How to Stop Procrastinating and Get Stuff Done
Procrastination can get the best of all of us at some point. You know you have things you need to get done, but it sounds or feels better to brush it off and worry about it later. Learn how to stop procrastinating in this post.
Busting procrastination is the key to becoming your most productive and successful self!
Reasons to Stop Procrastinating
There are several reasons to stop procrastinating today. Let’s talk about some of them.
Reach your goals
Avoiding procrastination will help you reach your goals both professionally and personally. Meet your self care goals by not procrastinating.
Want to start a new skin care routine or start exercising more? Don’t wait to start – get going now!
Improve time management skills
Start managing your time better by avoiding procrastination. When you stop procrastinating, you’ll be able to improve your time management skills.
Take advantage of opportunities when they arise
When you learn how to avoid procrastination, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Don’t miss out on a path to success just because of procrastination!
Decrease stress
Procrastination and leaving items too close to the deadline can cause stress and anxiety. A lot of times when you plan your time better and have things put together ahead of the deadline you may find decreased stress.
Here are 8 ways you can stop procrastinating and be more proactive and productive.
1. Recognize the issue
The first thing you need to do in order to break any bad habit is to recognize the issue. And it’s no different when it comes to procrastination.
Coming to terms with the fact that you have a tendency to procrastinate and wanting to take action to address the issue is a great first step.
2. Identify the root of the issue
Next, you need to identify the root of the issue that is leading you to procrastinate.
I want to clarify a key point, procrastination is not the same thing as laziness or apathy. Procrastination is actively choosing to do something else instead of tackling what you need to get done.
You may have fallen into the procrastination habit for several reasons. You may find that you are more likely to procrastinate if organization isn’t one of your strengths. A lack of organization can lead you to forget deadlines or items on your to-do list. Disorganization can also add to anxiety and stress.
A fear of failure or desire for perfection can also lead to procrastination. If you fear failing at a task, you may choose to avoid completing it so you can avoid that risk of failure or missing the mark.
Reflect on your experiences and identify the thought patterns that arise as you fall into procrastination.
Identifying and confronting the root cause of the issue will better allow you to understand your tendencies and address the issue moving forward.
3. Create a schedule and plan your time
Organization is key to stop procrastination. To do this, make a list of all of the actions you need to accomplish and when they need to be finished.
Then, use that information to establish a schedule to complete all of your tasks. Start at the deadline and work backwards. List all of the tasks required to complete each action and estimate how long it will take to complete each task.
Planning ahead may add a little bit of time to the process, but it will be so worth it and save you a lot of time in the long-run.
You’ll also be less likely to procrastinate, miss deadlines, or forget actions you need to complete when you get organized up front.
4. Set S.M.A.R.T goals
Now that you’ve planned, set goals. Setting goals for yourself will help you stay on track and prioritize the competing items on your to-do list.
Be sure to set SMART goals – Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based.
If you’re unfamiliar with S.M.A.R.T. goals, I have outlined in detail what each letter means below:
S – Specific: You want to decide what exactly you want to do. Make your goals particular, not vague. For example, don’t set a goal “to run more”, set a goal to run 5 miles instead.
M – Measurable: Make goals easy to measure success and track progress. So in the previous example, a goal to run 5 miles is measurable because you can measure how long you run.
A – Attainable: You also want to make sure the goal you set is realistic for you to achieve. This is so important because if it starts to feel like your goal is impossible then you will be much more likely to give up. For example, if you set a goal to lose 20 pounds, it is not realistic for anyone to lose that much weight in two weeks.
R – Relevant: It is also important to set goals that are relevant to your life, values, and lifestyle. When you set relevant goals, you will feel more motivated to work towards them and achieve them.
T- Time-bound: Lastly, you want to set goals that are time-bound. This last item means that you set a time frame for when you want to achieve the goal. So closing out the running example, you may set your goal to run 5 miles by the end of the year.
Setting time-bound goals allows you to track progress against when you want to achieve the goal. It will also help to keep you motivated. If you don’t give yourself a time-based goal, it can be easy to skip your training days because “you’ll eventually run 5 miles”.
5. Communicate your goals to other people
Communicating your goals and deadlines to others will help keep you accountable.
By vocalizing your goals and deadlines, you will feel more committed to them because you’ve told family or friends.
Additionally, this may lead the people you communicate with to follow up and ask you how things are going, motivating you to stay on track.
6. Minimize distractions
An important factor in minimizing procrastination is to get rid of distractions.
When you set aside time to complete a task, give it your full attention. Put your phone on silent or in another room, turn of the TV, and find a quiet space.
Let family or roommates know you are focusing on a task and to not interrupt you.
If you have several things competing for your attention, you will be more likely to stray from your task.
7. Set a timer for 20 minutes
If you have trouble finding the motivation to start a task, set a timer for 20 minutes. Commit to focusing on the task at hand for at least 20 minutes.
It might be hard to start at first, but once you get going you’ll find that you’re making good progress.
You will probably be surprised to find that once you’re a few minutes in, you’ll be on a roll and won’t even want to stop when that 20-minute timer goes off.
8. Reward yourself for success
The last way to stop yourself from procrastinating is to reward yourself for accomplishing your goals and overcoming procrastination.
When you complete a task proactively, give yourself a reward. Not only do you deserve it, but you will also be more likely to be productive in the future because the reward will reinforce the desired behavior.
Those are the 8 ways to stop procrastinating and becoming more proactive and successful!
Procrastination is very common and may be caused by several different root issues whether its disorganization, perfectionism, or something in between.
However, learning to stop procrastinating will help you achieve your goals, reduce stress, and more.
Use these tips to overcome your procrastination and be on the road to becoming the best you!
Comment below with your favorite tip to stop procrastination.
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