How To Overcome Procrastination

On a Monday morning you are carried away at your desk trying to finish up an assignment you had a whole week to do. Probably cursing why you didn’t start it earlier. What went wrong? You have preferred to do something else until your deadline is hear. Now you have to work extra and with pressure due to limited time, you have to submit the work in time. This is what we call procrastination. Many term it as laziness but I would not put it together that way. Laziness is when you do not do what you are meant to do but just sit and do nothing while procrastination is when you choose to do something else over the present work. If you can relate then, you are not alone. With the fact that many people do this, does not mean it is an admirable trait. Find tips below that will help you combat the habit.

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE A PROCRASTINATOR.

If you are a long time, filled your day with low priority tasks or wait on the right time to do something then you are a putting off a task because of a heavy workload or a genuine reason then you cannot term it as procrastination. If you have kept something on your to do list for procrastinator.

FIND OUT WHY YOU PROCRASTINATE.

You need to understand why you postpone your works in the first place. Is it because it is long and boring? Or is it because you have tons of work ahead? Or is it lack of organization with your tasks? Or are you a perfectionist? Even so, learn to do your work fast and finish it because it will be more tiresome and frustrating when you do it under pressure. Plan also your tasks from the most important to the lesser important and according to how due it is. This will help you do things in time. Another major cause of procrastination is poor decision-making. If you can't decide what to do, you'll likely put off taking action in case you do the wrong thing.

REVERSE THE PROCRASTINATION TRIGGERS

Start thinking differently about your tasks and be positive with working them out so that you do not feel bored to perform them. If a task is ambiguous, come up with steps to help you work it out slowly but with progress rather than procrastinating. You can also seek help from your friends or colleagues to work out a task.

FIND REASONS TO ACCOMPLISH TASKS

It is better to have a goal you are working on than doing just what you are required to do. Evaluating what you want to achieve and working towards it will keep you wanting to do more than you can imagine. Identify and write down reasons for you to do something, remember to focus on what you love and want to achieve.

STAY MOTIVATED

To overcome procrastination, you have to be constantly motivated. If you are passive in class you're probably not "getting into" the course and its topics, and that weakens your motivation.  We don't often want to do things that are boring or frustrating. Prevent that by aiming to really understand what we are doing and focusing.

Changing habits and working on the good ones is often a plus for our lifestyle. Break your tasks to small ones, staying motivated and developing a positive attitude will be my utmost advice to fight a procrastinating habit.