Do you ever feel like the day is going by, and you’re not getting anything done? Maybe you’re sitting there, browsing social media or playing a video game, and then the next thing you know, it’s 11:00 PM.
Or, Do you feel like you’re always putting things off, then getting frustrated when the deadline approaches?
If this sounds like an all too familiar pattern for you, then procrastination might be your biggest enemy.
This article will help you through some of your most common problems with procrastination, so you can finally start being productive.
Maybe you’re just not good at setting deadlines for yourself to help you stay on track. Or maybe it’s time to try something new to help get more done in less time. In any case, you have to start by changing your mindset.
This article will teach you how to stop procrastinating and be productive. It will also give tips on how to make your day more efficient and help keep your brain focused for longer periods of time.
TL;DR (stop procrastinating to become productive)
Overcome Procrastination In 5 Simple Steps
- 1. Understand Why You Are Doing What You Do
- 2. Identify Your Reasons Behind The Behaviour
- 3. Change How You Think And Act
- 4. Make Changes That Will Help You Achieve Success
- 5. Stick With Them Until They Work
What is procrastination?
Procrastination is the act of postponing or delaying an action to a later time, often without intending to return to the task.
It is typically considered an undesirable behaviour that wastes time, energy, and resources.
Are procrastination and laziness related?
People often think they are being lazy when in fact they are just procrastinating. The difference between the two lies in motivation:
Laziness stems from a lack of interest or desire; procrastination comes from fear.
If someone feels anxious about something he should be doing but isn’t willing to face up to his fear, then he will put off starting until he has no choice.
This person might not feel like working at all, yet he’ll still find himself sitting in front of computer screens for hours without any clear idea of what he wants to achieve.
He may have started out with good intentions, but somewhere along the way, things got worse.
You don’t need to wait till tomorrow to start tackling this problem. Start now!
You only get one chance to make a positive change in your life, so there really is no time like the present. Don’t waste another minute worrying about how much work you have left to do. Instead, focus on getting as far ahead as possible today.
Once you’ve achieved this goal, move onto the next thing. Always keep moving forward towards your goals. Remember, if you stop, you go backwards.
What are the reasons for lack of motivation?
There could be many factors at play when we feel unmotivated:
- Lack of interest in a particular activity or subject;
- Feeling overwhelmed with too much work to do;
- Not feeling confident about our abilities;
- Being afraid of failure;
- Fear of consequences ;
- Having unrealistic expectations about how long something will take us;
- Weighing up whether the effort required to complete a project would be worth the outcome;
- Believing that if we don’t start now then later may never come.
If any of these sound familiar, it might help to think back over experiences where there was either no time pressure or you were able to cope well under stress. What did you learn from those situations?
If this doesn’t give you enough insight, try writing down all the things that make you anxious, fearful, stressed out, etc.
The next thing you need to do is find ways to turn them around, so they become positive motivators.
How many types of procrastinators are there?
According to psychologists, there are two types of procrastinators:
1. Perfectionists who delay tasks because they don’t want to make mistakes; and
2. Imposters who do not feel guilty about their actions but simply put off things until later.
Both groups have similar characteristics. They tend to be highly conscientious people who value orderliness and efficiency in life.
However, while perfectionist procrastinators may try hard to avoid making errors or being late, imposter procrastinators often rationalize their avoidance tactics as acceptable behaviours. They believe that if they wait long enough, everything will work out fine.
Why does procrastination occur?
There are many reasons why people procrastinate. Some of the most common problems people have with procrastination are having too many projects they need to work on, not being able to focus on one task, and feeling overwhelmed by the volume of work.
It can also be difficult to know how they can get started or how they should best tackle their tasks. Procrastination tends to lead to feelings of guilt, frustration, and anxiety.
There are many other possible causes of procrastination: stress, anxiety, boredom, a lack of motivation or interest, and poor time management skills. However, most people who procrastinate do not know why they delay tasks.
In fact, research shows that only about 25% of adults actually understand what triggers them and the rest 75% are not aware of the reasons, so they keep procrastinating.
These procrastinators often end up with incomplete work, missed deadlines, and poor performance. They may lose confidence in themselves as well as others.
This leads them into further avoidance behaviours such as lying about what they’ve done, blaming other people for problems, avoiding responsibility, and putting off future projects.
And, this needs to stop now.
Procrastinating on things that are important to you will definitely make me feel bad later down the line. Easy & Fun things always eat up your time and control your priority.
Normally, procrastinators believe that they aren’t capable of dealing with the situation, so they don’t bother trying.
However, this doesn’t mean that they actually want to fail. Rather than wanting to succeed, they simply prefer to avoid failure.
So, what does this tell us?
- First, it means that procrastination is rooted in self-doubt.
- Second, since most procrastinators say “I’m too scared” rather than “I am incapable,” it suggests that their feelings stem from experiences.
- Third, it shows us that learning to deal with uncertainty is essential to success.
- Fourth, it indicates that we must accept responsibility for ourselves and own up to our mistakes.
- Finally, it tells us that we shouldn’t expect perfection from ourselves.
Procrastination is the enemy of success.
The Two Common Reasons Why People Procrastinate are:
1. You may be avoiding difficult tasks because you think you’ll fail. When we avoid something that might cause us pain, we often assume failure will follow.
But if you look closely at how much effort you’ve invested into a project, then ask yourself whether failing really matters? Maybe you should try tackling those projects anyway!
2. If you fear rejection, you could be putting off the task because you worry others won’t find it meaningful. You just feel like your work isn’t good enough.
Other most common reasons are:
- Anxiety over failure
- Fear of commitment
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Inability to focus
- Perfectionism
- Poor time management skills
- Difficulty prioritizing
Now that we know why procrastination occurs, let’s see how we can address it.
- One approach involves changing our mindsets. For example, we could remind ourselves that nothing bad happens when we delay tasks. There’s always a reason to justify our actions. But if we analyse those excuses carefully, we’ll realize that they’re mostly false.
So, NO MORE EXCUSES.(Promise?)
- Another option would be to adopt a more optimistic attitude. By thinking positively, we can help to boost our confidence levels. If we think positively, then we should be able to handle anything that arises. After all, isn’t optimism supposed to bring happiness?
- Finally, some people choose to distract themselves during times of stress or pressure. Unfortunately, though, distractions often backfire. When we pay attention to something else, we neglect the task at hand. Worse, we end up feeling guilty afterwards because we didn’t complete the assignment properly.
How to stop procrastinating and be productive?
Procrastinators often find themselves putting off important tasks because they think there will always be time to complete them later. This leads to more stress and frustration than if they had simply got their act together earlier.
If you are one of those people who find yourself constantly postponing projects, here are some tips to help you overcome this bad habit:
1) Know Your Reasons Why You Are Procrastinating
It may seem obvious, but knowing why you are procrastinating helps you understand how to stop it. If you know exactly why you are avoiding certain tasks, then you’ll be able to make changes accordingly.
For example, maybe you feel overwhelmed at work, so you avoid starting new assignments. Or perhaps you aren’t sure whether you’ve completed enough work already, so you put off finishing up current ones.
Maybe you haven’t decided yet on the best way forward for your project and choose to postpone making any decisions. Whatever the reason, once you know why you are procrastinating, you can start working towards getting rid of it.
2) Make A Plan To Get Started On The Task Right Now
Once you know why you are trying to avoid completing a particular task, you must decide whether you want to actually finish it today.
Sometimes, you might benefit from having someone else complete the task while you go through the motions. However, sometimes, you might be better served to let others handle these types of responsibilities for you.
Either way, before beginning the task, create a plan to ensure you stay focused throughout the process.
If you follow these two steps, you can overcome any type of procrastination. But, sometimes that’s not enough. You need to
3) Manage Stress Through Meditation And Exercise
When you experience anxiety over something, it makes sense that you’d try to distract yourself from the situation.
But research shows that meditation actually reduces feelings of fear and increases focus. In addition, exercise relieves tension and improves mood.
So, practice mindfulness, engage in yoga or walk briskly outside whenever you begin to feel stressed out. These simple techniques can help you regain control over your life.
4) Set Smaller Goals Instead Of Big Ones
Instead of thinking “I’m going to get all my work done” consider setting smaller goals along the way. As soon as you accomplish each goal, move on to the next.
