Five Tips to Stop Procrastinating You Never Thought of Trying

Procrastination: it’s a hard thing to overcome, and something that strikes us all at some point. Whether you’re a serial procrastinator or just find yourself lacking the desire to do your tasks every now and again, there are some seriously good tips out there. No need to throw a fit and say “I’ll just pay someone to do my homework!”. Below you will find five pieces of advice aimed at helping you to stop procrastinating and really get a hold of your work. Now’s the time to stand up and say no to procrastination.

1. Create a List (and stick to it)

At the start of the week or day (depending on your preference) create a list of all the tasks you need to complete. Mark them all down clearly, and check them off as you complete them. Laying your plans out in front of you can help you visualize and create a solid plan for the week/day to come. It’s also a great excuse to buy some fun new stationery.

2. Break it Down

If you look at all the stuff you have to do and keep thinking about it, things are going to get overwhelming pretty fast. Take your tasks and break them down into manageable chunks that aren’t going to cause you overwhelming amounts of stress. It’s easier to manage your schedule if you can tick off little pieces at a time. It makes you feel good and helps to boost productivity levels.

3. Create Strict Deadlines

Without deadlines and structure, it’s easy to put things off. Create a strict timetable for yourself complete with deadlines. See these as dates you cannot miss, which they sometimes will be, and prioritize according to them. Structure is a fantastic motivator, and you can even offer yourself rewards at the end of each series of tasks to get yourself really into the process.

4. Change Your Environment

Does your work environment make you feel relaxed and maybe even a little sleepy? Like you can snuggle up and just ignore the stresses of life? If the answer is yes, you need to change the way things are. Organize your desk so that it gives you a sense of formality and structure. Minimal clutter, maybe a little plant, and organized work gear so that you can access everything.

5. It Feels Good

Getting your tasks done makes you feel good, and procrastination makes you feel awful. When the day ends, and we haven’t done the things we are supposed to, we end up wallowing in our sadness and thinking about how we could, and should, have actually done them. It’s easier said than done, but sometimes we just need to think about how good it feels to get it done and then actually do it.

I hope that these little tips and tricks are able to help you become more motivated to get things done and really work towards achieving your daily goals. It’s not always going to be easy, and there are times when you are going to slip and have a bad day, but that’s just part of life. It’s time to stop feeling bad and start motivating yourself to get things done!