Who has never suffered from procrastination, that unpleasant habit of systematically postponing a task until the next day? Considered certain by the evil of the century, procrastination is problematic because not only does it affect our productivity, it is generally associated with a strong sense of guilt and low self-esteem.
Is fighting procrastination overwhelming?
Don’t panic though, there are some easy-to-apply tips to stop postponing everything, and finally, succeed in finding the motivation to tackle your to-do list without further ado. Discover them without further delay in this article, and stop procrastinating everything.
Fighting procrastination is necessary to achieve success.
What is procrastination?
Before we go deeper into the subject of procrastination, let’s see what this term means. Indeed, to fight against procrastination, it is better to know what it is.
Procrastination is a tendency to systematically postpone actions. The “chronic latecomer”, called procrastinator, cannot “get to work”, especially when it does not give him immediate satisfaction. (Source Wikipedia )
What is interesting in the definition of procrastination is this notion of immediate satisfaction. Indeed, our motivation which pushes us to act is correlated with the satisfaction that we perceive following the accomplishment of an action. This satisfaction can be immediate or distant, but immediate satisfaction (or reward) motivates us more than distant satisfaction. This is one of the reasons why some smokers who want to quit continue. To fight against procrastination, the procrastinator must therefore rethink certain mental patterns that condition his actions.
- Stop procrastinating and take action
Procrastination is a real scourge. Indeed, procrastination can literally take us away from our dreams and ambitions. You could say that procrastination steals our time. In addition, procrastination affects your self-esteem. For us to really achieve this, we must stop procrastinating and take actions that are essential for anyone wishing to take charge of their life and move towards their goals.
- Good practices to fight against procrastination
To fight against procrastination, there are techniques or good practices. Below, you will discover 7 tips to help you fight procrastination. Generally speaking, fighting procrastination is often a matter of organization. Indeed, the goal is to facilitate as much as possible the passage to the action, and thus to reduce “the mental barriers” which slow us down.
7 SIMPLE TIPS TO FIGHT PROCRASTINATION
Fight procrastination with the following 8 tips.
- Identify your most productive moments
For each of us, there are times during the day when we are most effective. This can be in the morning when you wake up, or on the contrary in the early evening, when the risks of interruption are minimal.
These productive moments vary from person to person, but once you identify yours, you will be able to maximize their reach by devoting them to your most demanding tasks, those that require the most concentration.
CLICK HERE TO READ ON: THE 10 WAYS TO START TAKING CONTRO
2. Fight against procrastination using a workbook/to-do list
Nothing like setting specific and concrete goals to regain your motivation! To do this, do not hesitate to use and abuse the to-do list, a tool that has largely proven its worth.
In particular, you can use it on a daily basis to list the tasks you want to accomplish during the day, ranked in order of priority, and accompanied by an estimate of their duration. The to-do list is also an excellent tool for defining your goals for the week, month, or quarter.
Our How To Be A Conscious Creator Workbook is the perfect tool for you..
3. Cut each project into a multitude of tasks
Very often, procrastination generates a feeling of stress, which only accentuates our impression of dispersion. You have to tackle a gigantic project, and the mere prospect of doing so discourages you? Start by breaking it down into separate subtasks.
First of all, this will allow you to see more clearly, but also to make the project seem less insurmountable and more accessible. In addition, the satisfaction of having completed each sub-task will reboost you to continue the rest of the work.
4. Eliminate sources of distraction to better fight against procrastination
To effectively combat procrastination, it is essential to create a work environment conducive to concentration, eliminating sources of distraction as much as possible. Quiet and secluded room, music on your ears, phone on silent… find what works for you, and stick to it.
Is the temptation to take a little break on social networks too strong? Don’t hesitate to switch your phone to airplane mode, or even install a tool specifically designed to prevent you from accessing certain sites that you have previously selected, you can find lots of these tools on the internet.
5. Start with the most daunting tasks
All productivity specialists agree that starting your day by tackling the tasks that seem most difficult to you is the best way to get it done quickly and efficiently.
You will benefit from being still fresh and full of energy when you immerse yourself in these forbidding missions. As a bonus, once these are accomplished, you will enjoy the satisfaction of the work done, and have the free spirit to devote yourself to the rest of your to-do list.
READ ABOUT: ACCEPTING TO IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL LIF
6. Take care of yourself and your lifestyle
It may seem paradoxical, but to put an end to procrastination, it is essential to know how to take time for yourself. A good hygiene of life is really the basis of a good hygiene of work.
Playing sports is therefore essential, since only 10 minutes of intense physical activity have the power to boost your concentration and reduce your sensitivity to stress and anxiety.
Getting enough sleep is also essential for your productivity: aim for a minimum of 8 hours of sleep per night, and avoid going to bed late as much as possible. Staying up in front of your screen until the middle of the night to finish a project is therefore a very bad idea: you then risk paying for it with mental and physical fatigue for days on end.
Likewise, eating a balanced diet and not skipping meals is essential to maximize productivity.
7. Knowing how to congratulate oneself on the work accomplished
Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself once you’ve reached your goals! With each task completed, congratulate yourself on your attendance by offering yourself a “pleasure” break: a coffee, a square of chocolate, a walk to get some fresh air, an episode of your favorite series, a phone call to a loved one … The possibilities are endless.
This moment of reward is essential because it allows you to both relax and air yourself, but also to refill your motivation gauge for the rest of your workday.
It’s your turn to fight against procrastination …
Now all you have to do is apply these tips to finally put an end to procrastination. On your side, do you have any other tried and tested tips to motivate yourself and work better? What are your tips for fighting procrastination?
Leave us a comment to share your feelings on the issue.
Ana Kevelin Reyes
Author, Mindset Coach & Speaker
