20 ways to beat procrastination.

 

Most of us procrastinate over something in our lifetime and we all have reasons and excuses for not getting tasks completed. 

Usually people procrastinate due to one of three reasons: We either don’t have time, or we don’t like the task at hand, or the task is just too hard. Sometimes we may procrastinate, due to all three reasons.

You will, however, find the most motivated people you know, usually beat procrastination. How do they do it?

Highly motivated people have methods, or tricks if you like, which they use to get themselves up and going. I’ve listed some of those methods for you, to help you get motivated and beat procrastination. In doing this, you’ll free up some valuable time and hopefully this free time will enable you get on top of some of the things you need to do, or just rest, if that's what you need. 

Here are 20 ways to beat procrastination and get the job done:

1. Delegate! If you really don’t want to do it, delegate the task to someone else. This might mean paying someone, but sometimes it’s worth it.

2. Set a timer and get up, without thinking about it and do the task you’re procrastinating over. It’s the thinking about it, in which you can talk yourself out of it.

3. Create a hand gesture that you can link to making a move – I’ve heard of people who click their thumb and middle finger, or clap their hands together, one strong clap and that’s the cue to take action. If you can get into a habit of doing something similar, this method might work for you.

4. Turn off the TV, as soon as your show finishes. Better yet, don’t even turn the TV on, until you’ve done what you need to do.

5. Set your alarm in the morning and do not hit the snooze button.

6. Put your alarm on the other side of the room. This makes you actually get up and out of bed, to turn it off.

7. Trick yourself into doing only 5 minutes of the job at hand. Most of us don’t mind doing 5 minutes of something. When the 5 minutes is up, tell yourself you’ll do just 5 more minutes. Continue until you finish. Also, sometimes once you make that start, you then continue automatically, even after the first 5 minutes are up. Sometimes once you start, that’s all you need to get yourself going.

8. Have a partner to which you are accountable. Tell them what you’re going to do and give them permission to ensure you follow through. Don’t be cranky at them, when they do give you a push. 

9. Let your family, or colleagues know that you are planning a ‘say no’ day. This way they are aware that if they ask you to do something on the planned day, you will say ‘no’ because you are focusing on a task you wish to get done. Family and colleagues are less likely to ask anything of you on this day and are less offended when you do actually say no to them, because they’re expecting it.

10. Facebook and emails can easily distract you, therefor do not turn on Facebook, or open any emails, until you’ve completed your task. There’s nothing so urgent with either of these, that can’t wait. If it’s urgent, you’ll get a phone call. 

11. Having said that, switch your phone to voice message and screen the calls that come in. You then won’t be distracted and can answer the urgent calls only. You’ll find there won’t be that many of those. Any other phone calls, you can ring the caller back later.

12. Get the hardest task done and out of the way first, then do the easy tasks. You’ll accomplish a lot more when the hardest task is done. I don’t know why, but that seems to be the way it works. 

13. Break the task into smaller chunks, or bite sized pieces. This way you will at least make a start. Once started, it’s easier to continue. If you haven’t time to do the whole job, at least you can get a little bit done each day.

14. Instead of talking yourself out of the necessary task, talk yourself into it. You’ll be surprised how effective this method is. 

15. Write a list and tick each item off, as you do it. You’ll get a great sense of satisfaction doing this and it will encourage you to continue through the list, until everything is done.

16. As you go through your day, every half hour or so, succinctly jot down what you’ve done. This might seem like excessive work; however, it does keep you on track and focused and you’ll get more done throughout the day. When you can see what you’ve accomplished, you’re more likely to continue with the task you’ve been putting off.

17. Write a list of things to do in order of importance. Put the task you’re procrastinating on the list in its order of priority. Do your list in order and don’t skip past any item on the list. 

18. Put on your favourite music. It’s much easier to face a job you don’t like, when listening to music.

19. Make it fun. Gather your friends for a working bee, dance if you have to. If it’s fun, the task will be easier to get through.

20. There’s something to be said for the story of The Little Train That Could, who said, “I think I can, I think I can.” If it’s a particularly difficult task you could repeat this phrase, as you make a start on the task and watch what happens. I know the outcome of this will surprise you. 

Whether it’s exercising, cleaning, paperwork; whatever it is that you’re putting off doing, you’ll find it much easier once you know the tricks to being motivated and beating procrastination. 

This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means and I’m sure if you look around, you’ll find other areas you can save time once you put your mind to it. Nor is it a list that you have to follow each and every point mentioned, but if you adopt a few of these strategies, I’m sure you’ll find yourself achieving greater results, throughout your busy day and climbing higher mountains than ever before.