This report includes nine powerful tips and three actionable steps you can take right away. It also includes a list of suggested readings for those who are looking for even more information.
This article is from a Series
of 52 tips Report on the subject of self improvement. If you want to
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TOP TIPS
Sometimes
you need to hold off on a task, job, or project because something more pressing
comes up. When you continually push it off, you may be struggling with
procrastination. There are many reasons people procrastinate, from
perfectionism to overwhelm, but defeating procrastination is possible with
these nine tips.
1. Figure Out Why You
Procrastinate
Understanding
‘the why’ behind your procrastination aids you in overcoming it. Some of the
reasons you may put off completing a task include poor organization, feeling
overwhelmed, fear of failure, fear of success, and perfectionism. Consider what
is driving your procrastination so that you can defeat it.
2. Write Out a To-Do List
You
may feel overwhelmed at everything you need to get accomplished. You may have
less to do than you initially thought. Writing everything down can help you
gain a better scope of what you truly need to do.
3. Prioritize What You Need to
Do
After
listing everything out, prioritize what needs to be done and add how much time
it will take next to the task. If there are deadlines, you should add those.
The goal is to be able to identify where to place your focus first. You may
even find you have some you can put off or ignore.
4. Break Projects Down into
Bite-Sized Tasks
When
you have a large project in front of you, it may seem like a mountain. You move
a mountain one pail of dirt at a time. It helps to break your project into
smaller, more manageable tasks that you can quickly check off.
5. Do Away with Distractions
Completing
tasks take twice as long when you are being pulled away. Turn off all
notifications on your phone and computer. That includes social media notices
and email. If you need background noise, find some soft music, but avoid
turning on the television.
6. Take Care of the Hardest
Job When You Are at Your Peak
Do
you get more done in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Take advantage of your
peak time of alertness to tackle those jobs you have been putting off. You will
have more energy and can get invigorated by accomplishing much.
7. Tie a Reward to an
Accomplishment
Some
people love rewards for getting things done. If you do, pick a task or project
and set a reward for accomplishing it or getting so steps completed. You might
indulge in a movie, playing a video game, or social media time.
8. Find an Accountability
Partner
Knowing
you have to answer to someone about your progress can be a great motivator.
Look for someone who can encourage you when you get sidetracked, as well as
give you firm reminders to get back on task.
9. Just Get Started
Getting
started is often half the battle. Instead of just thinking about starting a
project, set your timer for five minutes and work on it. Once the timer goes
off, you are more likely to keep working, which means you are much closer to
getting the job done than five minutes earlier.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
a) Ask
yourself why you procrastinate on some jobs but not on others. You can then
work on alleviating the blockers and learn how you can accomplish more.
b) Take
a piece of paper and brainstorm everything you need to do. Then, assess what
you can do and what you can delegate. This frees up time for those items only
you can handle.
c) Decide
on some different rewards you can give yourself, write them on slips of paper,
and place them in a jar. You can have the extra fun of choosing a surprise
reward once your task is complete.
FURTHER
Affiliate links:
1. The Psychology of Procrastination
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2. Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It
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4. The Science of Overcoming Procrastination
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5. The Procrastination Equation
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