How To Stop Procrastinating and Start Working
In this post, I share some tips on how to stop procrastinating and start working. I provide advice on overcoming laziness and developing good habits.
A common problem faced by most people is their inability to stop procrastinating and start working. I know this feeling all too well, which is why I wanted to write this post in order to help those who face the same issue.
Procrastination is something we’re all familiar with. Most of us tend to put off our chores until the last minute, or simply don’t get around to doing them altogether. While there are several causes behind procrastination, the main reason is due to fear. Specifically, it comes down to a lack of motivation.
Fear of failure, criticism, embarrassment, and/or disappointment, among others, makes us avoid certain tasks and duties, even though they need to be completed. So, what can we do to overcome this fear? Well, here are three tips on how to stop procrastinating and start working.
1 – Get Motivated
The best way to motivate yourself is to remind yourself of your long term goals. In other words, think about the rewards that come with completing specific tasks. These may include financial gains, social status, respect from others, or just general satisfaction. Thus, you should visualize the benefits associated with accomplishing a particular goal, which will help you to achieve it faster.
If you don’t have any clear goals in mind, you can use an app or website to track your progress. By doing so, you will keep motivated and remain on course. Another great idea would be to join a community or group where you can discuss your interests with others. By discussing ideas, you will learn from others’ experiences and mistakes, while avoiding making the same ones.
2 – Set Deadlines
One of the most effective ways to reduce procrastination is to set deadlines for important projects and tasks. Doing so will allow you to complete your project or assignment within a reasonable timeframe, preventing you from putting it off until the last moment.
There are many types of deadlines, including:
– Short Term: These are usually short-term goals, which need to be accomplished before the end of a specific period of time. For example, “I want to play soccer tomorrow” or “I will start learning French next month.”
– Medium Term: These are longer-term goals, which require more planning and preparation. An example of this would be “I want to buy a car in two years,” or “I will save $10,000 by the end of 2022.”
– Long Term: These are the biggest and most challenging goals, which take years or decades to accomplish. Examples of these include “I want to retire by the age of 50,” or “I want to own my dream home by 2030.”
Deadlines also vary depending on the type of project you wish to complete. For instance, a research paper needs to be submitted in advance, whereas an essay doesn’t.
3 – Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself is another technique you can use to motivate yourself and eliminate procrastination. For instance, if you manage to finish a task ahead of schedule, reward yourself with a piece of candy or a movie night. Alternatively, you can choose to do whatever activity you enjoy most.
Remember that rewarding yourself isn’t meant to distract you from completing your tasks. Instead, it serves as an incentive for you to continue moving forward, especially when things get difficult.
Conclusion
While procrastination is natural and normal, it can also lead to numerous complications, such as missed deadlines and poor performance. Thus, it is crucial that we learn how to deal with it, and overcome it as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this post has provided you with some useful information on how to stop procrastinating and start working. Good luck!
This was really helpful! Thank you so much for sharing this info with us. I hope more people read this and become better at finishing their tasks on time.
Thank you so much for writing this post. I’ve been looking for ways to stay motivated and productive, but never thought of giving myself a deadline like you mentioned above. This will definitely help me get through the semester and keep up with my studies.
Hi Lanna, thanks for this great post! My favorite tip is setting deadlines. Setting small, realistic deadlines makes it easier to stick to your commitments and meet your targets.
Great tips. You might want to add that procrastinators often suffer from low self-esteem and lack confidence. They are afraid of failing and losing face, and therefore prefer to avoid work and risk being ridiculed.
Thank you for this informative post. As a new mom, I’m always struggling to find the balance between taking care of my family and maintaining my career. Your tips were incredibly helpful and easy to follow.
I really liked the point about rewarding yourself after meeting your deadlines.