Procrastinating. It’s a killer habit to break and possibly one of the most inefficient ways to live your life. We came up with 10 Ways to Avoid Procrastination that we believe will definitely help you break the habit. Putting something off until the last moment will only stress you out and in some cases it might create more work.
It’s commonly found in high school and college students, however, let’s all be honest here. At one point in our lives we’ve procrastinated. Whether it was getting the car washed or paying a bill there is no one on Earth who has procrastinated at least once. Simply put no one is alone in this bad habit and there are ways to combat it.
10. Chipping Away
In cases that involve research papers or reviewing important information for school or a job, we suggest chipping away at it. Set a date for yourself if there isn’t one already. Divide the content equally over the time that you have and delegate time each day to work on it. This way, you won’t have a big stack of overwhelming work in front of you.
9. Right Away
This is quite possibly one of the hardest ways of avoiding procrastination because though it seems so simple, it’s the hardest to wrap your head around. As soon as you have a task that has to be done, the best way to avoid putting it off of naturally taking it all out at once. So, get it, do it and grab a beer or whatever celebratory beverage you choose.
8. Reward
This might seem a little juvenile but it could be a pretty fun way to prevent procrastination. When you have a task to get done, think up a reward that you will purchase for yourself after getting the job done. However, you must complete the job before you are able to go out and buy whatever it is you’re thinking of rewarding yourself with.
7. Delegation
Now, this might not be the most popular way to avoid procrastination but it does help relieve the stress that might come with it later on. If you find that you keep putting off the task and it’s as simple as say ironing some clothes. Delegate the job to someone else in return for a favor down the line. The caveat with this method is it does not apply to everything and it also doesn’t build any type of motivation. It’s more of a simple fix for a bigger problem.
6. The 5 Minute Rule
This is a fairly sneaky rule that can end up being one of the best ways to get a task done. Set a timer for 5 minutes and begin the task at hand. After the five minutes you can go back to life as normal however, we found that at times people are so caught up in the task that they end up sticking with it long after the time has expired. You’ve officially tricked yourself into completing your task in full or at least partially.
5. The Disruptor
This may be one of the most unorthodox yet useful ways to prevent procrastination. Instead of going around something go right through it. An example of a disruptor would be cleaning out your garage. If you simple back your vehicle out and throw everything on the floor, it’s likely that you won’t be able to walk away from it. In this instance you force yourself to complete the task.
4. Procrastinators Shouldn’t Be Around Other Procrastinators
Avoid surrounding yourself with other procrastinators. They won’t motivate you or make you want to get the job done. They are simply another distraction that is preventing you from getting the job done. You don’t need roadblocks and a lack of ambition when you have to get tasks done.
3. Avoid Leaving Your Working Station
If you can’t get something done you often find yourself replacing the time by wandering off and doing something less useful. Set up a station for yourself where you have everything you need to complete the task and even add some snacks so that you won’t feel the urge to get up and walk into the kitchen. If the task is cleaning the kitchen, well, you’ll have an abundance of snacks.
2. Find Someone to Motivate You
Just as it’s important for you to eliminate fellow procrastinators in your life, it’s also important to add some hardworking and motivational people. When you see others becoming more efficient with their time it makes you want to stop procrastinating and get the job done. Have them be your cheerleader and a stern voice that keeps you on track when you feel like you might be falling behind.
1. Know That Procrastination Gets You Nowhere In life
In life there are those who succeed by getting the job done and those who fall behind because they can’t. Realize that you don’t want to be left behind in life and make the conscious decision to eliminate the procrastinator within. Don’t be a stuck in the mud individual. Instead, power through it and move forward with your life stress free.
