Procrastination is the number one problem of many students' and workers’ mindsets. But what happens when deadlines come creeping up on us and we don’t have any more excuses? There is no simple solution on how to treat procrastination, but there are ways to make it easier to live with and start making a change.
1. Step by step
Making a list of small tasks that you need to complete is often better than working without a clear goal. Even though your task may be to write a paper, you can still break it up into research, reading, taking notes, writing, editing, etc. Every task can be broken up into pieces, making it much easier to handle the work.
2. Schedule activities
Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, why not schedule it instead? Giving yourself a timetable of when to do what task can help alleviate your procrastination. Make sure that you work in small intervals with breaks in between and over a span of a couple of days.
3. Be impulsive
Procrastination often involves overthinking and panicking. Try being impulsive the next time you have something to do and simply start working. If you think too much about what to do next and how to do it, you will only postpone the inevitable more and more.
4. Find your muse
One of the best ways to help procrastination is to find a personal muse and work your way from there. Everyone has something that inspires them, whether it’s a dream of a new car or a smile of their child. Find what makes you happy and work for that, not for yourself.
5. Prioritize work
Not everything you need to do needs to be done as soon as possible. Whether you are writing content, designing something or simply filling out paperwork for your company, doing things in a prioritized succession will help you fight procrastination more effectively.
6. Reward yourself
Giving yourself a treat every time you finish a task is a good way of boosting your confidence and productivity. The reward can be anything from your favorite snack to a refreshing walk down the street.
7. Eliminate distractions
Putting all the electronic devices on silent or turning them off completely is essential when dealing with procrastination. They are the main reason for losing a lot of time on unimportant activities – use that time to work on something important instead.
8. Take regular breaks
Taking breaks is just as important as working. One of the main reasons for procrastination is overly long working hours – no one can be at their best for hours on end. Take breaks and walk around the room, wash your face, grab a glass of water or play some music for good measure.
9. Ask for help
Your colleagues will always be there to help you out. Getting some outside motivation or direct help with work can work in your benefit and kick start your productiveness. Try talking to a colleague the next time you have problems focusing on work.
10. Forgive yourself
Everyone procrastinates from time to time. We are all distracted by irrelevant things that offer no long-term benefits. It’s important to be fair to yourself and don’t punish yourself for looking away from the monitor from time to time.
Whether it’s visiting social media or reading your favorite blog, procrastination can sometimes be beneficial. It can alleviate stress and make us forget about work for a little while. Even though it can often take extreme proportions, procrastination is something we all do from time to time, meaning that you shouldn’t take it too seriously when it actually happens.
Author Bio:
Jessica Fender is pro writer and blogger at Online Writers Rating, a platform for the customers, who want to find the best writing companies on the web. She is passionate about the folk music and Dutch contemporary art.