It is often said that the time it takes to complete a task will fill the amount of time you set for that task to be completed.
To put it more simply; if you give yourself all day to do something it will take all day to do it.
One of the examples I always use is of a guy cleaning his bathroom.
If he just approaches this with no reason for any sense of urgency and speed it could take him an hour.
However, if a hot girl he is really into calls him and says she'll stop by in 15 minutes he will become that 'White Tornado' and knock out the job of cleaning his bathroom in 15 minutes.
Ideally you want to bring this same level of intensity and excitement to everything you are doing regarding your online marketing efforts.
One of the most important things I feel I do to make myself more productive is to use a timer.
Make a game of it: Can you write an article in 20 minutes? If I want to write an article, make a blog post or create a video, I take a few seconds to consider how long it will take and then reduce that time by 5 to 15 minutes.
Having a deadline creates a sense of urgency and an understanding that something must be done on time.
You do NOT have all day; it MUST be completed by a specified time! You have to be honest and fair with yourself as sometimes you'll find you struggle with something in particular and when it comes to online marketing a lot of things can pop up and drive you crazy.
Your computer might freeze up, a piece of software might be difficult to understand and operate or, my worst nightmare, your internet connection could fail due to a storm or car accident.
With this type of a situation mentioned above always being a possibility, have something you can do without an internet connection.
You can always write something or make a video.
You can also step away for the computer and mow the lawn or fold the laundry.
You'll find the frustration greatly decreases as you are doing something necessary and being productive with your time and energy.
You need to finish the task at hand in order to benefit from it.
You also need to understand that until a project is completed it cannot realize its value.
If a restaurant takes your order, cooks the food, but neglects the simple fact of bringing the food to you to eat, the value is lost as you will not pay for something you did not get.
All the expense and any resources used in taking the order and cooking the food are wasted because that last, important, final step is missing.
Working by yourself at the computer means you are the employee! When you are working for yourself you have to become your own boss and you need to ask yourself; "What do I need to do to get the most out of my employee?" And that employee is you! You need to honestly ask yourself: "What motivates me to be a productive employee?" A fun light-hearted approach will help you a great deal when you are just sitting there by yourself at the computer all day.
Find ways to wake yourself up and really get it into gear.
Challenge yourself.
If you set a certain amount of time for a particular project and you don't complete that project in the specified time frame, so what? You'll still find yourself working with more determination and focus as you are aware of that timer counting down the seconds.
I use the timer method every day.
Now do I finish everything on time? Of course not, but that timer keeps me focused and has my always pushing myself.
So push yourself but do not beat yourself up, this will create a very negative state of mind.
You have to find that line of honesty that brings out the best in you.