We all know procrastination and most of us are guilty of it. Whenever we have something to do, whether it is a house chore or tasks at work, we tend to put it off to a later time. That is because we don't want to leave our comfort zone so we waste our free time doing something less productive. And when the deadline approaches, we panic and we end up with a crappy job. Procrastinating is a bad habit. So how do we stop it? Here are eight ways.
1. Break your tasks into phases. When you need to work on something, especially if it's a big project that requires a lot of time, break it into small phases so you don't get overwhelmed. For example, if your task is to write a book, do it in phases such as 1) Deciding on a topic 2) Research 3) Making an outline 4) Writing 5) Final Editing. This way you can focus on a smaller chunk than the whole one. Once one phase is finished you can now move on to the next.
2. Organize your environment. It's really hard to start getting things done when your environment is not conducive to working. Take a look at your room or workspace and find out if it has too much clutter or if it is filled with things you do not need for working. Organize things properly and get rid of the things that distract you from work, such as TV or other gadgets. Get organized and get things done.
3. Avoid online distractions. Most of the things that we do nowadays require us to go online to get things done. The problem is being online is a double edge sword when it comes to productivity. It is filled with distractions such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. One pop-out notification and it's easy to get immersed and the next thing you know precious time has already been wasted. Get rid of these distractions by logging off from these social networking sites and hide those shortcuts from your desktop. If you don't see it, the less likely you are to be tempted to access it.
4. Be around productive people. If you work around people who just slack off whenever there is a task to be done, then it is most likely that you'll end up slacking off as well. Whenever you have something to finish, it will greatly help if you surround yourself with people who know how to value their work time. Productive people have what you call good work ethics that you'll certainly pick up the more time you spend working around them.
5. Have a buddy help you. Finding the task too big for you? Ask help from a friend to get it done. That way the big task won't discourage you and you'll have fun doing it in the process. So find a buddy who is willing to lend a helping hand to stop you from procrastinating.
6. Manage your time. I mentioned earlier about breaking your tasks into phases. The same thing can apply with regards to managing your time. Let's say you have eight hours to finish the job, split those eight hours into phases that you have already prepared. For example, one hour for deciding on a topic, one hour on research, two hours on making an outline, three hours on writing, and one hour on editing. This way, your time will be easily managed and will stop you from cramming.
7. Re-check your goals. If you find yourself constantly procrastinating then maybe you should re-check your goals and find out if it is aligned to what you are currently doing. If it is not then you must do something about it. You should learn how to adapt and meet things half-way. Even if you don't like the tasks at hand doesn't mean you can't do it.
8. JUST DO IT. The fact that you're deciding whether to do the task now or later is already a form of procrastination. Nothing will happen if you're just sitting there warming your seat. When there's something to be done, get moving and do it right away.
Procrastination is a killer. It kills time and productivity and can ruin your future. Hopefully by following the tips mentioned above, you can get rid of procrastination so you can live a better and more productive life.
"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday."
~Napoleon Hill
Do you procrastinate? If yes, what steps do you take to get rid of procrastination. Share your thoughts by writing a comment below.
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