Understanding how to stop procrastination is one thing, but actually putting those thoughts into action is something else. You see, we are all guilty of suffering from this particular issue at different points in our lives and it can actually become quite crippling for some people. We all feel that something can be delayed until a later time, but the problem is that time never comes and jobs are left half done or not even started. So, how do you stop it from happening?
Make A To Do List.
This might sound as if it is old-fashioned, but often it is the older things that work best. At the start of each day write down a list of everything that you need to do and if there are large jobs, then break it up into smaller parts. As you finish each task, score it off your list because one major cause of procrastinating is thinking that you have so many things to do that you are left feeling daunted by it all. By seeing your progress throughout the day it makes it less likely that you will start to delay tasks and will instead feel better about yourself that you are actually doing something positive.
Begin With The Hardest Things.
We are also often guilty of putting off doing jobs as we feel that they are just too difficult. However, we then do the wrong thing and start with the smallest and easiest jobs with the harder ones being pushed further down the line. What then happens is that we feel we have achieved something and put the hardest jobs off to another day and this is the wrong thing to do. Instead, it gives us a greater sense of satisfaction when we have completed something that is tough and lack of personal satisfaction is a main cause for procrastination in the first place.
Adopt The Two Minute Rule.
So you are looking at having to try to complete a number of tasks, but are struggling to get started, so what do you do? The best answer is to adopt the two minute rule, which basically means are there any tasks that can be done in less than two minutes? If so, then say to yourself that two minutes is nothing in the day and get something done. By the end of it, you will feel that you have been productive and you may very well end up doing other tasks as a direct result.
Set Aside Time And Go Crazy.
People often procrastinate when they think that they have a lot of tasks to do and a long day ahead of them. This is a major issue, but one way around it is to set aside a certain amount of time, say an hour for example, where you can blitz a number of those tasks and then look back at that hour with a sense of satisfaction. It is amazing how much you can achieve in such a short period of time if you put your mind to it.
Conclusion
So, those are just some ideas for how to stop procrastination, but of course it is up to you to take that first step. A small amount of progress at the outset can make the world of a difference and when you get used to seeing progress it stands to reason that you will then complete more tasks every single day. Do not allow this to ruin your life and get those tasks started as you will feel better at the end of the day. For productivity tips visit the Csináld meg blog.