Procrastination is something that, as much as we like to avoid it, affects a lot of us. It affects our work, mental health, physical health and quality of life.
Here are a few tips that have proven to be very effective in reducing or even putting a stop to procrastination altogether.
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- Start by asking yourself– “Am I procrastinating doing the task at hand?”, “Why am I procrastinating it?” and “How can I stop?”
Once you ask yourself these questions and accept that you are procrastinating, you can start to put a stop to it.
- Make a schedule.
Write down the requirements of the task at hand. This includes the work you will have to put in, the instruments you will need (if any) and how long it will take. This will help clear your mind and focus more.
- Break the task down.
Create steps and a clear path of how you want to finish the task.
- Reward yourself after.
This can be a cake, movie or simply the satisfaction and relief of finishing the task.
- Get rid of distractions.
Switch off your phone while you are working and ask your family and friends to not disturb you for that period of time.
- Create to-do lists.
This help keep track of all your steps and makes sure you do not forget any. This also motivates you to do the work faster as the satisfaction of ticking off all the boxes is very rewarding.
- Take short breaks.
Don’t be too harsh on yourself! Take short breaks when you feel overwhelmed or need rest. This also helps increase focus and concentration. But make sure these aren’t more than 15-20 minutes and that you get back to work as soon as you’re able.
- Have fun while you’re at it!
Listen to music or talk to someone while doing the task (If the task allows it).
- Figure out the best time to do it.
Know when you work most effectively and with the most concentration (day or night) and try to do it then.
- Don’t multitask.
As much as we would like to finish all our work at once, this can overwhelm us and we might end up not doing any of it. So focus on one thing at a time and allow yourself to breathe in between two tasks.
Remember, procrastination is not always bad, as long as you overcome it and do better because of it!
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