Procrastinate. There are no doubt days whereby we go to classes or work feeling all tired and wanting to do absolutely nothing. Or there are situations whereby we are stuck with a difficult project or task and have no idea how to start. How do we deal with work when all we want to do is procrastinate?
As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. Sure, when we procrastinate, we ignore the fact that work needs to be done and carry on about with other matters and tasks that we are more inclined to complete. However, what happens when work needs to be done?
An occasional procrastination is normal – we all need a break occasionally to get our stuff together before realising that there are important tasks and deadlines to meet and getting them done. However, if you are missing deadlines, completing forgoing the important matters at hand – that is when the situation becomes dire. You might be unknowingly suffering from chronic procrastination.
Here are some strategies that can help you overcome that persistent procrastination issue:
Understanding Why You Want To Procrastinate
Understanding how procrastination affects your daily life is the first step to overcoming it. Could it be affecting your work performance or grades in class? Or could it be that there are certain habits that are causing you to procrastinate? Identifying the causes of your procrastination helps you take targeted actions to tackle them.
Using Time Management Techniques
Using Time Management Techniques such as the time blocking method can help prevent procrastination. Set aside a certain time to tackle those difficult tasks, even though you might absolutely hate to do it – perhaps an hour every morning. Create realistic deadlines for yourself to ensure that you complete those tasks. This can help set a routine work pattern for yourself, ensuring that you do not procrastinate and miss those important deadlines.
Conducive Working Environment
A conducive and productive environment can help reduce procrastination. Choose somewhere that you think you are the most productive – at home, in the library, at a café. Avoid going to areas with a lot of distractions such as loud music or television.
Taking A New Mindset to Work
Changing your perspective towards your tasks and assignments might reduce procrastination. Think about why you decided to take on the project or task and how it might benefit you in the future. While the process of completing it might be arduous, the experience that you gain out of the completing the project or task might ultimately prove to be invaluable.
Have Attainable Goals
One plausible reason for your procrastination could be due to overcommitment to projects and tasks. Unrealistic expectation feeds procrastination. Avoid self-sabotaging from your own unrealistic expectations. If you already have a lot of urgent deadlines on hand, avoid taking too many tasks. Instead, focus on completing your current tasks.
There are a lot of factors that feeds procrastination. Similarly, there are many ways to tackle chronic procrastinations. Simply put, set realistic goals, understand your deadlines, and just get to work!
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