you can start your education and learn what you need to. You can get an internet marketing guide, eBook, go to forums, read articles, blogs or anything else that has to do with internet marketing.

One of the best ways to learn is to find a forum where the internet marketing people hang out who have achieved what you are trying to. One great forum for this is the forum: http://www.warriorforum.com However you need to be aware, all forums can become time traps. Stay focused, get in, search and get out. A quick an easy way to search this particular forum is here:
http://www.robertplank.com/warriors/search.php

This is a well known forum that has a lot of internet marketing experts that contribute to it. They will be more than happy to help you with any area that you need help in. You can ask them questions, ask their advice on where you can learn what you need to, or find out what guide they would recommend to help you along the way.

You have to take the time to educate yourself on every aspect of internet marketing in order to ever be successful. There is no if, ands or buts about it. This is a must if you ever want to get your business to the top where you want it.

People who have achieved success are the best ones to get help from because they have done what you are trying to do. You will find that almost everyone who has been successful would love to help you get to where they are. You just have to ask for their help. They will tell you that education on all aspects of internet marketing is a must for everyone trying to build their business.

Too many people get impatient and think they can do it themselves with no help. They are usually the ones that end up quitting. Don't make the same mistake that they do. Learn what you need to. You'll be amazed at how willing many of your colleagues will be to lend a hand.

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Part of being ready to start a new business or continue a fledgling on line business is to have a plan. But if you just jumped in after reading a few guides about "Making Money On line" and went running around from one project or sub-project to another, never seeming to get any of them completely done, you have to ask yourself NOW; will I ever do any better? Do you think you may do or be doing better by now if you had a plan.

You may have read hundreds of reports and purchased a hundred more internet marketing associated ebooks, applied some of the strategies defined, advertised your business in Adwords and produced several blogs for search engine sake, but so far there has been little or no profit, right? You have to be thinking, "I must be doing something wrong", so you continue to hunting for the next big time, never before seen guru promise of millions overnight.

Well, to be honest, you are doing something wrong! But it's not something you can attribute to lack of information or even bad information, it's due to a missing link - your reasons for owning your own on line business with the benefits of those reasons inspiring you to construct a proper, well defined and goal oriented strategy.

1. Are you in the habit of creating a plan to accomplish your goals?

2. Do you think you have the self discipline to stick to a plan? If not do you think you would be willing to learn do discipline yourself to learn how to stick to your plan?

3. Can You Sacrifice Certain Wants and Needs to Succeed?

4. Are you willing to give up the time necessary from things you currently do in your life to succeed in your on line business?

This may mean giving up:

¢ Some of your favorite T.V. shows

¢ Foregoing some of your favorite hobbies

¢ Foregoing other favorite activities - sports, charity work, etc.

If you answered no to any of the above questions, you need to step back and take a serious look at your reason(s) for wanting to own and run your own on line business. (Or any type of business for that matter.)

If you have not sat down and written out not just your reasons for running your own business, but the benefits of ending up with a SUCCESSFUL on line business then you have 2 choices.

1. Stop reading this book right now and go outside. Find a wall. Brick would be nice but any hard surfaced wall will do just fine. Stand about 2 feet from the wall. Reach forward with both hands and lean into the wall. Now lean in closed enough so you can pound your head against that wall until you realize this exorcize is exactly what you are already doing by not knowing the reasons why you want to own and run your own on line business.

2. Stop reading this book right now and WRITE DOWN YOUR REASONS including the benefits of what each reason will bring you once you HAVE made your business a success. (I'm not providing a guide here. This is all on you. Take the Responsibility. Put as much time and effort into this exorcize as you need to. Let your imagination run a little wild. Be realistic but remember you are capable of doing far more than you think you can. So don't hold back.)

So you're back? How did you do? You should have a clearer picture now as to how to proceed to get your business headed back in the direction you want it to go and therefore less frustrated and re-energized about your business. Remember; professionals go these kinds of excorsises on a regular basis whether they are frustrated with the way business is going or not. Are you a professional?

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Think about your current routines for a moment. Your morning routine of showering, shaving, brushing your teeth and getting dressed, or, your starting-work routine of bringing in the mail, making your coffee and clearing off your desk. These are all things, or tasks, that you do each day, usually around the same time each day. What's more, you probably do them without giving them much thought.

In fact, while working through these acts you probably do not think about the actions that you are performing at all. Instead, you probably let your mind become occupied with other thoughts such as items to add to your "to do" list, or the logistics of changing your web site. The great thing about these routines is that they allow you accomplish a great deal of mundane tasks while simultaneously allowing you to let your creative thoughts flow.

So, what does all of this talk about routines mean to you and your new time management plan? By establishing certain routines each day in order to complete your mundane tasks, you can accomplish more items on your "to do" list while still managing to carve out time for free flowing thoughts and brainstorming.

There are two keys to establishing good routines. First, make sure that the items that you place in the same routine category are similar in act, or at least in location. Secondly, make sure that these items can be completed during the hour of each day.

For example, sorting your incoming mail, clearing your desk of paperwork, and paying bills can all be included in the same routine. These items are mostly similar in act, they are all done at the same location -your desk-, and they can all be done around the same time each day.

