Getting over procrastination can be one of the most difficult parts of increasing your output in both your personal and professional lives. It is so easy to put things off until a “better” time or until you are “ready”. Procrastination sneaks up on us in insidious ways, and it is on us to identify what we are up against and tackle it head on. In this post, we are going over some reasons why we may procrastinate, how procrastination hinders our progress and what we can start doing now to be more productive in our daily lives.
Why we procrastinate
Stress and anxiety
One of the #1 reasons we tend to put things off is because of the negative feelings we associate with the task at hand. The excessive worry about what is to come once we commit to doing a thing, causes our stress levels to rise. We then start to look for any excuse not to take action. Even if we don’t realize it’s happening, procrastination creeps in when we are simply overwhelmed by the idea of what is required to complete the task.
Solution: It’s important to have a realistic perception of what is actually in front of you. If necessary, break the task down into multiple smaller and less intimidating chunks. This will create more opportunities to work toward the outcome without feeling like you are putting time in and getting nowhere. Getting real about what you are trying to accomplish can save you from a lot of unnecessary worry.
Expecting things to take longer than they do
This is part of having a realistic view about what you are trying to get done. Sometimes we procrastinate simply because we believe something will be very time-consuming. This causes us to steer clear of the things we know are either urgent or important. Have you ever avoided something for a week just to realize it was quick and painless by the time you finally sat down to get it done? That happens when you expect the worst instead of really taking a good look at what you are up against.
Solution: This can be combatted in two ways. One way to help you get a realistic view on what you have to get done could be to actually time yourself next time you are working on a reoccurring task. This way, you know what to expect the next time.
Another thing you could do is work on rebuilding your confidence in yourself by successfully completing smaller tasks or reaching smaller milestones you’ve set for yourself. Having more confidence in your own abilities can help to get past the stress of doing certain things because you have the belief that whatever is required, you can get it done.
Inability to focus
At times things don’t get done simply because we can’t manage to focus long enough to see things through. Other times things don’t get done because we can’t decide what to focus on first. Having so many things that we think we need to do, gets in the way of us actually making progress. The more our attention is split, the slower the growth in any one particular direction.
Solution: In order to overcome this, we would first have to identify what is causing us to struggle with focus. Maybe there are too many distractions in your environment, or maybe there are mental health concerns to be aware of (prioritizing your wellness is always important). A common reason that I’ve experienced an inability to focus at times, is trying to get things done when I have less energy and alertness. Being tired, fatigued or overwhelmed by other things will greatly decrease your ability to be productive.
Identifying the reasons you may be lacking focus and then addressing them head on is key here. If it is distractions, try changing your environment. If it is mental health or stress, try getting rest or seeking professional help if needed. If you are fatigued and unable to focus, taking care of your health and proper prioritization and scheduling of tasks is key.
Practical tips to start being more productive now
Turn your goals into a game
Start by getting a clear understanding of what you are trying to accomplish. Once you have identified the goal and the milestones associated with what you need to get done, you can make it fun. This is where you will need to get creative and decide how you want it to play out. Be sure that your game has a clear way to “win” or rewards that you set up for yourself to encourage yourself to want to play/ get things done.
One way I like to do this is to set a goal for myself and put a few dollars away to spend how I like if I accomplish it. You can do this in a way that does not cost money. You can put your tasks on a dart board and whatever it lands on, you do. You can then have your points add up to a reward. Whatever you do, make it fun for you and incentivize yourself to play.
List rewards for achievements ahead of time
Make a list of things you would reward yourself with in advance. This gives you something to choose from once you do what you said you would. This also makes things more exciting as you can look forward to winning treats for yourself.
Consider the consequences of inaction
One mindset shift you can make is to deeply consider the consequences of not taking action. This would require you to know what direct impact the task has on your goals and the reasons you want or need to work on the task in the first place. Ask yourself: “How will myself or others suffer or be inconvenienced if this thing doesn’t get done?”
Finally, think of procrastination as a poor habit to unlearn. There are many reasons why we would put things off, but there are also many ways to combat procrastination. It might take a little creativity and patience with yourself, but it can definitely be done. Good luck, and thanks for reading!
Adina
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