Overcome Procrastination

The roadmap to achieving your goals!

Procrastination affects all of us at some point in our lives - whether you are a student, a professional or just someone?trying to get things done, we have all been there. In today's discussion, we are going to work together?on strategies that will crush procrastination and boost your productivity.

What, exactly, is procrastination?

Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something like a decision or an action. It is often confused with laziness. E.g., Someone who wants to work on a project may delay doing it because they do not know where to start, even though they are not lazy. It is a major issue among students. Procrastination is like having a to-do list but continuously putting things off. So, why do we do it?

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Let's look at it psychologically.

It often stems from fear, anxiety or lack of motivation. We avoid tasks that make us uncomfortable or anxious. We fear that we may fail. It is often less emotionally challenging to put it off rather than risk failure.

Striving for perfection can lead to procrastination because you are worried that you won't get it right. It can also be due to the difficulty of the task or poor planning. It could also be due to a lack of self-discipline and time management skills.

Modern life is full of so many distractions that can divert a person's attention. There are so many factors that can cause procrastination but here is the thing, recognizing this is the first step towards overcoming it.

Powerful strategies to overcome procrastination: ?

1. Start with setting clear and specific goals which can create a sense of urgency and direction. Instead of saying that "I will make the script for the next month soon"; I will say "I will work on it for 2 hours today and complete it by 4 PM today".
2. Try to break big tasks into smaller manageable steps. It is much easier to tackle a series of smaller tasks which makes it less overwhelming, rather than facing one big project. It makes the workload less intimidating.
3. Prioritization is key, identify your most important tasks and tackle them first. This not only boosts your productivity but also reduces the chances of procrastination of crucial tasks.
4. Use time management techniques: You can beat procrastination by time management techniques like Pomodoro technique, which can be a game changer. For e.g., Work intensely for a set time, say 25 minutes and then take a short break and repeat the same process again. This helps you stay focused and prevents burnout.
5. Eliminate distractions: Let's talk about distractions. Identify your main distractions (Hello, social media!) and take steps to eliminate or even minimize them during work hours. It helps you stay on track.
6. Find accountability: Finding accountability is like having a cheer squad for your goals. Share your tasks with a friend, colleague or use accountability apps to stay on track. When someone's got your back, it is harder to hit the snooze button on productivity.
7. Give yourself a pep talk for motivation: Self talk is a great way to calm yourself down and remain focused. Tell yourself that you can (and will do it). You can do it by talking aloud or writing it down or just talking it out in your head.
8. Reward yourself: Promise yourself a reward when it is done. Motivate yourself with something you love. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small it might be. Positive reinforcement can create a habit of productivity. Never forget to reward yourself.
9. Do not punish yourself for procrastinating: The more stressed out you are, the harder it will be to get your work done. Do not get angry with yourself. Guilt and regret are draining emotions.
10. Stay persistent: Overcoming procrastination is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself and stay persistent. It is okay to slip up, what matters is that you keep pushing forward. If you can't multitask on something, it is okay. Do not be hard on yourself. It is easy to focus on one goal at a time.

Do not let the fear of failure hinder your task. It is important to remember that confronting the task is often the best way to overcome the fear associated with it and make progress. As they say, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".?

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So, there you have it, our top strategies to stop procrastinating.

Remember, we all struggle from it from time to time but with the right mindset and these techniques, you can overcome it and achieve?your goals.

Check out my video on "Overcome Procrastination":