Just Do It! Habits to Help You Make More Money In Water Damage Restoration.

At the start of a new calendar year, many people find themselves ready for a fresh start with a long list of New Year’s resolutions. I read in an article that 45% of Americans set New Year’s resolutions, but 3 out of 4 people almost never succeed in reaching their goal. There are many reasons for this, but one of the biggest may be procrastination.

For professionals in water damage restoration, procrastination can mean lost revenue, missed calls, delayed service, and unhappy customers. If you’re trying to grow your business or run a more efficient operation, this is the habit that can hold you back immensely.

The Real Cost of Procrastination

Procrastination, the habit of putting off, delaying, or deferring an action to a later time, can lead to serious consequences. These include missed opportunities, stress-filled work hours, guilt, and a loss of time that you can’t get back.

After all, “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” – Will James.

In this industry, delays in getting to jobs, quoting jobs, following up with clients, or sending estimates/invoices lead to lost income and stalled progress.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

For some people, it comes down to low energy. Long hours and physical work can make it tough to stay motivated, especially if you feel like you’re always playing catch-up. But for others, the cause may be fear. 

A fear of failure can stop you from starting a task that feels difficult. On the flip side, a fear of success can be just as limiting. With success often comes change, more responsibility, and a new set of expectations. That can feel overwhelming, which makes putting things off feel easier in the moment.

Instead of facing these feelings directly, we take the path of least resistance. We tell ourselves we’ll get to it later, even when we know that later rarely comes.

Habits to Overcome Procrastination and Grow Your Business

The good news is you can break out of the cycle. These habits to make you more money in water restoration are practical, easy to start, and can help you build momentum and stay focused without burning out.

1. Break the Task Into Manageable Pieces

Big projects feel less overwhelming when broken down into smaller steps. Whether you’re dealing with paperwork, a website update, or a big cleanup job, it helps to approach it piece by piece.

There’s a reason people say, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Once you start moving, it becomes easier to keep going. Some action is always better than no action, and once time is gone, you can’t get it back. If you’ve been avoiding a big task, start with a small win and build from there.

2. Plan Out Guaranteed “Fun Time”

If all you do is work, it becomes harder to stay focused. Building in dedicated fun time gives you something to look forward to, which helps you stay motivated during your workday.

This could be something simple, like setting aside time for a hobby, dinner with friends, or even just a quiet evening with your family. Knowing there’s a reward coming makes it easier to stay on track when you’re knee-deep in a busy job.

This works for teams too. A shared reward after a tough job can boost morale and make your crew more engaged and productive.

3. Become a Peak Performer

Delegate the tasks that you lack the skill to do and become highly efficient to get more work done in less time.  

By increasing your productivity, you will spend less time working, or pretending to work while you put things off. This will allow you to have more time for family, friends, and other rewarding things. Plus, you’ll feel less stressed while you are at work!

4. Prioritize Your Health

Pay attention to your diet, sleep, and make time to exercise. 

When your body is run down, even the simplest tasks feel harder. Eating well and staying active can help you stay clear-headed and motivated. You don’t need a perfect routine to see the benefits. Even a short walk, stretching after work, or cutting down on sugary snacks can make a difference in your ability to stay focused. But when it comes to sleep, time does matter. Your brain needs time to rest and recover for it to function properly. Get a full nights’ rest.

5. Use a Visual Goal Board

Having a visual reminder of what you’re working toward can make a big difference. Whether it’s hitting a revenue milestone, paying off equipment, or expanding your service area, it helps to see your goals every day.

Create a board or list and keep it where you can see it. Tie your goals to small rewards when you hit them. Over time, you’ll begin to associate progress with positive results, which helps keep the momentum going.

6. Embrace Imperfection

The need to get something perfect is one of the biggest blockers to getting anything done at all. If you’ve been avoiding something because it’s not “ready,” it may be time to lower the bar just enough to move forward.

Give yourself permission to finish something that’s “good enough for now.” An imperfect job completed today beats a perfect one that never gets finished. You can always come back and refine it later.

7. Don’t Just Read. Implement.

You can read every productivity article on the internet and still be stuck in the same place. None of it matters if you don’t act.

Pick one idea from this list and try it this week. Start small and see how it feels. The more you act, the easier it becomes to build momentum. Progress is made one step at a time, and the sooner you begin, the faster you’ll see results.

On Your Feet, Soldier

There’s no shortage of advice out there, but what really moves the needle is consistency, not waiting until everything’s lined up. Just showing up and doing the work, one step at a time.

If you’re serious about improving how you operate and grow your restoration business, Reets TV is packed with straight-to-the-point lessons that help you stay sharp and keep momentum going.

Every minute spent learning and taking action brings you closer to the results you want.

Subscribe today and let’s get to work.