8 Tops for Fighting Procrastination

Do you know someone who has never had to deal with the problem of procrastination?  It’s hard to find that someone, right? It is not common because most people naturally set aside activities that they don’t enjoy.

On some days, procrastination might be a more difficult problem for you to overcome than on other days. One day you might sail along efficiently but the next day you might feel like not wanting to leave your bed. Every one of us has a bad day from time to time but it is a good idea to overcome a procrastinating mindset.

Consider overcoming procrastination with these tips:

1. Take small steps. When you’re thinking of putting off a large project, it may be because it seems like a huge task that will occupy all of your time. To beat overwhelm, why not simply start with 10 minutes for this job, instead of expending yourself to work for long hours on end. This might get you going and then it will be easier to continue.

2. Give yourself small breaks. Sitting down for 8 hours straight to complete a task sounds overwhelming. Try dividing the job into small steps and take a break when you complete each step.  Giving yourself a 10-minute break every hour to relax is another effective method.

• Go for a short walk in the fresh air, surf the ‘net, or text a friend on your break. Doing so will refresh your mind so you can get back to your project with renewed energy.

3. Make a plan. It’s easy to continue on the path of procrastination when your objectives are not clear. If need, give yourself a strict deadline. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete, the details of those tasks, and the deadlines. It’s a way of holding yourself accountable for what is or isn’t done at the end of the day.

4. Get to the root of the problem. Could there be an underlying reason why you have been procrastinating on one specific issue? You might not be able to identify this reason until you really think about it.  Identifying the reason will help you solve your procrastination problem for that specific issue.

5. Reward yourself. While a break might seem like a reward, you can promise yourself other types of rewards for completing difficult tasks. You can decide on something you want to have or want to do and allow yourself this luxury once you’ve completed the task at hand.

6. Believe in yourself. Trust yourself that you can do the job effectively.  This way, you gain a passion for life and an enthusiasm that will help you get through the day. Once you believe in yourself, you have the power to overcome procrastination and reach your ultimate goals in life.

7. Do the least-liked tasks first. When your day consists of several tasks you need to finish, start with the one that’s hanging over your head. You’ll be glad that you do because once the bad ones are out of the way, your day will improve. Do them straight away!

8. Schedule fun tasks, too! It’s imperative to make time for yourself, so enjoyable tasks should be included in your day, too. If your to-do list is usually packed with undesirable tasks, you should include enjoyable activities as well.

• For instance, you want to play volleyball on Tuesday nights.  Write it down on your to-do list and when you cross it off your list, you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something important –  and you have!

Practice these techniques to help you overcome procrastination.  Soon you’ll find that much of your stress has melted away and you’ll have more time for enjoying the things you love the most!