You have an important meeting tomorrow & you have to finish that presentation today anyhow. The deadline is looming right over your head. But, instead of getting on to the task right away, what do you do? You scroll your insta feeds or play some game or chit chat with your co-workers. Simply put, you do not feel like working at all. Procrastination is indeed a thing. And, believe me it is not just you, most of us tend to postpone the tasks at hand.
The only thing that differs is the frequency and intensity of procrastinating the work. With so many distractions surrounding us, focusing on one thing at a time is easier said than done. The result? Missed deadlines, anxiety & even frustration as we end up feeling less productive and not efficient at all.
It is a bad habit that is not easy to get rid of. No matter how hard we try we end up repeating the loop of putting off work until the last minute, feeling anxious & then delivering sub-par results. I was a procrastinator, so I tried a few things which could help me get out of this loop. And here, I am sharing with you a few tricks that worked for me. Although I am still trying to break this habit, these tips have helped me tremendously.
1. Just 5 Minutes
When you are onto a task at work and you get tempted to pick your phone or chat with a colleague, just motivate yourself to give 5 more minutes to that task. Or you can divide your whole task into small tasks of 5 minutes each and work your way up in bits. Start small and you are more likely to complete that work as it has been proven by several studies. So give your work 5 minutes and see the miracle unfold!
2. No Distraction Hour
Too many distractions is indeed the major reason behind procrastination and those unmet deadlines. A pop-up on the phone or email notification can easily make us lose track. Solution? Keep your phone in your bag or somewhere where you can not access it, turn off all the other notifications and put your complete energy into the task at hand. Do it for just one hour and then you can take a break for 15 or 20 minutes before you start again. This tip works quite well for me!
3. Play Your Focus Tracks
Music is meditative for me. So whenever I feel low on energy or less productive at work, I put my earphones on with my favourite tracks. And guess what- my energy levels instantly pick up and my focus improves which in turn betters my productivity, without even trying. With your favorite music in your ears, you forget about all the office chit-chat going on around you and concentrate fully on the task in front of you beating the devil of procrastination quite effectively.
4. One Task At A Time
When we have a lot of things to do, it often gets so overwhelming that we end up doing nothing. ‘One thing at a time’- this should be your mantra as soon as you sit down to work. Yes, there could be some instant urgent tasks thrown your way, write all of them down. Take the most urgent thing first and start another task only when you finish it. This way, you will feel less pressured to get so many things done at the same time and be more productive, as well.
5. Environment Change
Breaking the monotony can also help in getting your work done on time. Seeing the same screen everyday sitting at the same place can actually make any one feel stuck in a rut. Consequently we end up feeling all the more lethargic and thus less productive. So, next time when you feel that your work is going nowhere or you simply do not want to work, try getting out of your cubicle and work somewhere else.
6. Plan Your Tasks In Advance
When we plan our tasks a day in advance, it is always easier to accomplish them. So, what I do is I make a list of the things I need to do as soon as I get to work the night before. As I know exactly how my day is going to look like, I end up wasting very little time. Have one task lined up after another and surprisingly you will stay more focused and productive. But remember, do not make your list too extensive as too many tasks can become overwhelming which will again put you in the procrastination loop.
7. Less Decisions, More Work
What should I eat for lunch today? Should I accept that invitation? Should I reply now or in some time? Do not let too many decisions overpower your thought process. I would again reinforce the same point – when you have a to-do list in hand then these frivolous decisions will take a backseat. A task list in place will not let your focus sway on anything un-necessary.
8. Reward Yourself
Never ever forget to treat yourself after you accomplish a task. It might sound a little immature to some. But there is no better motivation than a reward after a day’s work, how big or small. You can buy yourself some hot chocolate or even pamper yourself with a spa session. Whatever it might be, a reward is definitely a great way to get things going and meeting those deadlines.
I think these tips can help you effectively beat procrastination. Which one are you picking up to get rid of that last minute anxiety of meeting a deadline? Or do you have some mantra of your own? Let me know in the comment section below.