Many people know what they should be doing, but they are not doing it. They keep pushing their most important tasks for later. Some people are used to leaving their tasks till the last minute. If you are a chronic procrastinator, you will discover that your life has been moving in circles. This is because procrastination has taken over your life. And it is preventing you from doing anything positive.
We are all familiar with “procrastination” because, at one point or the other, we have practiced it. For instance, when you have a deadline looming, instead of working, you decide to play games and relax till it is time to present your work. You know when you need to work, but you choose to involve yourself in various activities that will grant you instant satisfaction. These activities include watching videos, surfing the internet, checking mail, and more.
Later, you discover that you didn’t gain anything profitable. You begin to panic and wish you had done the right thing when you had the time to. Time indeed doesn’t wait for any man. Whatever you do with your time, sooner or later, you will enjoy the reward.
If you are delaying and putting off your essential task for later, this content is for you. Read till the end these proven tips to stop procrastination at once and enjoy a bonus tip.
Here are Some Proven Tips to Stop Procrastination at Once
Forgive Yourself
You don’t have to punish yourself for procrastinating. Admitting to the feeling is enough. Don’t continue to say negative things to yourself like “I am lazy” or “I cannot achieve great things”. Negative self-talk will not help you. You will be more frustrated if you attack yourself. Be mindful of what you say to yourself. The way forward is more important than crying over what has happened. You cannot turn back the hands of the clock, but you can decide to do better going forward. Self-compassion is the key to forgiveness.
Remove Distractions
It helps if you discover the reasons why you procrastinate. For instance, if you are not studying as you should, it could be because of your environment. You cannot eliminate your distractions if you don’t know them. Therefore, you need to sit down and think of various things that prevent you from doing the right thing. You may be distracted because you keep your phone next to you whenever you want to work or study. Distractions are one of the primary reasons why people procrastinate. You are not a lazy person. The environmental factors around you are what is hindering you from making progress. If you need to change your environment, don’t hesitate to do so.
Little Steps Before Significant Steps
If you have work to do, break it into little steps. You are human, and it is normal to be scared of a big task. Your subconscious mind will make you procrastinate when a task is overwhelming. It is better to break the task into small parts. Continue to break down the task until you don’t find it overwhelming. For instance, if you have the assignment to write a new book, don’t look at the whole project. You can break it down into more straightforward forms by writing the book outline. This makes the task more concise and manageable. In addition, ensure that you focus only on the phase you are on.
Create a Deadline for Yourself
Another proven tips to stop procrastination at once is to create a deadline for yourself. When you don’t have a deadline for a task, it is easier for you to procrastinate because you believe that you can do the work whenever you wish. However, when you have a deadline, you understand that it is not about your wish, but you are now working against the clock. Having a deadline for your work is a way to kill procrastination. If you don’t have a set deadline, you will have the impression that you have time, and before you realise it, it is too late.
Plan Your Day in Advance
Before sleeping, it is good to always plan your day. It gives you a sense of purpose when you open your eyes in the morning because you understand there is no time to waste. If you can’t plan your day the night before, you can also do it in the morning. Whatever you need to do, make a comprehensive plan for it. Please don’t complicate things. Write it down in simple language. Furthermore, you must understand that there is never a perfect time to do something. Ditch the thought and proceed to do the actual work.
BONUS
Organise Your Task
When you organise your task, it becomes easier for you to focus your attention on the things that you have to do. When you have your activities arranged, you will know the ones that need more time and those that require lesser time to complete. This will give you the confidence to make a move and record progress. Being organised can motivate you to achieve a lot. If you prepare to tackle the small task first, don’t hesitate to do so.
Procrastination is something that we can all relate to. The feeling makes you unhappy because you know that you have numerous activities at hand. You have the resources to proceed, but you don’t want to do it. You prefer to attend to other activities but not the task at hand. Procrastination leads to guilt and low self-esteem. In addition, your performance at your workplace can be affected if you are not doing what you need to do to progress. If you are struggling with procrastination, you are not alone. You need to admit that you are a procrastinator, and the tips discussed above will help you to change. Don’t feel frustrated; you are not alone, and your effort to make a positive change in your life will pay off.
In the comment section below, let us know your favourite proven tips to stop procrastination at once that are discussed above. Don’t fail to like and share. For similar content, continue to visit this page regularly. Check out also these previous posts on “5 Tips for Stepping up Your Personal Growth“.
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Plan your day in advance and remove distractions. These really work for me