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The Easy Way To Conquer Procrastination
March seems to my busiest month with birthdays and school events, but with COVID, this March is much slower than any other I’ve experienced. And I am indeed grateful for this time. I even found a new made-up holiday on a calendar scheduled on March 4th. It’s called “March Forth and Do Something Day.” How about that? A holiday that is pushing for action is great! It sounds terrific, but what if you’re a procrastinator?
No worries! We’ve got you covered. Discover how easy it is to conquer procrastination forever with these top tips.
Everyone has procrastinated in one situation or another. We often find ourselves putting off doing tasks that we may perceive as unimportant, while other times we may even see them as critical but still can’t help ourselves from putting them off. The good news is that you can eliminate procrastination from your life forever! Tackle your actions now to get things done efficiently and effectively.
Get rid of procrastination for good by adopting these strategies:
1. Admit that you look for diversions. The vast majority of procrastinators do it by looking for other things to do instead of addressing the item at hand.
For example, you need to reply to an email, but you log onto social media instead.
If you can recognize that you purposely look for diversions to avoid what you need to do, you are on your way to controlling your procrastination.
2. Imagine how you will feel when you complete the task. What will be different once you’ve completed the assignment hanging over your head? Imagine how relieved you will feel when you finish the job? Use these reflections to motivate you so you can take action now.
3. Think about how you will feel while the job is still hanging overhead. If you continue to put off the tasks, what types of feelings will it create for you? If it imposes negative emotions, you can use that as motivation to complete the work to avoid any negativity in your life, and by doing this, you are taking care of your body and mind. You can consider this part of self-care.
4. Stop making excuses. Perhaps you’re putting off the task because you think you can’t do it well. Or maybe because it’s you’ve done this time and time again and are convinced that you do a better job when it’s crunch time.
Recognize that these are empty excuses that contribute to your procrastination.
5. Just do it. Yep, just like Nike! The same message applies here. Instead of spending time avoiding a task or wishing you already did it, start it now.
6. Set goals and keep a list of what you need to complete. Grab a blank piece of paper and write down all of the things you’ve been skirting around. Now mark any items you can do in less than two minutes, and get them done today! With what’s left, think outside the box. Are there any tasks or projects you can delegate to another person or a professional? For example, can someone else grab groceries or do your lawn? Lastly, write down a completion date next to all of the functions left. Consider the task at hand and allow time to complete it thoroughly.
7. Use a calendar to track your due dates and progress. Vary the due dates. You don’t want to be overwhelmed.
8. Break down more extensive tasks into smaller assignments, and jot those down on your calendar too. Doing this will make it easier to see which tasks you intend to do each day so that you don’t overwhelm yourself and schedule a reasonable time to complete each task.
9. Celebrate your successes. When you complete a task you’ve been putting off, don’t forget to reward yourself. You could schedule dinner with a friend, take a trip to a museum, or spend the night in your pj’s with the remote.
10. Notice how you feel now that the job is done and take time to pat yourself on the back. Be proud of your accomplishment.
Procrastination is the torment of existence for many of us. We try to say out of sight, out of mind, but it weighs on our mind until we finish the task. Instead, we try to do other things we like, but we never really get to enjoy ourselves until we complete what we are avoiding.
You have the power to change from stalling to taking action. Start today by making a list of the things that you need to do. You don’t have to wait until the fourth! You’ll feel less weighed down by your life if you learn to get things done in a timely fashion. So March forth and Do something!
What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!