Originally shared via email. For early access to UN job search success tips and advice, subscribe to the newsletter here.

Veronika here.

If we've been connected for a while, you know I didn't get it done. Maybe you didn't think about it, but receiving this, you know I haven't sent out an email for quiiiiiite some time.

I know I'm not alone in procrastinating on certain things. It's a human thing, so chances are you have been procrastinating too, on a thing or two.

Maybe it's procrastinating on updating your CV?

Or on doing some online networking?

Perhaps it's procrastinating on acknowledging the niggling feeling that you're ready for something new?

Well, I'm not here to shame you for pushing things off to tomorrow or some other, undefined, future date. Quite the opposite. Since I'm painfully aware of my own tendency to procrastinate, I've had to find strategies to help me overcome this natural inclination, and I thought they might be helpful to you too. So, the top two things that help me take action. Every time. Are:

1. Buddy up. Having a colleague or friend that I tell what I aim to accomplish in a certain week has proven tremendously helpful. I do NOT want to report back to my accountability buddy that I didn't do what I said I'd do. When I think of the excuses that I would have to use, they are not what I'd be proud of. So I get it done. If you don't have a buddy (yet), you can use a version of this strategy today by posting what you aim to do on social media, even if it's to a limited group of friends or family. Once it's "out there", you will feel compelled to get it done.
    
2. Book a session at www.focusmate.com. It's a platform where you sign up for a 25, 50, or 75-minute session at any time that works for you. At the time of your session, you join a randomly assigned person from anywhere in the world, much like a Teams or Google Meet call. You briefly introduce yourselves and tell each other what you will be doing during the session. Then you get to work. At the end, there is a chime that alerts you that time is up. You check in with each other to see how you did and wave good-bye. It's so simple, and absolutely brilliant! It's also free to book up to 3 sessions a week, which might be all you need. Check it out!

Hope these strategies are helpful and that you will get something done this week that you've been putting off. I love the feeling of accomplishing something that's been on my to-do list for weeks, or months! And I wish for you to have that feeling too. Often.

Ps. I am in no way affiliated with focusmate.com, just an avid user and big fan. If you decide to try it out, we just might get paired up!