From Procrastination to Productivity- 5 Tips to Stop Procrastinating

Even when you consider yourself to be a productive person, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with tasks or experience burnout. These tips will help you to resist procrastination and continue to thrive while being productive. 

One Thing At A Time 

It’s important when experiencing procrastination to strive to focus on one task at a time. There’s that saying that goes, “The hardest thing to do is start,” and it often seems to be true. Once you start an assignment, you tend to get a burst of creativity or a wave of momentum that carries you through the reset of the work. Think about a time you had to write an essay. Once you figure out a plan for what you’re writing and start, you usually get on a roll. Regardless of whether you get a lot done with the assignment at hand, at least you know you started it. 

Make Tasks Enjoyable 

There are many ways to incorporate fun activities into your day-to-day chores. One way to do it is by rewarding yourself. You could tell yourself that once you’re done with everything you need to do, you can treat yourself to your favorite coffee (or whatever you consider a reward.) Making a game out of a chore is also a creative way to enjoy the task more. For instance, if you’re dreading a simple and mundane everyday task, such as putting away your laundry, you could try to time yourself to see how fast you can go. 

Take Breaks 

Research shows that when you take breaks while working, this can lower your cortisol levels which helps with stress management. This also helps to give your brain or body a break, and feel more prepared for when you start your work again. Breaks can serve to recharge you and help improve your efficiency and focus. A good break from studying can even help with memorization and recalling terms, allowing your brain a chance to absorb the information at hand. 

Use Lists 

Lists are helpful when avoiding procrastination for many reasons. It helps to have the tasks you have to get done listed in front of you, whether it be typed on  a computer, or written and ready to be crossed off. Checking off chores can also help boost your motivation and give you a sense of satisfaction. If you feel as though your thoughts are often disorganized or overwhelm you, writing them down can help you to organize and sort through your assignments for the day. It can also be beneficial to write your tasks down in the order of which you think you should do them, prioritizing the more important jobs first. 

Avoid Distractions 

A huge reason why people struggle with getting things done and being effective in their work is because of interruptions. Your phone can act as a huge distraction, but there are ways to cope with this. For instance, you could set a timer on your phone and tell yourself not to look at it until your task is done. Another way to go about it is by simply putting your phone on Do Not Disturb or setting a timer where you just give yourself one hour to not reach for your phone. You may even find that once the timer goes off, you’ll want to keep on going with your productivity. 

Whether you’ve checked everything off your to-do list or have only done one or two tasks, it’s important to remember you’re trying your best. Be proud of yourself and believe in yourself. Be your own biggest fan- After all, you’re with yourself the rest of your life. And you are so loved, beautiful, smart and deserve all the love, so give it to yourself!

By Virginia Shea