Countless individuals procrastinate. They struggle to break this habit, but it can be done. What can a person do to conquer procrastination once and for all?
Start Small
Experts recommend starting small to overcome procrastination. Establish the five-minute rule and work on a task for that period. Without expectations, there is no pressure to finish a task beyond just working for 5 minutes straight. Use nootropics for procrastination and get started. Once people begin, they typically continue past the five minutes without realizing it. They build momentum, and it pushes them to keep moving forward.
Small Tasks First
In addition to starting small, pick those tasks that can be accomplished quickly. Each task completed will motivate the person to keep moving forward. When tasks take two minutes or less to finish, do them right away. They won’t accumulate and will give the person quick wins they can reflect on. The to-do list will diminish in size and provide a tangible reminder of how far the person has come.
Time Blocking
Time blocking helps many people who procrastinate regularly. They write tasks into their schedule so they know what they need to do next. There is no question about what they should do at any given time. The person making the list must be realistic about how much they can get done in each specified time slot. They feel a sense of urgency because they know once that period ends, they must move on to the next task, and they are less likely to become distracted.
Finish Tasks
it’s easy to walk away from a task when it is almost done and say it will be completed tomorrow. Doing so is a mistake because it costs a person more time and energy to return and start it the next day. Furthermore, the task will linger in the back of the mind and create mental clutter and stress. Finishing the task will relieve this stress and free up much-needed mental space.
Remove Distractions
Workers often claim they get more done at home than in the office. One reason is that there may be fewer distractions at home. People won’t stop by to chat for a few minutes, and there won’t be noises outside the office door that can break one’s focus. To prevent distractions, turn off the phone, shut the door, and silence notifications on the computer. In addition, close all browser tabs that are not currently being used. These steps will create an area where a person can focus and finish the tasks in less time.
Rewards
Knowing there is a reward when a task is completed is an excellent motivator for many people. This reward should be personally meaningful to provide the desired incentive. When a reward system is used consistently, the person will positively associate good things with task completion. Their brain will be rewired to see work as something rewarding.
When a task is tedious or difficult, get it done. Putting it off won’t make it more interesting or less complicated. Finish it to move on to more enjoyable things. When a person jumps into a task they would rather avoid, they won’t have time to devise excuses for putting it off. It will be done and out of the way before they know it.
Focus on progress rather than perfection. Many people put off tasks because they worry they cannot do them correctly. Individuals must turn off negative self-talk and quit serving as their harshest critic. Men and women who do so find they are more productive and personally grow.
