Effective allocation of time will help maximize self-realization, public recognition and use of all your potential.
When we are busy with many small day-to-day tasks, in reality we often just put off doing something else. We avoid working on large projects or important tasks for which we are paid a salary. We avoid what could be our greatest achievement. Here are ten ways to stop procrastinating.
1. Stop doing unnecessary things
Think of the 80:20 rule, where 20% of the effort is 80% of the result. Is it really necessary to do what you are currently working on? What will be the consequences if you don't? Perhaps you should stop doing this and tackle what really matters.
2. Think positively
Procrastination is often associated with a negative perception of the world, when you say to yourself phrases like: "I have to …", "I need to …", "I have to finish …" Change the modality of your internal dialogue, and this will help you to stop procrastinating. Tell yourself: "I want …", "I choose …" Redirect your energy from postponing things to creating.
3. Take the first step
By starting to do something right now, you will get rid of anxiety and stress. As soon as you have important things to do, set aside time in your schedule to at least start solving these tasks or ask for advice if necessary. You will have a chance to deal with these matters as soon as possible.
4. Ask for help
If the reason for procrastination is lack of clarity, sometimes you just need to ask for help. A mentor, leader, coach, or other trusted person can help you understand a situation, suggest where to start, or suggest steps to complete a project.
5. Break the problem into parts
Divide a large project into a series of smaller, doable tasks. Big projects don't seem so big when you think of them as a series of small steps. Make sure you add these smaller tasks to your calendar.
6. Follow the rule of "25 minutes"
To reduce the temptation to delay a task, each active phase of a project should take no more than 25 minutes. This rule is based on the "tomato method" - a time management technique proposed by Francesco Chirillo in the late 1980s. The technique involves breaking up a task into 25-minute periods, the end of which is tracked by a timer. Each such period is followed by a short break. After four periods of work, a longer break follows. This technique is especially effective when you have a lot of work or when you need to do something you don't feel like doing. When we know that we will work on a task for 25 minutes, and as soon as the timer rings, we can distract ourselves, it becomes psychologically easier to do the work.
7. Reward yourself
Celebrate the completion of parts of the project and reward yourself for completing the project on time. It could be a cup of coffee, time to check out Facebook or Twitter, or some more meaningful reward. Whatever it is, the encouragement will create a positive attitude and motivate you to complete the project.
8. Set deadlines and try to keep them
If you have not set a deadline for the completion of the project, agree on a date or set it yourself and add it to the calendar. Announce your deadlines because it will oblige you to meet them. It is much more likely that you will start postponing work when there is no deadline. A classic example of such a situation is the drafting of a will. No one plans a date for their death, although we all understand that this is inevitable. Most people in every possible way postpone all matters related to the preparation for this event. It is still very important to draw up a will, especially if you have children.
9. Eliminate distractions
You must create a positive work environment for yourself that is conducive to being productive. Eliminate all possible distractions. If you are having a hard time working on a project or task, distractions are just excuses for you to stop working. The internet, chatting colleagues, phone calls, pop-up email notifications all contribute to putting you off work. Eliminate all distractions for at least 25 minutes and get to work.
10. Make a commitment
One of the best ways to always get things done on time is to have a business partner with whom you are committed. In his book Still Procrastinating, Joseph Ferrari tells the story of an economics professor at Harvard who paid his co-authors $ 500 each time he failed to finish a promised article or project on time. A financial incentive will undoubtedly help to cope with procrastination, although there is no need to go that far. It is usually enough that someone is watching how you fulfill your obligations.
