Do you want to stop procrastinating?
Whether you’re a student, work a full-time job, or have any circumstances, chances are that you’ve procrastinated something at some point. And it can be frustrating. But don’t worry! You don’t have to be a victim of procrastination anymore. Here are my 8 favorite ways to overcome procrastination. Try this first step!
Use a planner.
Procrastination is often the result of not having a plan for your day. So if you are distracted by seemingly more important things, it might be because you have no idea what to do with all that time. A digital or planner template can help you set your priorities by working on essential tasks first for the day, which will result in excellent time management.
But the solution is simple and effective—make a plan for your day and follow through.
So, how do you make a good plan? First, write down your daily tasks—even if they’re as simple as “wake up” or “eat breakfast.” Once you’ve started doing this regularly, you’ll be able to look back at past days and see what worked well and what didn’t; that way, when you start planning your next day, you’ll be able to incorporate those lessons into your plans.
Then once you’ve got some experience, try making more extensive plans for yourself—for example: maybe tomorrow I’ll finish writing my article about overcoming procrastination!
Stop waiting for inspiration.
Waiting for inspiration is a surefire way to procrastinate. You might think, “I don’t know what to write about,” or “I’m not in the mood.” But most of the time, these feelings aren’t true; you need to get moving so your brain can start working independently.
It’s easy to blame yourself when something doesn’t go well. If you’re making excuses or waiting around looking for inspiration, you’re missing out on all the things that could be going right instead!
If you are stuck and unable to start writing, don’t jump on social media; instead, try setting the alarm every hour until noon. Setting the alarm will allow your mind to accept responsibility for progress over perfectionism—and it’ll help keep those fingers moving!
Focus on the most challenging task first.
One of the best ways to overcome procrastination is to get an accountability partner. Your partner can be a spouse or friend. You want to choose someone who is going through the same thing as you and has similar goals. Having someone who understands what it feels like when a task seems overwhelming and can help support you in getting started on it will make all the difference in how much progress you make.
To find such a person:
Find someone whose personality type matches yours (for example, introvert/extrovert). The last thing anyone needs is for the new accountability partner to constantly encourage them to go out when they want to stay home!
Look for someone with similar goals or aspirations as your own. For example, suppose both people aren’t working toward something big together (like starting a business). In that case, there won’t be much motivation for either party involved—and they may even feel they should slack off more than usual because there isn’t enough urgency behind their actions!
Get an accountability partner.
Having someone else to talk to about your goals can be a powerful motivator. Consider getting an accountability partner—a friend, coworker, or family member dedicated to helping you stay on track with your plans.
Your partner can help keep you motivated by:
- Seeing their progress and hearing their success stories first-hand
- Encouraging them when they’re down or tempted by procrastination
- Giving feedback on how they can improve the way they work towards their goals
- The right person will know when it’s time for them to push harder and when it’s time for them to take a break from working towards their goal—all while providing moral support at crucial moments in the process.
Give yourself one reward every day.
Reward yourself daily, but don’t use food as a reward.
It’s easy to see why we might want to reward ourselves with food after completing a task or making progress on something important. Food is an easy way to give yourself an instant boost of energy and confidence! But if you’re already struggling with weight, this can be a slippery slope toward overeating and binge eating.
Not only that—it’s also not good for your health in the long run (yes, even though delicious). So instead of rewarding yourself with unhealthy treats every time you get something done, treat yourself to something else: maybe it’s spending time with friends or watching your favorite Netflix show (or both!).
Another option is shopping! I’ll admit that I’m guilty of rewarding myself by shopping online—especially when I need new clothes because my current wardrobe has become too small or outdated since starting college last year.
Set a block of time for each task.
Setting time for each task is the simplest way to overcome procrastination. Of course, you can set a larger block of time for something that takes longer, like cooking dinner or even doing laundry. But if it’s a minor task that doesn’t take much time, it’s best to set aside just 15 minutes to tackle one task at a time.
Scheduling time will help you manage your energy and motivation levels better throughout the day–and make sure they don’t dip too low when it comes time to sit down and do some work!
Don’t worry about how much work you get done by putting off all the other tasks until later. Sometimes, having an idea brewing in your mind while doing something else helps it come together more clearly when you finally go back later in another session that day or week!
Break down big projects into smaller tasks.
Try breaking down big projects into smaller tasks.
For example, if you have a big project due in a few weeks, it might help to break it down into several stages:
Break the project into phases (i.e., if you’re writing an essay, break down each section into its step). Once all of your sections are broken down, set deadlines for each step and stick to them—but don’t set so many deadlines that they become unrealistic!
Take time for yourself to avoid burnout.
“Take a break, get some fresh air, and do something you enjoy. This will help you combat procrastination.
Taking time for yourself—even if it’s just going for a walk. It can give your brain space to think about other things besides work. It also benefits both your physical and mental health.
Get moving! Physical activity boosts serotonin levels in the brain and makes us happier. Exercise also releases endorphins into our bloodstream, making us feel good throughout the day. These benefits can make it easier to stay on task when trying to avoid procrastination later.
Procrastinating can be addressed by taking small steps and being kind to yourself. Life can wait a few minutes while you practice a little self-care.
Procrastination is a problem that can be addressed in multiple ways. However, one of the most important things to remember when addressing procrastination is to be kind and compassionate toward yourself.
Everyone procrastinates, even successful people with many accomplishments under their belts; this doesn’t mean they’re lazy or stupid.
It means they have their challenges, like you and me. And it’s up to us as individuals to figure out what works best for us. Rather than following someone else’s advice blindly (even if that person happens to be me).
Don’t be hard on yourself.
If you find yourself, the solution is not to beat yourself up. Avoiding procrastination is hard work. So, take small steps and try to be kind to yourself. You might find yourself more likely to fall into its trap again. If you keep trying new things and working on yourself, you will beat procrastination! We hope these 8 ways to overcome procrastination helps you become more productive in the future.
