by Anastasia Fermin, Sunshima blog writer
Procrastination is a common foe. We’ve all voluntarily delayed certain tasks or chores knowing that the more you procrastinate, the harder you make it for yourself. Procrastination stems from a variety of reasons. Some people simply want to avoid certain tasks because they are afraid to fail. Others may find a task to be unpleasant and delay starting. People who suffer from anxiety and depression tend to procrastinate a lot as well. Whatever is behind your procrastination, you can reduce its presence in your life. Here are 5 ways to stop procrastinating.
Break up large tasks into smaller steps
If a task seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller phases. This helps to make your work more manageable. When you start completing smaller tasks, the bulk of the overall project is reduced, and you start seeing progress which is a motivating factor.
Remove distractions
It’s easy to fall into the rabbit hole that is YouTube or end up binge-watching a TV series (especially when you work from home). If you have looming deadlines, to make procrastination less appealing, remove distractions. This can be as simple as putting your phone on Do Not Disturb, closing off browser tabs, and only leaving work-related pages open or working in a room without a TV nearby.
Be mentally prepared
The hardest thing to do sometimes is to simply start. Getting into the right frame of mind may require a little pep talk from yourself or a peer. You can even take a few minutes to meditate and clear your mind before embarking on your project. Listen to soft music, or try breathing techniques to ease your anxiety so you can get into the right mindset to work. Once you start, however, you should find yourself getting into the flow of things and it gets easier to focus.
Create a schedule
Not having a set plan in motion can leave room for a lot of procrastination. If you have a lot to do, create a schedule. Managing your time with scheduled breaks helps to keep you organised and aware of important deadlines or timelines that you need to adhere to. Set up your day by carefully planning what you need to do, when and for how long. For example, prioritise tasks to be completed by a particular day or else it could impact on your goals for the rest of your calendar. This can motivate you to action and prevent work from piling up.
Keep an accountability log
An accountability log can be as simple as a To-do list. It may seem basic but it can help you to stay on track. Make lists of things you need to do daily, and check them off as you get them done. Or create a list of all the things you completed during your day. Writing things down also ensures that you don’t forget anything at the last minute. Keeping these lists to guide you can also be very satisfying to review at the end of the day or to motivate you to try harder.
While It may take a few tries before you can reduce or stop procrastinating, once you realise how much easier life can get when you stay organized, you will naturally start enjoying getting work/projects done and out of the way. Not only will it reduce stress and anxiety, but it also frees up time that allows you to do other things that you enjoy!