The Procrastination Monster is stealing your time and will eventually steal your blog’s future (and your dream of making money online) if you let it. But the good news is you can defeat this foe by following these 10 easy tips:

1. USE POSITIVE SELF-TALK

photo by Looking Glass

What you say to yourself has everything to do with your success. If you say “I can’t do it” … you won’t.

But telling yourself that you can accomplish your blogging goals is an extremely effective way to change your mindset and your actions … if you do it consistently.

Tell yourself that you’re a successful blogger/writer. Tell yourself that you are learning how to succeed … and you will.

The next time you’re tempted to put off submitting a spec because you’re afraid it won’t be chosen, say, “I’ve got nothing to lose … and it’s great practice anyway.”

2. DON’T EXPECT PERFECTION

photo by katjung

Remind yourself that your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be better than the current blank screen (!). And using the secrets you’re learning gives you that edge.

3. USE SUCCESSFUL BLOGGERS AS MODELS

photo by Simon Davison

Every successful blogger was once where you are. Remind yourself: “Somebody is going to become a well-paid blogger this year. It may as well be me.”

4. SET UP A WORK SPACE THAT’S JUST FOR YOU

photo by denn

Tell your family that you’re not to be disturbed when you’re in your office … even if your “office” is a table in the corner.

5. SET A STRICT WORK SCHEDULE … AND STICK TO IT

photo by manu contreras

If possible, build your schedule around the hours when you’re most productive. Usually, this is early in the morning. Don’t do ANYTHING not work-related in this time period … including mopping floors, replacing carburetors, or straightening your desk. To keep yourself on track, use a “To-Do” list.

6. BREAK YOUR WORK INTO MANAGEABLE CHUNKS

photo by MegElizabeth_

Research shows that procrastinators have trouble facing the entire task. So you’ll have better success by breaking your work into small chunks that can be done in 15-minute increments.

On your To-Do list, just scribble down the blog topics you want to cover and start on each one of them, stop when you are bored with one. Start another and cycle through each of the drafts and so, you will have plenty to work on and you can schedule for publishing once you finish them.

7. IDENTIFY TIME EATERS

photo by gordasm

The Internet and phones gobble up precious creative time. Check email only 3 times a day, Stop reading the blog feeds every now and then. Do forum chats and surf the Net ONLY after you’ve spent your allotted time on writing posts for your blog.

Get a phone with caller ID or a message machine so you can monitor calls. Answer only your business calls during work time.

8. SET REALISTIC GOALS

photo by Sunfox

Don’t set goals so lofty that only a superstar could achieve them. (”Write 4 posts a day.”) Instead, set a reasonable goal. (”Write 5 posts a week.”)

Break the goal into manageable objectives. After you achieve that goal, set another one.

9. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

photo by szlea

You will always find excuses why you can’t write today, why tomorrow will be better. This is a trap. Tomorrow is no different from today. If you’re able to write the day before your deadline, you can write just as well two weeks before. You CAN do it today.

10. Spend quality time OFFLINE

photo by Vagamundos

It is perfectly normal to feel that you are wasting a lot, getting stuck without ideas. Just hit ‘Shut Down’ and go for a walk. Find a nice quiet place in a park or coffee shop and contemplate on life, thank those helped you so far. Just spend time with your friends, grandma or nanny – talking with them. You will feel much better when you come back to the desktop.

Contributed by Betsy Courtesy http://www.pravsworld.com

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