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Overcoming procrastination habit

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Tips on time management and procrastination

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How to Overcome Procrastination

Step 1: Recognize That You're Procrastinating

You might be putting off a task because you've had to re-prioritize your workload. If you're briefly delaying an important task for a genuinely good reason, then you aren't necessarily procrastinating. However, if you start to put things off indefinitely, or switch focus because you want to avoid doing something, then you probably are.

You may also be procrastinating if you:

Fill your day with low-priority tasks.

Leave an item on your To-Do list for a long time, even though it's important.

Read emails several times over without making a decision on what to do with them.

Start a high-priority task and then go off to make a coffee.

Fill your time with unimportant tasks that other people ask you to do, instead of getting on with the important tasks already on your list.

Wait to be in "right mood," or wait for the "right time" to tackle a task.

Step 2: Work Out WHY You're Procrastinating

You need to understand the reasons why you are procrastinating before you can begin to tackle it.

For instance, are you avoiding a particular task because you find it boring or unpleasant? If so, take steps to get it out of the way quickly, so that you can focus on the aspects of your job that you find more enjoyable.

Poor organization can lead to procrastination. Organized people successfully overcome it because they use prioritized To-Do Lists and create effective schedules. These tools help you to organize your tasks by priority and deadline.

Another major cause of procrastination is poor decision-making. If you can't decide what to do, you'll likely put off taking action in case you do the wrong thing.

Step 3: Adopt Anti-Procrastination Strategies

Procrastination is a habit - a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior. This means that you probably can't break it overnight. Habits only stop being habits when you avoid practicing them, so try as many of the strategies, below, as possible to give yourself the best possible chance of succeeding.

Forgive yourself for procrastinating in the past. Studies show that self-forgiveness can help you to feel more positive about yourself and reduce the likelihood of procrastination in the future.

Commit to the task. Focus on doing, not avoiding. Write down the tasks that you need to complete, and specify a time for doing them. This will help you to proactively tackle your work.

Promise yourself a reward. If you complete a difficult task on time, reward yourself with a treat, such as a slice of cake or a coffee from your favorite coffee shop. And make sure you notice how good it feels to finish things!

Ask someone to check up on you. Peer pressure works! This is the principle behind self-help groups. If you don't have anyone to ask, an online tool such as Procraster can help you to self-monitor.

Act as you go. Tackle tasks as soon as they arise, rather than letting them build up over another day.

Rephrase your internal dialog. The phrases "need to" and "have to," for example, imply that you have no choice in what you do. This can make you feel disempowered and might even result in self-sabotage. However, saying, "I choose to," implies that you own a project, and can make you feel more in control of your workload.

Minimize distractions. Turn off your email and social media, and avoid sitting anywhere near a television while you work!

Aim to "eat an elephant beetle" first thing, every day! Get those tasks that you find least pleasant out of the way early. This will give you the rest of the day to concentrate on work that you find more enjoyable.

Another way to make a task more enjoyable is to identify the unpleasant consequences of avoiding it. For instance, what will happen if you don't complete the work? How might it affect your personal, team or organizational goals?

If you procrastinate because you're disorganized, here are six strategies to help you get organized:

1. Keep a To-Do List. This will prevent you from "conveniently" forgetting about those unpleasant or overwhelming tasks.

2. Use task- and time-management apps. There are numerous apps designed to help you to be more organized, such as Trello and Toggl, for example.

If you're prone to delaying projects because you find them overwhelming, try breaking them down into more manageable chunks. Organize your projects into smaller tasks and focus on starting them, rather than on finishing them.

In his 2011 book, " The Procrastination Cure," Jeffery Combs suggests tackling tasks in 15-minute bursts of activity. Alternatively, you can create an Action Plan to organize your project. Start with quick and small tasks first. These "small wins" will give you a sense of achievement, and will make you feel more positive and less overwhelmed by the larger project or goal that you are working towards.

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How to Stop Procrastinating - Overcoming the Habit of Delaying Important Tasks

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Procrastination can damage your potential, your career, and your mood. Use these strategies to overcome it and take back control of your day!

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a little humor

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Battling procrastination

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Students regularly fall prey to procrastination. This often occurs at home while they try to finish assignments or long term papers.

Since most online learning is done entirely at home (or wherever else one chooses to work), it is especially important for e-learners to be prepared to tackle procrastination. Here are 10 tips to beat procrastination:

1. Reward yourself. You know what you like. Whether it is shopping, conversation, baking, etc., promise to reward yourself for getting a certain amount of work done.

2. Set small goals. A work load can often be daunting and prevent students from starting. Take it bit by bit.

3. Set earlier deadlines. Some students do their best work under pressure. If that is your case, consider setting personal, earlier deadlines to encourage you to complete the assignments.

4. Just start. Whether it is reading only an article or two or simply getting a paragraph on paper, once you begin it will be easier to continue, even if it is at a later point.

5. Create accountability. Make a deal with a fellow student that you will each complete a certain amount of work by a pre-designated time. This accountability to a classmate can encourage you to finish.

6. Use a timer. If you allow yourself to take breaks, use a timer on your computer to remind you to stop surfing the web and return to your required activity.

7. Evaluate the distractors. Sometimes an opportunity arises which is too great to refuse. Recognize which distractors are worthwhile and which will only hurt you in the long run.

8. Turn off social media. Silence your phone and log off social media sights so that you will not be tempted by any friendly alerts.

9. Do some easy tasks. Try starting with a quick and easy assignment to get you into the studying mindset.

10. Compartmentalize. If something else important is fighting for your attention, put it off. Don't say that you cannot think about - just that you will think about it soon.

Let us know - how do you overcome procrastination?

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