How To Stop Procrastinating
We all have to deal with procrastination at some point in life. At times you want to do something but you just aren’t able to get it done. Waiting till the last minute to get something done doesn’t go well all the time. Procrastination affects your overall productivity in the long run. If you procrastinate a lot, self-reflect on why you actually procrastinate. It could be a fear of failure or success, lack of discipline, or you could just be lazy. Procrastination is one of the reasons most people are not successful in life, in business, and in their careers.
Here are some hacks and tips on how to stop procrastination;
Acknowledge You’re Procrastinating
The first step on how to stop procrastination is to actually identify that you are procrastinating. Analyze your daily activities and identify the tasks that you put off or avoid doing. If you realize you’ve been putting it off for a while then you’re procrastinating. If there are certain items on your to-do list you’re postponing until you’re in a good mood. Chances are you are procrastinating. There are certain things we do when we’re procrastinating. Identifying those factors and triggers that make you put off a task can help stop procrastinating
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Identify Why & How You’re Procrastinating
After accepting that you’ve been procrastination, you need to identify why and how you procrastinate. If you avoid doing certain tasks because you find them tedious, find a way of making it more fun to do, or just get it over and done with so it’s out of your way. It could be the fear of failure or success. You’re afraid if you do it you’ll fail or you’ll succeed. Are you a perfectionist waiting for all the right pieces before you can finally start? How to stop procrastinating is easier after identifying why you procrastinate.
Take a hard look at your daily activities and identify what makes you procrastinate. Is it that you’re constantly on your phone? On social media? Get rid of any distractions that you identify. This will make it easier to stop procrastinating.
Change Your Mindset
If you’ve never had a problem with procrastination because you get the job done anyway, it might be time to change your perception. If you identify as a lazy person, change your mindset and beliefs. Changing your mindset will make it easier to beat procrastination. Look at your life goals and where you want to be in the future. Acknowledging that procrastination is one of the things that will hold you back should help change your mindset. Ask yourself the hard questions, If I were to stop procrastinating where would I be in my personal long and short-term goals? This will motivate you to change your mindset.
Goals
One of the reasons we find it easy to procrastinate is the lack of powerful and motivating goals. If you are working toward a goal this makes it much harder to procrastinate because you are determined to attain your goal. If you’re not determined to achieve the goals you have set for yourself, you need to set more powerful goals to motivate you. Make a list of your short-term and long-term goals and the steps you need to take to attain them. They can be household goals, business goals, any type of goals. Setting goals will make it easier to stop procrastinating.
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Just Do It
The hardest step is usually the first one, so if there’s something you’ve been putting off, just start. Take the first step and go from there. You’ll be surprised at how easy or smooth the task was once you just take that first step. If you’re a perfectionist who’s waiting on the perfect situation or the perfect tools, just start. Focus on improving along the way.
Even the greatest was once a beginner. Don’t be afraid to take that first step.
Muhammad Ali
Break It Down
This is one of the most helpful tips on how to stop procrastination. It’s easier to procrastinate on the bigger tasks because they can be overwhelming. Breaking down a task into smaller sections will make it more manageable and less intimidating. Focusing on the smaller tasks will make it easier to get the entire job done because it’s more manageable. You might even find yourself liking the duties you kept postponing.
Stay Organized
If you want to beat procrastination, you need to get and stay organized. You can choose to organize your day using a google calendar or organize your tasks in to-do lists. Keep track of your activities and tasks to give you an overview of tasks that need immediate action. Staying organized makes finishing tasks much easier and it’s a great way to stop procrastination.
Prioritize & Set Deadlines
Prioritizing your tasks and setting deadlines is another way of helping you stop procrastinating. Break down your goals into daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks. Set a deadline for each task depending on the timeline of your goal. This will help keep you motivated. The timeline of your goals will help you stay dedicated to meeting your deadlines. Setting deadlines for yourself will help you avoid the ‘I’ll do it later ‘ mentality.
Change Your Set Up
Depending on where you work or what you’re doing, you might want to change your setup. Your work environment might be your biggest distraction. If your desk is full of clutter, it might be easier to get distracted by anything. Clean up your workspace by clearing clutter. Don’t open tabs on your browser that you don’t need. Make sure you have a workspace that encourages you to focus on your tasks.
Reward Yourself
Having a reward system for when you finish tasks is very satisfying and gratifying. This will give you an incentive to complete your tasks. You don’t have to spend money to reward yourself. You can gift yourself an extra snack after attaining a certain goal. Or you can also buy that item that’s been on your wishlist for some time. This is a way of keeping yourself motivated.
Self-Accountability
Holding yourself accountable ensures you stop procrastinating. After setting goals, you should hold yourself accountable for each and every goal that you don’t achieve. This will help you identify that you have control. You are responsible for all the goals you don’t achieve.
Self-Discipline
Cultivate a culture of discipline if you want to stop procrastinating. If you have no self-discipline it’s easier to procrastinate. Create a culture of discipline in your daily activities. Make a habit of finishing everything you start. Every successful person in the world has discipline and consistency.
Social Circle
Check your circle of friends and make sure they are influencing you to do the right thing. The people you spend the most time with are the ones who influence the type of person you are. Make sure you surround yourself with a social circle that will help you stay focused.