By breaking big jobs into small pieces, you’ll keep yourself motivated and moving toward completion without worrying too much about what comes after.
5) Reward Yourself When You Reach Milestones.
You don’t have to wait until everything has been accomplished to reward yourself. Start rewarding yourself when you reach milestones along the way, such as reaching a specific number of hours worked per week or meeting other deadlines.
Even though you won’t see immediate results, being rewarded for accomplishing things gives you the motivation to continue pushing onward.
6) Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Someone Else To Help Out With Tasks That Need More Attention Than Others.
If one person isn’t helping with a given assignment, ask another member of your team to lend their assistance. This will allow everyone involved to contribute equally and give you time to enjoy some downtime during the day.
7) Keep Track of what you need & Do It!
Procrastinating just because you think there’s no point doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Create a list of items you still need to tackle and cross them off as they’re finished.
This helps you feel like you’ve made progress rather than simply sitting around waiting for tasks to become completed.
8) Learn How To Handle Rejection Better
Rejections happen every day at work. They come in many forms including criticism, feedback, and constructive suggestions. Unfortunately, most people tend to react negatively when faced with rejection.
Some people may lash out emotionally; others withdraw socially. No matter how you respond to rejections, learn to accept negative feedback constructively. Focus on improving areas where you are weak so that you can grow stronger.
9) Use The Pomodoro Technique For Effective Time Management:
This technique involves working intensely for 25 minutes followed by 5-minute breaks. Each session ends when its timer rings.
Repeat this cycle several times, then rest before starting again. Research suggests that using the Pomodoro technique can improve productivity and decrease stress levels.
10) Take Breaks Away From Your Computer/Phone
Get Up And Move Around A Little Every Hour. Taking frequent short walks throughout the day is not an only good exercise but allows you to clear your head and focus better. Taking regular breaks away from technology also reduces distractions and increases concentration.
11) Make Sure You Have Enough Sleep At Night
Getting enough sleep contributes greatly to our ability to perform well mentally and physically. Lack of proper sleep leads to fatigue and poor performance. Try getting 8 hours of quality sleep each night.
12) Avoid Distractions While Working On Important Projects
Distraction is the enemy of productivity. In order to stay focused, block out any unnecessary noise while completing high priority projects.
Turn down the music if necessary. Put up posters or pictures to cover up distracting walls. Remove objects from sight that might distract you.
Consider wearing headphones or earplugs to avoid listening to background noises.
13) Find Meaningful Work That Makes An Impact On People
When you find something meaningful to do, you’ll be happier and healthier overall. If you love what you’re doing, chances are you’ll make fewer mistakes and finish projects faster. Also, having challenging assignments means you work smarter, not harder.
14) Eat Right And Exercise Regularly
A healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables keeps us energized and sharp. Eating right prevents weight gain and promotes strength. Physical activity boosts energy, improves flexibility, and strengthens muscles.
As mentioned above, there are many ways to tackle procrastination. Some involve changing our attitudes while others require us to learn new skills Whatever method works best for you, remember that taking action will help you overcome procrastination.
How to tell if you are procrastinating or not?
You can tell that you are procrastinating by asking yourself these 7 questions:
- 1) Do you feel guilty after you put off starting your task? If so, then you probably know you are procrastinating.
- 2) Are you avoiding starting your task because you fear failing at it? If so, then chances are you are procrastinating!
- 3) Is your goal to avoid working on your project altogether? Then you might be trying to escape from reality rather than facing up to your responsibilities.
- 4) Have you ever found yourself saying “I’ll start tomorrow”? That means you already know how much trouble you will face once you actually begin working on your project. You may even be planning to quit before you start.
- 5) When you look back over your life, do you see any projects you never finished? The answer here tells you whether you are truly committed to completing your current project.
- 6) How many hours per week does your job take away from other activities? If you spend all day every day working, then you are most likely procrastinating.
- 7) What percentage of your income comes from your job? If you make less money than you deserve, then you are probably procrastinating.
The best way to stop procrastination and laziness is b by learning a few simple techniques. These include:
• Setting goals — Make sure you have clear objectives in mind when tackling tasks. This helps keep things organized and makes them easier to complete.
• Prioritize — Know which tasks need to get done first. Don’t let anything slip through the cracks.
