Unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions leads to poor performance and causes increased stress. Take a systematic approach with appropriate strategies and action plans to overcome procrastination.
Procrastination is a common problem that hampers your productivity, performance, and well-being. Delaying or postponing something that needs to be done may seem convenient for a while but eventually, you're going to be overwhelmed by the tasks you keep putting off. It will make you feel guilty, stressed, and confused about how to overcome such a situation.
You need to overcome procrastination using effective time management and productivity strategies otherwise you can become demotivated and disillusioned with your work, which can lead to depression and even job loss. Fortunately, several effective strategies can help you overcome procrastination and boost your efficiency.
10 Excellent Tips to Stop Procrastination
Procrastination should not be confused with laziness, it’s a dynamic process where you choose to do something else instead of the task you should be doing. Some effective strategies and action plans can help you prioritise and manage your tasks and time effectively. Here are ten brilliant ways to overcome procrastination.
1. Break Down Your Tasks and Start Small
One of the most common reasons for procrastination is the task being too big, complex, or vague. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable, with specific steps, and pick one of those chunks that you can do right away. You are now closer to accomplishing the whole task without realising it. This approach improves your clarity and motivates you to start and finish your tasks.
2. Make a List of Tasks with Realistic Deadlines
Set realistic deadlines for your tasks and stick to them. Put key tasks on a list with a specified time limit, so that you know what tasks you need to focus on and on specified time. Setting a realistic deadline generates a sense of urgency or accountability for your tasks. This strategy helps you prioritise your tasks and boost your focus and efficiency.
3. Utilize Time Management Techniques
Following a few smart time management techniques can boost your productivity and reduce procrastination by several notches. Some time management techniques that can help you to gain better control over your time are mentioned below.
1. Eisenhower’s Urgent-Important Matrix
2. Pareto Principle: The 80/20 Rule
3. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
4. Pomodoro Technique
5. Flowtime
Determine the ones that work best for you and incorporate them into your daily life to maintain focus, maximize productivity and beat procrastination.
4. Schedule Non-negotiable Time Blocks
Start completing challenging tasks with time-blocking techniques to overcome procrastination. In this technique, a time block is dedicated to a particular task or a batch of relevant activities. It allows you to focus in a better way and accomplish deep work. Organise your task list in a meaningful, time-bound way and utilise time blocks effectively to boost your productivity.
5. Eliminate/Reduce Distractions
You tend to procrastinate your tasks when you are easily distracted by external or internal factors. Eliminate or reduce the distractions eating your concentration and attention. Declutter and simplify your life; you will reap the rewards of a pleasant mood, reduced stress, more organised surroundings and more productive work output.
6. Finish Things
Once you begin any endeavour, must ensure completing it. As you may have decided the priority along with a deadline for your tasks, try to accomplish them accordingly. When you determine a task that’s nearly done, put extra effort into getting it done on or before the set time and enjoy the satisfaction of ticking them off your list.
7. Change Your Mindset
Your mindset is a crucial factor driving your emotions, actions, and results. Negative thoughts or beliefs about yourself, your tasks, or your outcomes also lead to procrastination. It's crucial to overcome negative self-talk and use our time and energy effectively to do what makes us happy. Change your mindset to boost your self-esteem, resilience, and growth.
8. Be Kind to Yourself
Chase excellence in productivity but avoid getting burnout during the process. Do your best to complete your tasks on or within deadlines, but be realistic: you’ll always have more to do thereafter. Be kind to yourself, celebrate your accomplishments, take breaks to rejuvenate and then get back to work.
9. Reward Yourself
Often lacking the motivation for your tasks leads to procrastination. Reward yourself for completing your tasks or reaching certain milestones to overcome this situation. Rewards reinforce positive behaviour, and boost a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It helps you gain a healthy momentum to do your tasks and beat procrastination.
10. Get Support
You might feel like procrastinating when you feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure about your tasks. Seek support from a colleague, a friend, a mentor, or a coach who can offer you valuable feedback, advice, or assistance. Their support can help you overcome your obstacles, gain new perspectives, and improve your performance.
Procrastination diminishes your productivity and hinders your progress. Implement these powerful ways to overcome procrastination and attain your true potential. Remember, you don’t need to get perfect with strategies and action plans to beat it; for now, just get started. Later, you can refine your approach, and become a high-achiever.
Need help to work smart? Take the free 'My Time Management Style' Assessment to enhance your productivity and have a personal life.
Smita D Jain is a Certified Life Coach, Executive Coach and NLP Practitioner. Smita’s ‘Empower Yourself’ Personal Clarity Coaching Programs enable busy professionals unhappy in their jobs to tap into their passions and transform them into professions so that they work because they want to, not because they have to.
Prior to her journey as a coach, Smita had extensive experience of 14 years as a corporate and business strategy professional with Fortune 500 companies. She is also a speaker at various public forums, a published writer, and an Amazon bestselling author.
You can learn more about Personal Empowerment Life Coach and Executive Coach Smita D Jain’s ‘Empower Yourself’ Coaching Programs by visiting www.lifecoachsmitadjain.com and
book a strategy session at https://www.lifecoachsmitadjain.com/booking.