|
7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination - Stop Waiting & Start Living Today
Procrastination can be crippling. If you have been delaying tasks and you're looking for ways to get back on the ball, these 7 tips for getting over procrastination will help you get on your way.
At a glance procrastination can look like a simple infraction in a class course, in the house chores or other seemingly minor areas of your life. But procrastination is a character flaw that can bleed into the most important areas of your life and cripple your overall progress. As creatures of habit, we train ourselves, subconsciously in the ways to react to the events of our life. If you can procrastinate on some minor things, when the opportunity to do greater things arise, you will be inclined to procrastinate and the stakes may be higher then than they are now.
Change Your Thinking
Many people suffer from procrastination. While this is not a medical disorder making a few adjustments to your thinking about your life and the tasks that you are not doing, you can eliminate this habitual trait all together. Overcoming procrastination is an internal struggle that you can address by evaluating the importance of your tasks and placing value in them. If you understand the value of what ever it is that you're procrastinating about then you will be prompted to act. Think about consequences of not following through on your tasks and this element of fear may just be enough to get you to 'do'.Create a Schedule
There is a time for everything. Create a daily schedule for yourself to make sure you address your priorities. Do not be too strict with your schedule; you should leave space for 'down time' so that you do not burn yourself out or set yourself up for failure. Stick to your schedule and this will help you beat procrastination. As sure as the guarantee of moving company insurance, if you fail to plan, you essentially plan to fail, so think ahead and plan accordingly.Eliminate Distractions
Distractions support procrastination. They occupy our minds and time to help us further delay progress on matters of importance. If the television poses a distraction, don’t even turn it on. If you have a must-watch show, then schedule your tasks around this show. You have to be disciplined not to overdue it, which is where your schedule will come into play.Address Items Right Away
It's good to get into the habit of acting on command. When you address tasks as soon as they arise, you will notice that you get more accomplished with less effort because you're not giving yourself time to over think the issue. Before you know it, the task will be behind you and you'll be able to address other items on your to-do list.Create a Productive Environment
Maybe you are procrastinating about writing the book you've always wanted to write. To help you progress on this goal; create an environment that is conducive to writing. You should have a creative space that will help you write or type comfortably. Likewise, artist should have a studio, aspiring woodworkers, need a workshop etc.Focus on the Bigger Picture
Working with the end in mind is a motivational tool that also helps you to stay focused. If you're a visual person, post a few reminders around your home or creative space. If you are a student, your end goal is graduation and likely better job opportunities. Keep these goals in mind to curve your procrastination. It's easy to lose focus and momentum when it comes to a goal that takes a little longer to achieve, but you keep your mind on your desired results, it will fuel your passion and keep you working toward your goals.Practice - 21 Day Rule
Practice makes perfect. If you stay at it, you will eventually make your tasks habitual. As a general rule of thumb, it takes 21 days to instill a new habit and effectively break bad ones. If you're working on moving to a new city after you graduate, stick with it a regular study schedule and before you know it, you'll be calling American Van Lines to relocate you.
|