The only 5 Proven Strategies to Stop Procrastinating you’ll ever need…
5 Proven Strategies to Stop Procrastinating—Now, or tomorrow lol
We’ve all been there: You know you have a big project to get done, but it seems so far off that you just don’t want to think about it. The longer the project sits there, untouched, the harder it becomes to do anything about it. And before you know it, your procrastination has turned into a full-blown habit! But don’t worry—we’re here to help. Stop procrastinating now by following these simple strategies that I’ve used successfully time and time again:
Procrastination as a behaviour
Procrastination is a behaviour that you repeat. It’s not just something you do occasionally, but rather a habit that you have formed. Procrastination is uncomfortable and can feel as if it has taken over your life, so it makes sense why people would want to stop procrastinating.
But what does “stop procrastinating” mean? Does it mean we never delay doing anything? Of course not!
Procrastination means something specific: delaying important actions until the last possible moment and/or doing other tasks in lieu of the important ones. For example, when faced with an assignment due tomorrow morning, I might put off starting on my essay until after dinner tonight—that’s procrastination! And while getting started on time might seem like the simplest way to avoid procrastinating, sometimes putting off the start can actually be helpful for some people (for example: those who prefer to write when they’re less tired).
Procrastination isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, when we find ourselves engrossed in our favorite TV series or scrolling through social media instead of finishing our assignments on time then there may be room for improvement!
Know why you’re procrastinating
If you want to stop procrastinating, the first step is finding out why you do it. You might be under a lot of stress or pressure from your boss or coworkers. Or maybe you’re worried about what others will think if they find out about your habit. These are just some examples of reasons why people procrastinate—and knowing what’s causing your behavior can help you overcome it and get back on track with your goals.
Take a look at the big picture
A good way to stop procrastinating is to look at the big picture. Ask yourself:
What value will this task bring me?
How will it affect my life?
What’s the worst that could happen if I don’t do it?
Break it down into tasks
One of the most effective ways to combat procrastination is by breaking down large tasks into smaller ones. For example, instead of avoiding a big project due to fear of failure or frustration, break it into smaller steps and set deadlines for yourself.
You can even use a task management app like Trello or Asana to help you do this—just make sure that each task has a deadline attached to it! You can also try using the Pomodoro technique: split up your workday into blocks (25 minutes), and then focus on only one activity at a time during those periods.
Set a timer
Set a timer for a specific amount of time, and then start working on the task. When the timer goes off, take a break—you just completed one section! If you have more tasks to complete, set your timer again (for another 5 minutes or however long you think it will take to complete that task) and continue this process until all of your tasks are done.
Be sure not to procrastinate during these breaks! Take this time to get up and walk away from your desk; drink some water; stretch; or do anything that helps focus on something other than your work for at least 30 seconds before getting back into it again.
Work in blocks of time
Work in blocks of time
Don’t take breaks
Don’t leave the room or office/studio/etc.
Don’t answer the phone or email when you’re working on a project (unless it’s an absolute emergency)
Don’t check social media, don’t answer the door, don’t check your phone… anything that will pull you away from what you’re doing at that moment in time must be put on hold until later
Procrastination is a habit, but you can learn to stop procrastinating.
Procrastination isn’t a permanent affliction. It’s a habit that you can break and replace with something more productive, like writing your novel or cleaning out your closet. But first, it’s important to understand why people procrastinate in the first place.
Once you understand what causes you to procrastinate, it’ll be easier for you to find ways of getting yourself started on something new or difficult—and then sticking with it until completion.
There are many reasons why we put off doing things: fear of failure, lack of motivation, distractions, perfectionism and other self-defeating beliefs (like “It will take too long”).
Conclusion
In the end, the key to stopping procrastination is understanding why you’re doing it in the first place. Once you know why, it’s much easier to set goals and hold yourself accountable for their completion. If you’re having trouble getting started with any of these strategies, try starting small by implementing one at a time—that way you won’t feel overwhelmed! Need helping pushing your business forward then connect with David by clicking here and read about how we can help you by clicking here.