• Set deadlines — Deadlines give us an incentive to move forward with our work. They also motivate us to meet those deadlines.
• Reward Yourself — Once you’ve completed a big assignment, reward yourself with some fun time out. It’s important to enjoy ourselves as we work hard.
• Get Rid Of Distractions — Turn off your phone during meetings and focus only on the surrounding people. Avoid checking email and social media sites throughout the day.
• Take Breaks — We tend to become more productive when we rest between sessions. So don’t try to cram too much into one sitting. Instead, set aside regular breaks where you can relax and recharge.
Overcome Procrastination Boost Productivity
Picture this: you’re lying in bed, just about to drift off into a peaceful slumber. Suddenly, your alarm goes off, and you’re wide awake with no chance of falling back asleep.
You lay there for hours bitching and moaning that it’s too early to get up. You finally get out of bed, which only leaves you feeling more tired than ever.
Falling victim to procrastination can be discouraging, but it doesn’t have to be.
Stop this Now.
Some people believe they need to be in a certain mood or have a free block of time before they can start working. The truth is that the only way to get anything done is to start, no matter how you feel. To motivate yourself and increase productivity, try starting with a quick 15-minute project, then taking a break.
Overcome procrastination boost productivity by setting realistic expectations about what needs to happen next. For example, instead of thinking “I’m going to finish this report today,” think “I am going to write three pages.” By breaking down large assignments into smaller chunks, you’re able to accomplish more without feeling overwhelmed.
If you find yourself getting stuck in a rut, ask yourself why. Maybe you haven’t been doing enough research or talking to experts. Or maybe you just aren’t motivated to change something about your situation. Whatever the reason may be, identify the problem and come up with solutions.
Don’t wait until tomorrow to do something; if you want to improve your life, you must act now!
Follow these 5 steps to overcome procrastination boost productivity
1. Start With Small Tasks
2. Break Down Your Big Projects Into Chunks
3. Find Motivation In Other Areas Of Life
4. Give Up On Perfectionism
5. Learn From Mistakes
What are the main factors for procrastination?
When we procrastinate, there are two main factors involved: fear and avoidance.
- Fear refers to any negative emotions associated with performing certain behaviours. These include anxiety, anger, guilt, shame, embarrassment, frustration, etc.
Fear makes us feel uncomfortable, so we naturally avoid unpleasant situations.
- Avoidance is similar to fear but has a slightly different meaning. Instead of being concerned about whether we will experience pain, we focus on the consequences of acting.
We might decide that we’d rather skip school than study for a test. Or maybe we’d rather watch TV than go out with friends. Avoiding painful outcomes allows us to live life without having to confront difficult decisions.
Both types of avoidance contribute to procrastination. However, while fear tends to cause us to hesitate, avoidance causes us to put off starting projects until later. But remember: no matter what strategy works best for you, make sure you stick with it!
You may be afraid of failure or success. You might feel anxious about a new project or assignment. Or maybe you don’t want to disappoint someone else.
Whatever the reason, if you find yourself avoiding tasks because they seem too difficult, then you need to address this issue head-on. Don’t worry about failing at things — instead, try tackling smaller assignments first.
This way, you’ll have less pressure and won’t feel as overwhelmed. Plus, you’ll learn from each mistake before moving onto bigger challenges.
Final Thoughts
Managing your time well is the most important aspect of achieving success. When you are procrastinating, you are diverting your attention away from your work and onto something else.
If you would like to be more productive in every area of your life, it is important to learn how to stop procrastinating. We have some tips for helping you do just that.
The problem with you when you procrastinate isn’t actually laziness it’s lack of motivation. If you want to change it then you first need to understand why you aren’t motivated enough to start working towards achieving those goals.
Once you identify these reasons, you can begin to address them by making changes to how you think and act. This could mean changing your environment or altering your daily habits.
You can’t allow laziness or procrastination to take over your life. It’s time to put the brakes on these two running habits and get back on track with what you set out to do.
Don’t let yourself get sidetracked by the tasks that will just bring you more stress than anything else. Instead, address what needs to be done right now, and then plan ahead for any other tasks that need to be completed.
If you liked this article on how to stop procrastinating and be productive, then do share it with your friends and family.
