Do you hear yourself saying, "I will do it later" more than you care to mention?
You lose time and energy and achieve less as a result of putting things off. Do not let that dreaded procrastination bug get you down anymore. There are ways to beat it.
1. Divide and conquer a large project by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Start off slow using baby steps. Going through each task, one-by-one, is much less stressful and overwhelming than trying to get a large project finished all at once.
2. Complete one tiny task. Don't give it any thought. Just do it. Most anyone can do one tiny task. Accomplishing this may be all the incentive you need to keep going.
3. Reward yourself along the way. This is a step that many people forget to do, but is essential.
The reward doesn't have to be big, or even cost a dime, but should inspire and motivate you to get the job done.
And remember to reward yourself many times throughout your projects, not just at the end.
4. Create a TO DO list. It is better to write tasks down than to have them swimming around in your mind where they can get mixed in with all of your other thoughts.
Write down all of the things you have been putting off and keep that list in view.
As you complete each task, cross it off, and continue to go down the list.
5. Work on a tiny piece every day. If you do a tiny piece of whatever it is...daily...you'll continue to be "in the mode" of doing it. The less you come back to it, the easier it is not to do it at all.
6. Do the worst, most challenging, or uncomfortable task first and get it out of the way. Tackling that task will lift a weight off your chest and you will feel much more productive and willing to perform other tasks.
7. Eliminate distractions. Distractions are one of the biggest reasons tasks are not started or finished. In fact, you may find yourself looking for distractions to avoid working on tasks.
Turn off the television, cell phone, and your computer.
Clear off your work area. Order helps to curb procrastination and a clean environment tends to create a clearer mind.
8. A good technique for outsmarting procrastination is goal visualization. When we procrastinate, we put off achieving an end result. Many times that end result is very appealing. The result could be peace of mind, money, fun, etc.
By focusing on the goal and visualizing yourself achieving that end result, you can help to remove any doubts you have about beginning the project and going through the process of achieving the goal.
9. Use a timer. Set a timer for 15 minutes and begin a task. Setting a time limit will help you focus on the task at hand, curb daydreaming, and motivate you to complete the work.
Once you have started the task, you may find yourself becoming absorbed in what you are doing and continue with it rather than stopping when the timer sounds.
10. Realize that one common cause of procrastination is perfectionism. It is important to understand and remember that no one and nothing is perfect. Thinking that you must do the job perfectly on the first try will likely prevent you from ever getting started.
This expectation creates stress, anxiety and fear of failure. Keep in mind that you are a human and that being perfect tends to lead to procrastination.
Instead of striving for perfection, aim for progress.
