You are a procrastination addict if f you tend to complete your tasks at the last minute, Or if you regularly say phrases like “I’ll do it tomorrow”, “I don’t have time” or “It can still wait”.In fact, human beings have a natural tendency to want to relax. And in today’s world where distractions are within smartphones, it’s hard to resist.
Procrastination is natural and happens to everyone, but if it becomes regular, it could prevent us from achieving our goals and succeeding in our projects since we constantly postpone important tasks, which are supposed to move us forward. At work, it could affect our productivity, can generate stress, and even make us lose confidence in ourselves.
Tired of being a procrastinator? Here are six tips to help you beat procrastination effectively.
1. Make a to-do list
Here is an effective and widely used technique, especially by business leaders. At the end of each day, write down on a sheet the tasks you need to accomplish the next day. So, as soon as you arrive at the office, you know what you have to do, and you can immediately get to work.
Be careful while applying this technique. You must be specific about the actions to be carried out and realistic about the number of tasks you are able to accomplish in a day. The goal is not to overwhelm you with work because you risk losing all motivation. On the contrary, prepare a small list of tasks that you will be proud to have accomplished at the end of the day.
2. Break down big tasks into small ones
If you’re working on a big project or a big task, you should break it down into subtasks, or smaller ones that are easier and faster to carry out.
For example, if you have to write a report on the annual activity of your department, start by cutting it into chapters, then into parts, and finally into sub-parts. Thus, you can set yourself to write one to two subsections per day, depending on their size.
This will allow you to progress faster on your list, which is rewarding.
3. Avoid distracting sources
It’s very easy to get distracted these days. With a simple click on your smartphone, you can surf the Internet and social networks for hours without even realizing it. Not to mention the colleagues who come to chat, incidental meetings, and the multiple notifications that we receive. All of these activities are much more enjoyable and interesting than your job, so it’s hard to resist.
To avoid this, you must self-isolate and disconnect. During the day, define several time slots during when you will work alone, isolated in an office, without your smartphone or your business phone, and without notifications. If you don’t require the Internet to perform your work, you can disconnect. In this way, you can devote yourself entirely to the task in your hand and concentrate until you reach your goal.
4. Take breaks
At work, it is impossible to be continuously at 100% of your abilities. Indeed, our brain needs to rest from time to time to continue to be efficient.
But that’s not all, if you really need to relax, try to do nothing and indulge in daydreaming for a few minutes. Instead of using social networks, reading emails, or exchanging with colleagues, enjoy looking out the window, listening to music, and closing your eyes. This is called mind wandering. By letting your thoughts wander, you will be more efficient, more attentive, and more energetic in carrying out your daily tasks.
5. Visualize yourself in the future
To motivate yourself to do a difficult or boring task, make a list of the short and long-term benefits of completing it, such as being able to get off work earlier, having time for enjoyable activity, or progressing towards your career goal.
Make also a list of the negative consequences you will face if you decide to procrastinate, such as disappointment from your management, the pressure you will have to finish the task on time, or the negative impact on your career and your life in the future.
Visualizing the benefits of getting down to work and the losses of procrastination is a great way to motivate yourself to be more productive.
6. Reward Yourself
Another effective way to overcome procrastination is to reward yourself each time you complete a task or reach a goal.
As soon as you finish a job, do things that make you happy in order to reward yourself for the efforts made and the work accomplished, and especially to congratulate yourself for not having procrastinated. This will
By following these tips, you will manage to limit procrastination and you will be more efficient and productive in your work. It’s your turn!