If you schedule this routine first thing in the morning on your "to do" list, then you can use the time to think about the day ahead and mentally review your schedule. If you plan this routine towards the end of your business day, you can use the time to contemplate your "to do" list for the next day.

No matter which set of actions you choose to incorporate into routines, or what time of day you choose to complete them, once they are established you will begin to save time almost effortlessly and reduce the frustrations you endured without having those routines in place.

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A Room of Your Own: Locating Your Office

You should decide on an area of your house or apartment based on its level of privacy. Spend a day working there and you'll probably become aware of noises and traffic patterns that you may have never noticed before. It won't do you any good to commit to an area of the house without having fully experienced the negative aspects of it. Make sure it isn't near the main bathroom, kitchen, or other heavily trafficked area of the house.

Of course, if you live alone a large chunk of your potential problems are already solved, but family isn't the only source of noise and distraction. If you find yourself in a room with a window, make sure that there isn't too much traffic noise from outside. After you spend your day investigating the potential of your new claim, spend another day and another after that if you can. Make sure that you can work in peace before you commit to the space by moving furniture and hanging cables.

Now, determine what kind of space requirements your business needs now, and may need in the future. Make a list of the computer equipment, printers, scanners, or other hardware that you'll need to move into the office. Imagine all of the other possibilities as well - such as a television or sound system.

If you are starting a high-tech business that has hefty hardware requirements, your hopes of taking over a small attic space or anteroom are probably out the window. Isolating yourself in an overcrowded room can be particularly unproductive, and so you'll want to have a full inventory of your office's potential equipment load before you move anything in.

Get a realistic picture of the space your equipment will occupy and then proceed to search for an acceptable area. Like living alone, having a spare bedroom or finished basement solves much of your problem. Most people's situations, however, are more complex than that and will require more ingenuity and imagination.

In the most extreme circumstances, and depending on your resources, home remodeling and renovation may be an option. This is obviously a more expensive and time-consuming option than using available space, but for some people, particularly those with small homes and a lot of interior traffic, remodeling might be the best way to add space for your new endeavor.

Remodeling and renovation can turn basements, garages and attics into amazing office spaces. And because you're basically starting from scratch, they can be perfectly suited to your needs, with everything included - from windows to wiring.

Obviously, if you live in an apartment you will be severely limited in the number of things you can change and the ways in which you can change them. That said, restrictions should never stop you from having a well-designed home office that will boost your productivity and keep you on the road to success. In the case of an apartment, you should consider maximizing your space. Even though it's small, a walk-in closet can be an excellent office with the right lighting and space saving hardware.

In most circumstances, using your bedroom as a hub of business is generally a very bad idea. It becomes too easy to blur the boundaries between work and home, and at night it's even easier to get up from bed and start working when you have a new and exciting idea. In an apartment, however, you may not have a choice, and a bedroom might be the only place you can set up an office. If you absolutely have to, divide the room with screens or curtains, keeping the office separate from your sleeping quarters.

Bottom line: If your work area FEELS like a professional businesses work area, you'll get more accomplished without the inherent frustrations that come from working in a make shift office.

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The term "time limit" makes most people think of racing the clock. "I only have five minutes to do this!" or "Hurry, I have to finish this project in the next ten minutes or it is over!" But, time limits do not necessarily have to conjure up fears of rushed time. In fact, the act of setting time limits can actually make your work efforts more efficient and lead to a better organization and use of your allotted time.

So, how can you use time limits in your management plan in a positive way? Start by timing some of your more mundane activities. Do you need to file a stack of invoices? Make a list of supplies to reorder? If so, use these activities to become more comfortable with racing the clock. Since they are not important, thought consuming activities, there will be no pressure from making sure the job is extremely well done. Remember; Pressures create frustration.

Beat the Clock

Start by setting a kitchen timer or other type of timepiece to a ten-minute limit. See how much you can accomplish in that allotted amount of time. Did you finish filing the invoices, or did you need more time? Use the results of that time limit test to acquaint yourself with the amount of time it takes to realistically complete these types of tasks.

Then, the next time that your schedule calls for filing or list making, break out your timer and race yourself. Can you beat your last time? And if so, buy how many seconds or minutes?

These "beat the clock" games can make mundane tasks seem more exciting and actually work to keep you focused, increase your productivity, and increase tour interest in a repetitive task.

Another way to positively use time limits is to use your knowledge of how long certain tasks take. If you know that it takes you ten minutes to sort through your incoming emails, or to print that weekly sales report, you can use that time limit to tackle other tasks that also take that long to finish. And, since the time limit is so short, you can use race the clock to quicken your efforts.

For instance, if you are adhering to your written schedule and find yourself waiting for a report to process or print, you can tackle a few or all of the tasks on your "ten minute" time limit list.

The final way that you can use time limits in your new time management plan is by limiting the amount of time you spend taking on extra tasks. Although you may want to believe that you can do everything -run a business, spend time with your family, host a charity event- the truth is that no one person can possibly take on every responsibility.

Your time is important and how you choose to spend that time and mean the difference between a successful Internet business and one that no one will remember five years from now.

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