Andre
Have you asked yourself, what is keeping me from performing that task? Most of the time, you find out that we don’t have any tangible reason for our actions and thus, our ever-ending excuses. Procrastination has done more harm than good in our daily live. It has coursed dreams to be neglected, motivation to grow cold, and ambitions abandoned. Though many things can be attributed to why people procrastinate. Most of these things are psychologically related, while others are socially driven. But no matter which category you fall into, the point remains that it is bad to procrastinate. You need stop before it before prevents you from reaching your dreams. Below, we have made some simple proven steps anyone can follow to stop procrastinating.
10 Way to Stop Procrastinating
1. Be Organized
Nothing beats an action propelled by an organized mind. When you are organized, you hardly miss anything. You are bound to follow your schedule step by step as they are listed. It is near impossible to complete an assignment without a planner. We suggest you write down these things, but as this is the 21st century, you can also get yourself one of these app planners, set your dates and follow every alert.
2. Set achievable but Straightforward Goals
To avoid procrastination, do not overwhelm yourself with audacious goals. Set yourself easy- to- achieve goals. The thing is, when you set these big goals for yourself, it may end up becoming daunting when you finally set out to achieve it. It is easier to start small then transcend as things get better. But mind you, keeping it simple does not in any way mean that you can’t dream big, of course you can. But try to keep your big dreams simple. This will make your goals less intimidating and more realizable.
3. Create a Timeline
After setting your goals, it is advised you draw yourself a timeline. Timelines are like schedules. For example, if you are reading for an exam, create a timeline that looks like, “on Monday, I will read Math, on Tuesday, I will read Biology, on and on it goes. You can go ahead and specify the pages you wish to read. Psychologically, when tasks are broken into smaller chunks, it looks more achievable and less of a struggle.
4. Create a Deadline
Setting deadlines for yourself makes you responsible and accountable. Since procrastination has to do with always saying “someday” or “one day,” setting a deadline forces you to complete the task more rapid. When you know the clock is ticking, you are bound to step up to your responsibility and take more action that will propel your success.
5. Beware of Distractions
Many factors propel procrastination and they are called distractions. Many times procrastination is the result of a string of excuses. Let’s take a college student working on a class exam as an example. Let’s say you planned to read by 6:00 pm, and unfortunately, your favorite TV program starts showing at 5:00 pm. The chances of you postponing your reading session are very much high. So, if you want to succeed at anything, try to do away with these types of distractions or you might increase the risk of procrastinating.
6. Give Yourself a Break
Don’t stress it; give yourself a break. One other thing you need to understand about procrastination is that it works hand in hand with fatigue. So to avoid being worn-out you should give your body that break it deserves .
7. Reward your Hard Work
To really work on your procrastination habits, you have to learn how to trick your mind once in a while. Program your mind in such a way that you won’t have any rewards until you accomplish a particular task. Let’s look at it this way…you have this new movie you want to see but also a class assignment that is due. Program your mind in such a way that you won’t get to watch that movie until you are done with your assignment. Make the movie section your reward for the hard work. Scientifically, it is easier to be committed if something is at stake – especially when it is a reward.
8. Start With the Bigger Task
Research has it that it is better to handle larger tasks in the morning. Procrastination usually comes when there are bigger tasks ahead, whereas you are more encouraged to complete them when you see them as minor. Let’s take a practical example. You have two assignments to handle, one in English, the other in math. Everybody knows that math can be long and complex, so it will only be wise if you first take the mathematics assignment before the English assignment. That way, your mind will be more eager to carry out these tasks.
9. Get People Involved
Telling someone about your goals will give you more drive to achieve them. You always feel reluctant when it is time to execute these tasks. But when you have friends or family who know about this plan, you feel more compelled to show them that you’ve hit your goal.
10. Just do it
This one may sound a bit arrogant, but in reality, it is just the truth. When you realize you are procrastinating, find a reason within yourself to just get the tasks done. Sometimes the only excuse you need to perform a task comes from you and you alone. So get on it and give yourself that reason to move forward.
Finally, procrastination is a terrible psychological temperament. Getting rid of it should not just be a choice but should be an obligation. So like the Nike slogan, “Just do it!” go ahead, and use those simple steps above to start your journey towards living a procrastination-free life.
