Learning how to stop procrastination from occurring can be a very difficult thing. Almost everyone procrastinates in some shape or form. Some people even do it subconsciously. Whether it is something you don’t want to do, or something you just can’t seem to get to, you are not alone. I suffer from this problem a lot. The first step in getting rid of procrastination is acknowledging that you are doing it. There are many different forms of procrastination, and denial of it is very common. Here are some of the most common forms of procrastination and how to deal with them:
“I’ll get to it later”
This is an extremely common one. People tend to put off things they don’t want to do until the very last minute when it absolutely needs to get done. This is the type of procrastination kids have in school when they have a project due for months and don’t start until the night before it’s due. It can also be an employee who has to do something new that they aren’t completely comfortable with and might be nervous. This type of procrastination comes up in all sorts of circumstances. The best way to try and avoid this is to do whatever you hate the most first. Some people reading this right now might be saying to themselves, “this guy is nuts”. I assure you, however, that if you do what you least want too first, it will feel as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. That looming task that has been sitting on your desk for two weeks being done first thing will make the day feel more productive. You won’t have to worry about the “I’ll get to it later” excuse because you’ll already be done. This also allows you more time to get that thing done to the best of your ability without cramming it into a small window when you already run down and tired. Getting rid of this excuse is easier said than done, but doing so will allow you to get that dreaded task done more efficiently in a timely matter, and free up more time for yourself.
Planning things without an actual plan
Writing down things you have to do is great, and a good first step to successfully get things done. This, however, is not enough to ensure you avoid procrastination. A big jumble of things may be overwhelming to look at. Lots of people say all the things they have to do without any real plan of action of how to accomplish said tasks. This can lead to mass confusion. Naturally, people will do what they want to do first, and do what they least want to last. This goes back to my last point that you should do the tasks you least want too first. Not to beat a dead horse with that point, but it is so vital. Creating a plan that is comprehensive and breaks up tasks into units of time to completion, and ranking them on a scale of importance is very helpful. This will allow you to see which of them are most important so that you can focus the majority of your time and resources there rather than on other things that may be less important at the time, or less time consuming.
Time blocking
A great way to deal with procrastination is by time blocking which is a topic we have already covered here on The Pursuit of Happiness Blog. Here is the link to the post that goes deeper into the nitty gritty of time blocking. The basic concept is to schedule out time for yourself to complete certain tasks. When you give yourself an allotted time to do certain things, they will get done in a timely and efficient manner. The best way to time block is to break down your tasks into smaller, bite sized pieces. This makes tasks more digestible, and leads to you getting more done efficiently.
The other infinite ways to procrastinate
There are almost infinite ways you can procrastinate on important things. You can watch TV, scroll social media, go out to extended lunches, etc. All of these things are normal activities, and I am not saying you should never be doing these. What I am getting at is that when you have something pressing that needs to get done and you are sitting there watching TV, you are procrastinating. Acknowledging this and getting what you need to get done is key here. You have to be honest with yourself, and then be open to fixing the problem. This also sets a great habit that you cannot do what you want to do and relax until the issues that need to be resolved are done. Motivation to complete the task at hand stems from this, and leads to a more paced out and controlled day rather than spending time in a frenzied panic when deadlines approach!
Conclusion
When you need something done, get it done. Do not wait until last minute. This is not good for your own sake, as well as the quality of the project. Procrastination is such a common thing for people all the time. There are certain things no one wants to do. They make up all sorts of excuses for themselves to get out of doing said tasks. They even lie to and convince themselves they are too busy to get that dreaded task done. This creates unconscious procrastination and denial which is a horrible habit to have. If you are reading this and find this description similar to your own behavior, don’t panic. You have just acknowledged your procrastination. The next step is to do something about it. Make a lifestyle change and use time blocking as a strategy to cope with dreadful tasks. Get the hard stuff out of the way first so you don’t dread it all day and then attempt to get to it when you are already exhausted. There are many ways to get around procrastination, you just have to choose to do so!