The easiest and most common thing done in a workplace is procrastination. We often get overwhelmed when there’s too much on our plate and if we have a lot of things to check off our to-do list. And that usually results in procrastination. The truth is that we have all procrastinated at some point, even if it is not constantly. A key aspect is to familiarize yourself with methods for overcoming procrastination.
But you need to understand that procrastination isn’t the same thing as laziness. So don’t think you’re a lazy person. When you ignore a task (that is more important) just because it is unpleasant and tiring, for a task you find enjoyable and satisfying, you’re procrastinating. You choose to do something else instead of the task that you know you should be doing.
Well, stick around as we guide you on how to overcome procrastination and give you tips to help you prevent it entirely.
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How To Overcome Procrastination
We tend to procrastinate without even realizing it. Bear in mind that the first step in overcoming procrastination is admitting and accepting the fact that you do it. After that, you may apply these 4 guides to help you out.
Simplify Your Daily Decision-Making
Reduce the number of decisions you need to make within a given day. Instead, make those decisions ahead of time and/or develop habits in certain areas of your life to boost your effectiveness and prevent you from killing your energy by thinking about whether to do them or not.
I’m a perfect example of this aspect of overcoming procrastination. I figured that if I had planned ahead for the day, I’d go out for a run early in the morning, and I’d begin to prepare the clothes and sneakers I’m going to need before the day comes.
But if I just wake up one morning and begin contemplating whether I should go or not, there’s a 50% chance I’ll end up procrastinating. Which is why you should always remember that every decision you make carries an energy impact.
The key points here are:
- Decide in advance exactly which days of the week you’ll carry out the activity, instead of waiting until the actual day.
- Pick out your clothes and any other necessary things the night before rather than in the morning.
- Choose the most important thing that needs to get done tomorrow, and schedule time to do it.
Finish Your Day Before It Starts
This is closely related to the first point we made, but it goes a little bit further. The best course of action to overcome procrastination is to plan your day ahead, visualize how things are going to go, and complete everything even before the day begins. What this does is help you identify and prioritize the most important and urgent tasks, keep you informed of activities you must do no matter what, and set a good path for other things that have to be done the next day.
Try “The Nothing Alternative.”
Dealing with procrastination has been a pain in the neck for almost everyone, which made Raymond Chandler develop The Nothing Alternative. It’s a very easy technique to understand; instead of trying to force yourself to work, do nothing at all. But you might be asking, How does this help? Right! Well, it takes advantage of our natural aversion to boredom.
We find it challenging to sit and do nothing, which is the reason why we’re more likely to focus on the task at hand to avoid boredom. By limiting our options to either doing the task or doing nothing at all, we remove the distractions and temptations that lead to procrastination.
Adjust Your Environment
Whether you’re working, studying, or having a meeting with someone, the environment you’re in can affect the overall atmosphere, which may lead to procrastination. If you want to avoid procrastinating in the first place, you need to consider your environment. Let’s say you’re studying or working, right?
But the place is noisily crowded. You won’t be able to focus, which may lead to procrastination. You may put off reading and start doing something else. So, the point here is to consider your environment whenever you’re going to do something very important. For instance, the library is the best place to study, not the cafeteria.
Tips For Preventing Procrastination
There won’t be a need to overcome procrastination if you just prevent it, right? If so, here’s what to do:
- Start small. Break down your work or task into smaller chunks, and pick one that you start doing immediately—so that you’re underway almost without realizing it!
- Make a plan. Add specific times or dates to the key tasks on your list to prioritize and schedule your focus.
- Finish things. Make sure you’re not leaving things uncompleted. Always put in more effort to see that you reach the end of it.
- Deal with distractions. When there’s distraction, procrastination comes. No distraction equals no procrastination. Make sure your environment is distraction-free. Take away things that may steal your focus.
- Be kind to yourself. No one ever gets to the end of their to-do list, and that’s true! But do your best to meet your deadlines, and congratulate yourself. Bear in mind that there will always be more tasks to complete than there are hours in the day.
Final Thoughts
In order to overcome procrastination, start by simplifying your daily decision-making, then finish your day before it even starts, consider the “nothing alternative,” and lastly, adjust your environment. By trying all these tips, you’re a step ahead of procrastination.
I hope the article was helpful. Thank you for the time you spent reading, and I’ll see you in the next one!
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