At some point, we all have put off tasks or goals for the next day, week, or even month. This process of delaying is known as procrastination, and do not feel guilty about it, we all have been there.
Procrastination is commonly mistaken with laziness and is rather associated with people who might have a faulty sense of time, but this is not the case. Unlike laziness where you do not have the willingness to do anything at all, procrastination is when you choose to do something else instead of that task you know you should be doing, not that you do not want to do anything altogether.
While in procrastination you try to avoid the short-term stress of an uninteresting task, you will eventually face risk on the long run when you are approaching a deadline or a submission date without having finished what you needed to.
So, to overcome procrastination, first you have to identify why you procrastinate
In general, people procrastinate tasks that feel:
• Boring
• Difficult
• Unstructured and organized
• Ambiguous
How to avoid procrastination
1. Keep a To-Do List
One of the main reasons behind procrastination is being unorganized. Keeping a to-do list of the tasks you need to finish will save you from feeling overwhelmed. Also, keep your tasks arranged according to their priority.
2. Keep Your Calendar And Schedule In Check
Postponing tasks until you have time will not help you and you’ll end up feeling pressured, especially if you have a deadline. Set time-bound goals and assign a certain timeslot in your day to work on that task alone. Monitoring the progress along the way will give you a sense of accomplishment and will motivate you to carry on.
3. Break Down Tasks Into More Manageable Segments
When we are assigned to a big project or task we may feel intimidate or overwhelmed which hinders our ability to accomplish it. This is why it is important to plan your project strategically, and break it down into steps. Once you’ve broke it down into steps, do not worry yourself with how you’ll manage the next until you finalize the one you are working on
4. Minimize Distractions
When you are working on your task, avoid checking your mail or jumping into another tasks in between. Stay focused on your objective and keep anything else for later.
5. Drop The Perfectionism
As surprising as it may sound, perfectionists are often procrastinators. The all-or-nothing mentality holds you back from accomplishing anything. People with perfectionistic tendency procrastinate because they either wait for the perfect timing, or proceed only when they see that things are getting perfect. Instead of focusing your mind on excellence and perfectionism, focus on getting the job done.
Comments
Leave a Comment