We all have heard of Procrastination, which is an act based on delaying or postponing any activity, reflecting individuality which makes completing responsibilities a burden, which eventually diminishes efficiency and creates stress & anxiety. On the other hand, when someone has knowledge of its origin and has a set way to deal with this issue, this particular problem is easily surmountable.
Understanding Procrastination
Many people procrastinate because of psychological reasons, including the fear of failure, lack of motivation, or wanting to be perfect. Common intuitions suggest that it is just an issue of time management and laziness. Research supports the idea that emotive and motivational elements play quite a decisive role in the matter.
7 Practical Ways to Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity
1. Divide Tasks into Smaller Portions or Components
The mere thought of working on a massive project might deter workers, in order to combat such situations, one must focus on breaking project tasks into small actionable portions. With this approach, breaking out urges of procrastination becomes easy as the steps become more defined thus making it easier to act on in the first place and in the long run.
2. Set Clear, Achievable Goals
Having an attainable objective makes it easy to work towards accomplishing it. Allocate your time for particular tasks, as this would aid in making significant advancements.
3. Implement a To-Do List
Set aside specific hours for all your tasks and never go off schedule. Focusing techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique which allows you to take short breaks after working for 25 minutes can also greatly increase productivity levels.
4. Remove Distractions
Make sure to identify everything that can be a risk and remove them from your workstation. Mute notifications, declutter your workplace or ask people to stop contacting you while you are working.
5. Have Commitments Toward Your Goals
When you encounter difficulties, expect to have setbacks but do not be too hard on yourself. Take a breath, know that this is something many deal with, and learn to look forward to your small victories instead of thinking of achieving the ‘ultimate’ goal. Instead of making you feel bad, self-compassion is useful in making you feel good and therefore makes you want to keep trying.
6. Reward Small Progress
Accept and give yourself a reward after completing tasks irrespective of it being big or small. Once small successes are recognized, they can help urge the individual towards wanting more which in return helps develop good habits.
7. Ask For Help
If you struggle with procrastination, the best course of action would be to consult family members or friends. Explaining your issues can stimulate new ideas that can help you clear roadblocks efficiently.
If implemented, these goals would not only help in achieving work but also promote a better life quality. Listen, strive for progression not perfection. If you put in a bit more effort, you’d be able to change the means to any ends you have.
