Everyone procrastinates sometimes. However, if procrastination is a constant problem for you, it’s time to make a few changes in your life.
I sat down yesterday with my Journal. I realized how many things I want to achieve. I also realized what is stopping me. I have the outlines written for at least seven books. I have the same number of online courses. I have bought licences to publish them. These courses need to be made available via Thinkific or other platforms. Below are several tactics you can use to help yourself stop your procrastination habit.
Divide Up the Task
Often, when you procrastinate, you may feel you are facing a massive task. You might think you won’t be able to finish it. Put a stop to this thinking by breaking up the task into more manageable pieces. For example, if you were supposed to clean your basement, resolve to clean one corner each day. Avoid trying to tackle it all at once. This tactic can help make any task more manageable and feel less overwhelming.
Make A Deadline
Now is not the time to tell yourself you will do something “later.” Instead, set a strict timeline for yourself, with sections of your goal having deadlines. This way, you know when you will be completing something. It may also help to have a small reward for yourself along the way. An example of this would be a student needing to write a four-page paper. And for each page the student completes, they would reward themselves with fifteen minutes of phone time.
Stop Your Common Distractions
Usually, when someone procrastinates, it’s for the same reasons each time. You intended to clean the kitchen. But then, you ended up watching a new TV show. Put a stop to this by eliminating common distractions or procrastination tactics for yourself. If the TV is a distraction for you, it’s time to work in another room.
Spend Time with Motivated People
There is nothing quite like hanging out with someone motivated to boost your motivation. Find a friend or colleague whose motivation you admire and resolve to spend more time with them. Or get a friend in on your plans and decide to help keep each other motivated regularly. Either way, it’s much easier to stop procrastinating when you’ve got others around you accomplishing remarkable things!
Discontinuing your procrastination habit can be extremely difficult. However, it can be done just by changing some minor things in your life. Start by dividing up the task, making deadlines, and getting rid of your most common distractions. Then surround yourself with other positive people, and you will soon find you procrastinate tasks less than ever before!
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