7 Tips That Will Eliminate Procrastination Today

Procrastination is the habit of delaying or postponing tasks by doing other things that are easier or more pleasurable, thus, putting off the more difficult or feared tasks and doing them at a later time. Procrastination is counterproductive. Likewise, it is to willingly delay an important action or plan even though expecting to be worse off because of the delay.

Whatever business you are in, you’re familiar with procrastination. We all have moments spent in procrastination. We’ve squandered away our precious time by putting off important tasks we should be doing until till it’s too late. Then, we panic and wish we did the task earlier. Procrastinators need self-motivation. Here are 7 steps to help you overcome procrastination with great success.

1. Write down your goals.

Write down your plans and goals, and then force yourself to do them. This advice usually relates to long-term goals, but this also applies to short-term goals. On a piece of paper, write down, “By _____(date), I will have finished _____. I will  do it by completing _____(needed tasks/courses/jobs)” This will give you the thrill of crossing the task off your list.

2. Break tasks into little steps.

One of the reasons why we procrastinate is that subconsciously, we find the task very overwhelming. So, break down your work into little parts, and then focus on one small task at the time. If you still delay on the tasks after breaking them down, then break them down even further. Soon, your tasks will become so simple, and you’ll enjoy crossing off small tasks on your list.

3. Create a detailed timeline with deadlines for each task.

Having just one deadline for the whole project invites procrastination. You will get the impression that you still have time. So, you keep pushing tasks back ‘til it’s too late. This is why every business creates a detailed timeline for their projects so that they can track their team’s progress. To catch some self-motivation, break down your project, then create a detailed timeline with definite deadlines for each task. This way, you are bound to finish every task by a specific date.

Eliminate procrastination:

4. Get rid of distractions around you.

If you’re procrastinating a little too much, that’s maybe because you entertain distractions. If you’re in the business of becoming productive and if you’re serious about it, you will get rid of every distraction. Disable email notifications while doing an important task. Refrain from checking your social media accounts while working. Get rid of the distractions around you. The few minutes you spend entertaining them can actually kill your productivity.

5. Hang out with people who take action.

What if you get to spend just 10 minutes talking to Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg? I’m sure you’ll be more inspired to act on your goals. As much as you need some self-motivation, you also need some inspiration from people who take action. The people we hang out with influence our actions and behaviors. But of course, spending time with Mark Zuckerberg is probably not possible. But apply the principle. Identify the people who inspire you – most likely the hard-working and go-getters – and hang out with those people more often.

6. Tell others about your goals.

Tell all your family, friends, or colleagues about your projects or goals. Whenever you see them, they will ask you about the status of your projects. Announce that you’re working on your portfolio or that you’re starting a blog, etc. This is a great way to keep yourself accountable to your plans.

7. Reflect on how great you’ll feel when you’ve finished a task. 

Studies show that reaching a goal releases chemicals in the brain that gives us pleasure. If you don’t feel like doing it, push yourself and meditate on the wonderful feeling of finishing a task. Once you experience pleasure after pleasure from reaching your goals, you might just be surprised at how productive you’ve been. You’ll soon enjoy every accomplishment.