Why are we so prone to putting off our tasks? Let’s try to figure out why “I’ll do it later” has become the slogan of the modern generation.
First of all, each of us is familiar with the problem of procrastination. Most are even able to bravely admit that from time to time we intentionally (or not?) delay making an important decision that can affect our lives. This can be a visit to the dentist, a job waiting to be completed, or just cleaning your house.
Today, we’ll try to see what can help us fight this cunning enemy—procrastination.
Let’s start right away. First of all, order a habit tracker and a set of paint marker pens. You’ll definitely need them to track your success and create mental imagery to boost your performance. This is an important step—you’ll read this article and forget about it five minutes later. But when the ordered items arrive, believe me, you’ll remember that you wanted to combat procrastination. And you will. At least, for a couple of days. ????
1
First and foremost, you need to create a mental habit of getting things done
As a rule, the first steps in anything, be it sports or new responsibilities at work, are always difficult. Nothing will happen until you’re mentally ready to move forward.
When we develop certain habits, we start doing many things automatically, without thinking and without wasting extra energy. Habits, like certain rituals, help fight procrastination. They can help you focus on the work itself, rather than on how to force yourself to do it in the end.
Visualization is a powerful tool for achieving goals. This simple technique is a proven procrastination killer.
While waiting for the ordered items, spend this time to imagine, yes, imagine that your habit tracker is filled with dots—each day you’ve accomplished something you’d planned. Simply look at the picture of the habit tracker you’ve just ordered, remember it, and imagine the ideal result—the habit tracker is full of dots. Have you completed your most pressing tasks in time? Yes! Repeat this simple exercise every day for 5-7 minutes. Train yourself to think: it will always be like this now.
When we develop certain habits, we start doing many things automatically, without thinking and without wasting extra energy. Habits, like certain rituals, help fight procrastination. They can help you focus on the work itself, rather than on how to force yourself to do it in the end.
Visualization is a powerful tool for achieving goals. This simple technique is a proven procrastination killer.
While waiting for the ordered items, spend this time to imagine, yes, imagine that your habit tracker is filled with dots—each day you’ve accomplished something you’d planned. Simply look at the picture of the habit tracker you’ve just ordered, remember it, and imagine the ideal result—the habit tracker is full of dots. Have you completed your most pressing tasks in time? Yes! Repeat this simple exercise every day for 5-7 minutes. Train yourself to think: it will always be like this now.
2
Sort out your tasks and determine whether you really need to complete them
The reason for your procrastination may be lack of a good reason to start acting. A job that you can’t stand, or something else that you’ve disliked since you were a child and that you’ve always wanted to get rid of—these are something that really don’t match your dreams and real goals.
We overload ourselves with thoughts about how many things we need to do. As a result, we can’t move, imagining an endless list of tasks: there are so many of them, and each of them threatens to ruin our lives if not accomplished!
Review the actual list, select really crucial tasks. If they are recurring, put them down in the habit tracker (group them, if necessary) and use the green paint marker pen to mark perfect accomplishment and yellow—if procrastination took place. Red marker point means failure to combat procrastination.
One-time task performance should be tracked as a single category—call it as you like, e. g. Procrastinate No More. Every day, use the green, yellow or red paint marker pen to track your overall success. Remember to repeat the mental exercise and track your progress or your failures (don’t give up!). Put the habit tracker somewhere where you can see it often.
We overload ourselves with thoughts about how many things we need to do. As a result, we can’t move, imagining an endless list of tasks: there are so many of them, and each of them threatens to ruin our lives if not accomplished!
Review the actual list, select really crucial tasks. If they are recurring, put them down in the habit tracker (group them, if necessary) and use the green paint marker pen to mark perfect accomplishment and yellow—if procrastination took place. Red marker point means failure to combat procrastination.
One-time task performance should be tracked as a single category—call it as you like, e. g. Procrastinate No More. Every day, use the green, yellow or red paint marker pen to track your overall success. Remember to repeat the mental exercise and track your progress or your failures (don’t give up!). Put the habit tracker somewhere where you can see it often.
