We are probably all familiar with procrastination because we have experienced it several times. For many, it has become a major stumbling block to our personal growth and career success.
You know that feeling when you have important tasks to complete, but instead, you find yourself scrolling through social media or watching a movie, convincing yourself that you can do it later. We often blame this on laziness, but this is not always the case. It sometimes could be caused by fear of failure, lack of motivation, irresponsibility, or feeling overwhelmed. This post provides tips on how you can overcome this enemy and take back charge of your life.
1. Understand Why You Procrastinate
The first step to solving any problem is to understand first why the problem exists, that is, the root cause. It could be that the reason you procrastinate is because you are afraid of starting. Maybe because the task is too difficult or you’re afraid you’ll fail at it. It could also be that you feel unmotivated because the reward seems far off. Identifying why you procrastinate is important.
Psychologists suggest that procrastination often comes from a desire to avoid discomfort. You might choose short-term pleasure, like chatting with friends or watching a TV series, over the effort required to work on something meaningful. Reflect on what holds you back and address it directly.
2. Break Down Tasks into Smaller Steps
As pointed out, one common reason people procrastinate is because a task seems too big or overwhelming. To handle this, you can break down whatever task or goal you have into smaller, manageable tasks.
For instance, if you’re preparing for a promotional exam, instead of focusing on all the workloads you have, create a study schedule that will allow you to study at least a chapter per day. What completing smaller tasks like these does for you is that it creates momentum, making the bigger task seem less intimidating.
3. Use the Power of Deadlines
Setting deadlines for yourself can be another effective way to deal with procrastination. Even if the task doesn’t have an official deadline, create one for yourself. For example, if you need to submit a job application, set a personal deadline for readying the application documents a week earlier than the submission date. If you have an accountability partner, you can have them hold you accountable to this.
4. Eliminate Distractions
We now live in a very noisy world. You don’t need to look too far to find something to distract you. Almost everything around us seems to now be designed to distract us rather than keep us focused. From the incessant notifications on our phones to the noise from our generators.
You need to find ways to create a distraction-free environment for yourself that will support your productivity. Normalize putting your phone on silent, or you can use a time-blocking app like Forest or Focus@Will to keep you on track.
5. Use the Three-Minute Rule
The “three-minute rule” is a simple technique that I learned recently, and it can help you stop procrastinating instantly. This rule simply means that if a task takes less than three minutes to complete, do it immediately instead of postponing it.
For example, dressing your bed immediately you wake up is a task that won’t take you more than three minutes to complete. Instead of postponing this, thereby piling up the number of tasks you have to do later, focus and get it done immediately. You can use this for every other task you have to do that requires less than three minutes for you to complete it.
6. Stay Consistent and Forgive Yourself
Finally, understand this: overcoming procrastination isn’t about being perfect. It’s about staying consistent. And as you work on staying consistent, there will come times when you have occasional slip-ups. During these times, you need to forgive yourself. Remember, you’re human, and habits take time to change.
If you see yourself procrastinating today, focus on getting back on track immediately.
Concluding Thoughts
Overcoming procrastination is not a one-off thing. It is a journey. It’s taken you almost your whole life learning and mastering the art of procrastination; it will take you time to also unlearn it and master the art of not procrastinating. So, be patient with yourself as you do.