How to Avoid Procrastination?
“I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I’ll start on Monday” – these phrases are the main symptoms of procrastination. If you have ever encountered such habits as regularly postponing work for later, or if you often choose to do anything else instead of your actual responsibilities, it can leave a significant impact on your self-development and stop you from achieving your goals. However, if you suffer from a chronic procrastination, there is no cause for concern, because we have some good advice on how to treat it:
- Time planning is everything!
Time planning and organization helps not only to achieve goals in work, but also in everyday life. You are more likely to start procrastinating if you do not have a specific plan. A good investment for organizing is a planner, where you can always keep track of all your tasks and their execution dates.
- Set a deadline!
For each task it is very important to set a specific date for when you want your goals to be accomplished. If you have an assignment due, aim to have it completed one or two days in advance. That way, if something unexpected happens, you still have extra time to complete it.
- Get rid of distractions!
Including your phone. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to throw it out the window, even though that would probably be the most effective way, but it is recommended to start this practice by just turning off the internet or the cell phone itself. Also, it’s important to rid yourself of all potential disruptions before you begin working so you don’t get needlessly sidetracked halfway through your task.
- Don’t forget to take a break!
Another tip for avoiding procrastination is to take a short break from time to time. It could be 10-15 minutes where you can relax your mind from work by listening to some music or going for a walk outside. In addition, a study by Oregon State University has shown that regular breaks can increase concentration, reduce stress, and help process information better.
- Change your environment!
Different environments have different effects on our productivity. And procrastination most often comes to us when we work from home, where all possible objects distract us, including unwashed dishes, as well as pets, which require as much attention as children. Therefore, it would be most effective to change the work environment by going to a local café or a library.
- Reward yourself!
Rewarding yourself is one of the most motivating ways to fight procrastination. Next time when you complete a task, try to reward yourself. It could be something very simple, for example, treating yourself with your favorite dessert or snack, or you could say something like this: “When I’m going to finish this task, I will let myself watch an episode of my favorite show.”
- Tell someone about your goal!
It is easy to forget about your tasks or postpone them if you are the only person who takes responsibility for them. If you really want to do something and complete the task, tell your friends, your family or colleagues. Then you will no longer be able to resign, moreover, you will be less likely to start procrastinating if someone else knows about your goals and tasks.