3
Be prepared to leave your comfort zone
Our eternal enemy is our inner voice. If you let it sound, it will subtly convince you that it is all right to put off tasks until later. But we know for sure that the voice is wrong in most cases. Try to distract yourself from it by any means.
Most often, the voice occurs in those moments when we tend to doubt our abilities. Activate positive attitude to combat this. Expect your victory. You’ll become stronger every time you expand your comfort zone successfully. It’s like learning to bike for the first time. The more you do it, the easier and more natural it becomes for you.
Most often, the voice occurs in those moments when we tend to doubt our abilities. Activate positive attitude to combat this. Expect your victory. You’ll become stronger every time you expand your comfort zone successfully. It’s like learning to bike for the first time. The more you do it, the easier and more natural it becomes for you.
4
Learn to focus for a short time
If you want to be successful, learn to manage your time. Start small: train yourself to be focused for the short time periods required to complete a particular task.
If you’re always distracted by something tempting when doing your job, cherish the idea of enjoying it after you’ve completed the task. Think of it as a reward.
If you have a problem with focusing, imagine what will happen if you fail to accomplish your task in time. This method is very effective. It removes all objections of your subconscious mind and helps to look at the situation from a different angle. Don’t forget: this method can only be used in extraordinary situations. Don’t misuse it.
If you’re always distracted by something tempting when doing your job, cherish the idea of enjoying it after you’ve completed the task. Think of it as a reward.
If you have a problem with focusing, imagine what will happen if you fail to accomplish your task in time. This method is very effective. It removes all objections of your subconscious mind and helps to look at the situation from a different angle. Don’t forget: this method can only be used in extraordinary situations. Don’t misuse it.
5
Analyze your emotions
When making a daily plan, make it a rule at the end of the day to sum up what was actually done: what was completed, what was only half completed, and what was not reached at all. Then you can adjust the plan for the next day and achieve better performance. Such an analysis of your own thoughts and feelings will raise the level of self-control and self-realization.
To motivate yourself, imagine that the task assigned to you is not a duty, but a challenge that will take you up another step in your professionalism.
To motivate yourself, imagine that the task assigned to you is not a duty, but a challenge that will take you up another step in your professionalism.
6
Don’t be a perfectionist
In fact, there is absolutely nothing good about it. First, let’s look at the definition:
Perfectionism is a belief that the best result can (or should) be achieved.
It may seem that nothing is wrong. But thinking in this way, we miss our true goal, which is to have our job done. Perfectionism has nothing to do with high quality. No matter what anyone says about it, the answer is the same: time is money. Learn to manage it the same way as an experienced commander manages the army.
Perfectionism is a belief that the best result can (or should) be achieved.
It may seem that nothing is wrong. But thinking in this way, we miss our true goal, which is to have our job done. Perfectionism has nothing to do with high quality. No matter what anyone says about it, the answer is the same: time is money. Learn to manage it the same way as an experienced commander manages the army.
7
Make breaks
Don’t hurry. When overcoming procrastination, it’s important to take short breaks. But the time for rest should be strictly limited.
Set a consistent lunch schedule. You should always find time for lunch breaks, even without getting up from your seat. The feeling of hunger does not make work easier.
If you feel tired:
– drink tea or coffee;
– go for a walk;
– lie down and take a nap
Set a consistent lunch schedule. You should always find time for lunch breaks, even without getting up from your seat. The feeling of hunger does not make work easier.
If you feel tired:
– drink tea or coffee;
– go for a walk;
– lie down and take a nap
8
Deal with your fears
Remember that most of your fears are unfounded. And they are one of the main reasons for procrastination. You may fear that you make a decision and fail to accomplish what you’ve planned.
Don’t reproach yourself for your past failures and do not fear future failures, but focus completely on the present. Focus on your task, perform it, enjoy the result and improve your self-esteem.
Don’t reproach yourself for your past failures and do not fear future failures, but focus completely on the present. Focus on your task, perform it, enjoy the result and improve your self-esteem.
9
Don’t forget to reward yourself
We must not forget about encouragement, because it’s one of the most powerful sources of internal motivation. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate your victories, both big and small. Arrange an extraordinary weekend, treat yourself to a purchase that you have long dreamed of, feel the joy of your triumph!