How to Stop Procrastinating?
Are You Plagued with Procrastination?
If you’re one of the few people who isn’t plagued with the problem of procrastination, then you’re blessed beyond all measure. This thief of time can quietly rob you of precious minutes, yea hours, before you realize they’re gone. You search for them and wonder where the time has gone, but it’s too late.
The task you intended to complete today was put off until tomorrow, and there was good reason to do so, but you can’t remember why just now. Procrastination comes in many disguises. It’s called rationalization sometimes. You say, “I didn’t get started on that project because the weather was too hot, or I didn’t have all the parts.” One can always come up with many good reasons to delay a project.
Procrastination can become a habit, and if you keep putting off getting new habits, then procrastination will be your constant companion.
We find ways to delay a task because there are other things more important to do. Many times, these are merely excuses such as checking your email, playing an online game, or surfing the TV to see if you’re missing something interesting.
You must recognize a real reason to delay instead of just an excuse not to do something you don’t want to do. Ask yourself if that job really needs to be done and if your answer is yes, then get it done and then reward yourself for a victory over procrastination. When the job is complete, step back and assess what you’ve done to see if it was worth the time and effort. Perhaps you were procrastinating for a good reason, but that’s rarely the case.
Lack of direction can cause you to procrastinate because you’re not sure what to do next.
Disorganization could be the father of procrastination. Get organized with a to-do list with the most urgent at the top. Make a deal with yourself not to do anything else until you accomplish at least one thing on the list. You can make giant strides with tiny steps.
Massive projects can be daunting, whether you’re writing a book or building a house.
You can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel because the elephant is standing in the way. Cut a slice out of that elephant one day at a time, and soon it will be gone. A small manageable task is much more palatable than trying to swallow the entire project. No matter how small the success, it’s another step toward completion.
Decide on what needs to be done and do it. Even if it’s wrong, at least you’ve done something. Indecision can cause significant delays in both your business and personal life. It’s easier to decide if you create a list of the pros and cons of what needs to be done. Once you have a clear direction, your mind clears, and the path becomes apparent.
8 Ways to Stop Procrastination
We all procrastinate to some degree. There are always other things you could be doing. Some say there’s no cure for procrastination, so perhaps we need to seek not to prevent it but slow it in the best way possible. When you’re working on the most important thing on your to-do list, that’s good, but you’ve delayed working on lesser things, haven’t you?
Procrastination is a way of avoiding depression or coping with emotions that lead to depression or stress. This brings only temporary relief, and the next day, when you awaken, no little fairy has done the work for you, and the emotional stress of not completing your project returns. So, what to do?
Get organized.
Now don’t procrastinate on this also. Make lists but keep it simple and realistic. Include both small and large things to do on this list. The completion of small things could lead to significant accomplishments.
When a task is completed, mark it off.
It’s fun to watch your list grow shorter. You’ll be surprised how this gives you a feeling of success and spurs you on to tremendous success. Classes in an organization are offered in many places and maybe just right for you.
Prioritize your lists.
The most important task is not always the most pleasant. Should you pay bills to avoid a late payment penalty, or should you clean out a kitchen utility drawer? Meeting deadlines gives your morale a boost and sometimes your pocketbook too.
Take a step at a time and slice the work pie into smaller pieces.
Before you know it, the whole pie has been eaten. It’s been said that the longest journey begins with the first step. It’s the same with an overwhelming task. By the yard, it’s hard, but by the inch, it’s a cinch.
Have realistic expectations.
If you have an enormous task causing anxiety, do some of the smaller things related to the task as a whole. Thus, the whole becomes manageable. Get a calendar to list dates and appointments and to make sure you meet all deadlines for both short- and long-term goals. Look at your calendar frequently, and don’t overbook. White space on your pages can bring a feeling of peace.
Don’t believe you must do everything correctly.
You’re human, and humans make mistakes. That’s evident if you watch outtakes of a TV show.
Get started.
Each day schedule time to work on the task at hand, and eventually, the task will be finished. Reward yourself and anticipate that reward as an incentive to work. Go back to work refreshed.
Allow adequate time to complete your task, and don’t panic if you fall behind.
Be flexible. Extensions can usually be had, but don’t work with this in mind. Many projects never get done by feeling you’re the only one who can do it properly. A good leader is one who delegates and has a Plan B.
Fear of failure can cause procrastination. The failure lies in never getting started. Difficult and dreaded tasks are rarely as bad as they seem at the beginning. Stop procrastinating today. Don’t put it off until tomorrow.