Practicing Tips for Beating procrastination will help us all as we are familiar with the phenomenon. By procrastinating, we waste our time and put off important tasks we should be doing until it’s too late. As soon as it is too late, we panic and wish we started earlier.
The procrastination cycle can be a lifelong one for chronic procrastinators. It gets harder and harder to face work when it’s unavoidable. We put off things, slack off, or hide from them, and then repeat this process. This is a bad habit that eats us up and prevents us from achieving greater success. Trying to procrastinate is no way to live. Top 10 scientifically proven tips for beating procrastination.
1. Take little steps to accomplish your task
We procrastinate because we find the work too overwhelming subconsciously. Organize it into small parts, then focus on one at a time. You can break the task down even further if you still procrastinate. Your job will be so simple that you will think, “wow, this is so simple, I may as well just do it right now!”.
Book writing, for example, is an enormous undertaking that can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, when we can break the process into phases, let’s say –
- (1) Research
- (2) Choosing the topic
- (3) Making the outline
- (4) Writing the content
- (5) Writing Chapters #1 to #10,
- (6) Revision
- (7) etc.
All of a sudden, it seems so manageable. As a result, we will focus on the immediate phase and get it done as best as we can, without thinking about the other phases. Our next step is to complete it. Scientifically Proven Tips for Beating Procrastination include breaking down tasks into smaller ones.
2. Make a change in your environment
The way we work is affected by the environment we are in. Take a look at your work desk and your room. How about working or snuggling and sleeping when they’re around? Change your workspace if the latter is the case.
It is important to keep in mind that an atmosphere that made us feel inspired previously may lose its effectiveness over time. It’s time to turn things around if that’s the case.
3. Detailed timetable with a specific deadline
Procrastination is easy when you only have one deadline. Our belief that we have time causes us to delay everything till it’s too late.
You should break down your project into smaller tasks, then create a timeline with specific deadlines for each. As a result, you know by what date each task needs to be completed. It is important to create robust timelines, too – e.g. if you don’t finish this by today, it will jeopardize everything else you have planned. In this way, it creates an urgency to act.
The list is a call to action that you must accomplish by the specified date. You can break your goals down into monthly, weekly, and even daily tasks lists.
4. Get Rid of Your Procrastination Pit-Stops
Maybe you procrastinate a little too much because you make it easy for yourself to procrastinate. Consider moving time-consuming bookmarks into a less accessible folder for your browser. If you use an email client, disable automatic notifications. Remove all distractions from your environment.
Other people get out of the way by deleting or deactivating their Facebook accounts. If that’s what you think is necessary, then go for it. Managing procrastination is more about being aware of our actions than counteracting through self-binding methods, but if that’s what’s needed, go for it.
5. Spend time with people who inspire you to take action
Spending 10 minutes talking with Steve Jobs or Bill Gates will inspire you to act more than if you do nothing. Our behavior is influenced by the people around us. It is probably not practical to spend every day with Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, but the principle holds: Every person around you has hidden strength.
Make a point of hanging out with the people you are triggered by the most – most likely the hard-working and go-getters. Soon you will instill their drive and spirit as well. One of the great tips for beating procrastination and getting inspired is to hang out with people who inspire you to take action.
6. Don’t be alone
The whole process is much more enjoyable with a companion. It is ideal if your buddy has his/her own set of goals. Your goals and plans will be held accountable to each other. It would be better if both of you had the same goals, so you could learn from each other. Needless to say, it motivates you to keep taking action.
7. Share Your Goals with Others
Inform your friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and family about your projects. Now whenever you see them, they are bound to ask you how those projects are going. You can hold yourself accountable for your plans this way.
8. Find Someone Who Has Already Achieved the Goal
What do you hope to accomplish here, and who has already done it? Find them and connect with them. Seeing living proof that you can achieve your goals is one of the best triggers for action.
9. Clearly define your goals
Experiencing procrastination for an extended period may indicate that what you want is not aligned with what you are doing. The more we discover about ourselves, the more our goals change, but we don’t adjust them appropriately.
Take a short vacation (or even a weekend break or staycation) and get away from your work to regroup. What are your exact goals? How should you get there? What is the best course of action? Is your current work aligned with that? Do you know what you can do if it isn’t?
10. Don’t complicate things too much
Is there a certain moment that you must choose? It might not be the right time for X, Y, or Z? You’ll never find a perfect time, so put that thought to rest. The wait for one will never end, as you will never achieve anything.
One of the biggest reasons for procrastination is perfectionist thinking.
Also Read: Top 10 Leadership Qualities of Great Leaders
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