There is nothing easier than doing something you want to do, like playing a fun game of sport, or going out with friends. These tasks aren’t even really ‘tasks’, they are fun events that happen during the day. Other tasks we do aren’t as enjoyable, like going to the gym, completing assignments, or writing blog posts. When doing these tasks, it’s easy to talk yourself out of doing it, to wait for a better time. The fact is, a better time may never come, and if it does, the task is often rushed, and causes much more stress than it initially warranted.
This delaying of tasks is called ‘procrastination’. Everyone does it, but not everyone has a sound set of methods to deal with it. In the following text, I will give you my top three ways to deal with procrastination, to ensure that all your work is done on time and with gusto.
The first method I use to combat procrastination, is to remove distractions. As long as there are distractions around, you can easily lose focus during the task, or use the distractions before you even get started on the task. When I sit down to write at my computer, I find the most common distractions to be my phone, as well as internet browsers on my laptop. When you need to do something you don’t want to do, your brain will look for ways to minimise the pain, or just bypass the pain completely. That’s why it's important to completely remove distractions for your workplace. Charge your phone in another room, close your internet tabs, or at least the ones that aren’t essential to getting your work done. Minimising distractions will allow you to have a clear mind when getting stuck in to your work.
The second method to help beat procrastination is to set a time to do your work. Setting a time to get started working can really help you to stay focussed on your task. In particular, I like to set time limits for how long I will spend on a task. Knowing you only need to spend 25 minutes or so on a task, allows your brain to relax and really get into the zone. In fact, once you get started, it’s very easier to go over your set time limit. In order to enforce these time limits I use a pomodoro timer. This timer counts down from 25 minutes, allowing you to set time to focus properly. People who are extremely efficient with their time, split their time up into 25 minute chunks with a 5 minute break at the end, allowing them to get the most out of their time. Using these segments as a way to get work done can be extremely effective.
The third method I use to avoid procrastination is splitting up tasks. Like I mentioned earlier, your brain gets put off when the task to be done is too challenging. Splitting up tasks in to bite sized chunks will make the task seem more achievable, and you will be more likely to get started. For example, instead of sitting down to write an essay, sit down and aim just to write a single paragraph. This seems much easier, and there is a much higher chance you will get started. You can even take this to another level and aim to write a single sentence, or even just one word. Once you have started though, you will be surprised how much you can do. If we combine splitting up tasks, with the pomodoro technique, we have a serious weapon for combating procrastination.
So in summary, there are three main techniques I use to combat procrastination. Combined together, these three techniques will propel your efficiency to the next level. Making sure your office is free from distractions, setting time to smash through your task, and splitting it up so it doesn’t seem as daunting, are all huge ways to change your productivity.
If you have success using these tips, hit me up at [email protected]
Stay strong dudes
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