5 Tips to Stop Procrastination

Lots of things stop us being productive in business today. Procrastination can affect our productivity, and it is often self-inflicted. In this article we examine this and present 5 Tips to Stop Procrastination.

Procrastination is Stressful

When we avoid a tough task, it feels good in the moment. But procrastination usually leads to frustration or stress over time. It can result in a rushed job to meet a deadline, It can lead to poor quality work. And that’s not good for our reputation.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Of course, there is a reason for every behaviour so let’s look at some common reasons for procrastination:

• The task is tedious
• Not clear what’s required
• Don’t have all the information
• Not confidence that being able to do the work
• Lack of training on the job required
• Not urgent as the deadline is still far away

 Why Do You Procrastinate?

So, if you want to change, you need to understand your own specific reasons for procrastination. Identify the time you notice it happening. Ask yourself these questions:

1. When do I procrastinate?
2. What pieces of work cause me to procrastinate?
3. Why do I not like these tasks?
4. What tasks don’t cause me to procrastinate?

Tips to Stop Procrastination

Your answers to the above questions will tell you what to change. Here are some general tips to reduce procrastination:

1. Be Clear about The Work: Discuss with a client or colleague. Jot down ideas. Identify first steps to get started.
2. Set an Interim Deadline: If the end date is too far away, set daily or weekly deadlines to provide focus and energy to deliver.
3. Do The First Step: Make a start even if you only complete one or two tasks. That helps you feel productive and motivates you to keep going.
4. Be Accountable: Tell someone what you will do by when, so you feel some pressure to do it.
5. Just Do It: As Nike says, just do it. Stop making excuses and get on with the task.

Reward Yourself

If it helps, use a reward initially to motivate yourself. Once you break the procrastination habit, and start to get things done, you won’t need a reward.

Be Productive

Remove stress from your life by getting things done. Stop procrastinating and watch your performance and business success soar.

For information on our Productivity Training, Coaching or Seminars please contact me here.

Check our Articles section for other productivity and time management tips on Managing Email, Reducing Stress and Saying No

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash