How to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done

In today's fast-paced world, anybody who is striving hard to add some value to their life is burdened by work. Most of us are all too familiar with stressing about an important task but putting off doing it till the last minute. Even though it creates unnecessary pressure, it can get almost impossible to stop thinking and doing your job. This is termed procrastination.    

Procrastination is the antidote for productivity. It usually leads to poor work or no work at all. Additionally, you might develop fear regarding a job that you didn't even find that difficult to begin with. It makes you lose time and peace of mind and hence, you need a steadfast solution for it.    

Ways to Stop Procrastination  

Whether your procrastination is rising from your dislike for the job at hand or just an unwillingness to work, it can be eradicated if you just have the right mindset.  

Here are some ways you can start procrastinating and get your work done.  

Just Start  

This is the most fundamental but practical tip - you just need to stop thinking and begin working. Even if you're required to do something that you don't feel you're prepared for or are the best at, getting started can help you find your rhythm. It's often much better to just do okay at something than not do it at all.   

Do not give yourself time ultimatums because it just lengthens the process. In fact, if you're a chronic procrastinator then you should avoid thinking for long altogether before doing anything.

Breakdown Your Work Into Smaller Steps  

If your work seems too intimidating to tackle at first glance, break it down into multiple smaller tasks. This way not only will you have a set path to follow, but you'll also get little bursts of accomplishment each time you finish a step. It will urge you to keep going and not lose your momentum. Task outlines are a great way of planning and segregating work so consider creating one for every big project that comes your way.  

Work in A Productive Environment  

The space you inhabit has a massive impact on your mood and functionality. Sitting in a cluttered and dingy space doesn't give you enough room to think clearly, especially if you're working on something creative or intellectually exhaustive.  

Clean up your workspace, have the equipment you'll need to work close by, and do not work on your bed. Including these tips into your work ethic will help you concentrate on your work better. Read the article here https://www.iamears.com/blog/Do-this-to-increase-Focus-and-Concentration-d67d8ab4f4c10bf2 to learn ways to focus on your job.  

Get a Partner  

When you're by yourself, it's much easier to cheat out of work and just keep thinking about it. Getting a partner who needs some motivation just like you can help in keeping yourself accountable. You can check up on each other's progress and make sure the other doesn't slip into their thoughts. Having a friend supporting you all the way through makes work a lot more fun and stress-free.  

Use Productivity Games and Tools  

A popular way to procrastinate is by scrolling through apps or wasting your time playing video games. You can use these tools to your advantage to stop procrastinating. Numerous productivity apps help you block away from all your social media and force you to concentrate on work. They also have a game-like arrangement that helps you accumulate points and share results with your friends. Such features can motivate you to work interactively.

Have a High Energy Level  

When you're high on energy, you're much more physically and mentally prepared to handle difficult problems. This can help you mitigate your procrastination.  

The following things can help you stay energetic.  

• Adequate Sleep - Being well-rested is essential for you to concentrate on your daily tasks. It instantly increases your productivity and makes sure that you not only do your job but also do it well.  
• Healthy Diet - Drink plenty of water and eat food that contains all the necessary nutrients in desired proportions. It'll make you feel good on the inside and provide you the fuel to work.  
• Exercise - Regular exercise facilitates mobility, flexibility, and an active lifestyle. It'll help you avoid fatigue even after working for long hours and keep you motivated. It also gives you the confidence to get through hurdles and hence you'll be much more secure in your abilities to perform well and procrastinate less.

Get a Schedule  

Having a schedule eliminates your fear of incompletion which sets off panic and doesn't let you get any work done. Draw up a timetable and decide when and how you're going to finish taking care of all your priorities. It helps you cut out the thinking time and instead helps you do more.  

This could include creating study timetables for an upcoming exam or assigning a fixed time slot to your workout each day.  

Minimize Distractions  

When you're trying to avoid work, you might just waste hours away watching YouTube videos or scrolling through social media while simultaneously being worried about your pending work. So take out anything that hinders your concentration on your work. When you have nothing to keep you entertained you're much more likely to give up procrastinating and get moving. It also improves the quality of the work you do drastically.    

Lock yourself up in a quiet room, switch off phone notifications, and play either calming music or none at all. If you live with other people in your house then let them know that you're going to be busy so that they do not disturb you.

Set Deadlines for Yourself  

Usually, procrastinators work the best under pressure as they tend to leave work right until the last moment. Use this to your advantage and set artificial time constraints for yourself. If you're supposed to submit a new assignment by Sunday, then tell yourself that you need to do it by Friday. Even while making important decisions you can set timers for yourself so that your mind doesn't run in circles over the smallest details.

Time Management

Numerous studies show that learning how to manage your time effectively can lower your tendency to procrastinate remarkably. You can use to-do lists and alarms to do so. Predetermine the amount of time you're going to be investing in different things throughout the day so that there is no moment of confusion or space to overthink the upcoming tasks. Read the article here https://www.iamears.com/blog/Time-Management-Strategies-to-Reduce-Stress-1c383cd30b7c298a to find out ways you can manage your time better and avoid stressing about work piling up.  

Use Incentives  

People often pick relaxation over hustle because gratification that can be obtained instantly is much more attractive than being delayed. Thus, to trick your brain into enjoying tedious activities you must reward yourself in small ways. You could eat a piece of dark chocolate after you finish studying a chapter. This will make you look forward to finishing your work as soon as possible and encourage you to do more.

Practice Structured Procrastination

Structured procrastination helps you make the most of your work hours and lowers your burden of work even when you're suffering from thought loops. If you find yourself not being able to work on a certain project wholeheartedly at a given point in time, then instead of wasting your time watching a movie just move onto a smaller task. This can be house chores and other activities that require you to use less brainpower. Hence, even if you're a chronic procrastinator, your productivity wouldn't be hindered and you'll be able to keep taking things off your to-do list.  

Be Kind to Yourself

Extend the same sympathy towards yourself that you show towards your loved ones when they come across a failure. Forgive yourself for your past bouts of procrastination and believe that you can get past this habit. Once you take away fear and guilt out of the equation, it reduces your chances to procrastinate because you've already dealt with the negative emotional impact. Focus on doing your best instead of reaching perfection. This way you won't be as stressed and will genuinely start enjoying your work and studies.  

Sometimes despite how hard we try, we just can't get ourselves to even move a finger. You need to differentiate between usual work stress and serious panic. In case you're experiencing the latter, seek out medical help as soon as possible. Visit iAmEars to sign up for online counseling sessions with our panel of skilled psychiatrists and counselors. They can diagnose your condition and detect if you're going through a serious mental health disorder that's triggering your unwillingness to work. You can receive advice from them accordingly. You can also go on the forum and vent out your thoughts anonymously and interact with other people from the community who are going through the same things as you are. iAmEars pushes your growth and supports your mental well-being.   

Conclusion  

Procrastination is a widespread phenomenon and some days it can just be too difficult to pick yourself up and be productive. Do not feel guilty if you have a hard time sticking to deadlines because of this, instead make a plan of action. Take some time to recognize the reason and triggers behind your procrastination to solve the problem once and for all. The energy you're putting into overthinking about your work when directed towards the actual job can yield unprecedented results for you.    

References

• Procrastination at Work and Time Management Training - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223980309600625