How To Butcher Procrastination In Hospitality

By Daniel Zolinski | December 5, 2023

Doesn’t it always seem like life gets in the way? You have incredible plans that spark excitement and a burning desire within you to succeed. Then there’s that daily grind that slowly extinguishes the burning passion you once had. I remember when I started my own company. I had minimal sleep because I was so passionate about what was being built. Slowly, distractions seeped in. Piece by piece, my focus wasn’t what it used to be. I realized I needed to radically reframe how I viewed my responsibilities as a founder and leader. In today’s article, I want to pass along this procrastination-killing system to you. Distractions are everywhere in the hospitality world. If you implement this properly, you will get more done in less time – leading to new levels of revenue, impact, and fulfillment. 

1. Get Ultra Specific

Vagueness kills action, but ultra specific tasks are steppingstones toward progress. Rather than a vague goal like, “Work on hotel promotion,” break it down to something like, “Record the video for the hotel Christmas promotion by {enter deadline}.” With clear finish lines, starting will feel less daunting.

2. Shield Your Best Hours

I can’t say which hours you work best in. Personally, I like to dedicate my early mornings to deep work that take more critical thinking and creativity. You know your body and mindset best. Establish boundaries to reserve your best hours for meaningful work. Outline your goals Sunday so your Mondays are fueled by purpose, not obligation. Your employees, coworkers, customers, and guests will all notice the difference.

3. Eliminate Environmental Distractions

As mentioned above, the hospitality industry is full of distractions. Our environment sways our mindset and ability to focus. Here are a few things you can do to make your environment a focused one:

• Clear visual clutter and notifications from your workplace.
• Silence and hide your phone.
• Block distracting sites.
• Make it aesthetic.

This is most effective during your best hours from #2.

4. Schedule Rewards

Our brains love checking off tasks AND receiving rewards. Use both forces to your advantage, both for yourself, and the people you work with. Attach small, tangible incentives to the completion of tasks. You will notice an increase in productivity and focus on your hospitality company. These will motivate you and others while also wiring the brain to release dopamine upon finishing tasks.

5. Systemize the Process

Big tasks often stall actions due to feeling overwhelmed. Instead of seeing a task as a big mountain to climb, simply systemize it. Break it into smaller milestones, each critical, yet manageable. Tracking progress creates momentum rather than anxiety.

6. Analyze What’s Truly Important

Busyness doesn’t equal productivity. To combat this, filter your obligations based on priority rather than implied urgency. Determine your weekly activities that progress top goals. Then protect time for those first and foremost.