Procrastination is one of those things. Everybody does it. No one talks about it. And in retrospect, the unfinished tasks pile up. We have 23 tips to escape procrastination.
Let's talk frankly! What are you always avoiding? Your tax return? Your homework for university? Your dentist appointment? The new sports program? Or before Sugar from your diet to delete?
True to the motto: "Tomorrow is still a day" and "What you can do today, you can do the day after tomorrow". The good news: You are not alone! The bad news: It's absolutely counterproductive!
Because putting off our To Dos makes us feel guilty, we slip into the Procrastination distracted. That means we distract ourselves. Hanging out in front of Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Netflix (never start with Modern Family!).
After episode 20, your conscience remembers that you still have to work urgently. But now it's already much too late. And actually, you can't work when the sun is shining outside.
Sound familiar? Welcome to the vicious cycle of procrastination. The problem is: No one is going to do your To Dos for you. So you better start simple. We've collected 23 tips to help you finally get into action.
No more procrastination: 23 tips for more productivity
1. see through yourself!
First of all, you should take a good look at yourself. What exactly are you avoiding? Why are you putting these things off? How are you distracting yourself? Look behind your procrastination. This way you will notice more quickly in the future when you slip into this pattern.
2. give yourself rest
Take a closer look at your work environment. Do you have enough space for yourself? Are you often distracted by others? Or is the radio or television on at the same time? All these factors distract us.
That's why you should choose your work environment wisely. Turn off your cell phone and put it aside. Eliminate all other background noise. Find a quiet corner in the office or at home where you can be undisturbed.
3. remove your mess
Not only noises or others distract us. But also clutter in our workspace. For this reason, you should clean up beforehand. So you can concentrate much better. And no, this does not mean spring cleaning. That also counts as procrastination! ;)
4. procrastination adé: start productive in the morning
Doing nasty things in the morning has one big advantage. We are too tired to really notice what is happening. Consequently, we can't come up with any excuses, which is why we unfortunately can't do sports again today.
So whatever it is you don't want to do. Lace up your running shoes first thing in the morning or sit down to do that pesky tax return. You'll be much more motivated afterwards! Also check here: 9 things successful women do before 9 o'clock.
5. write down your to dos
Make an overview of the things you need to do. It helps to write down your To Dos. That way you can make sure you don't forget anything. And you can also concentrate much better on one thing without constantly tearing yourself away à la: "Oh, I still have to...".
6. set milestones
Sometimes we don't start because the new project simply overwhelms us. It is too much, too extensive, too complex. We don't know where to start and prefer not to begin at all. Sound familiar?
Instead of despairing, simply divide the mammoth task into sensible sections. This way, the amount of work will seem much smaller. You'll also be able to better determine your time schedule. And celebrate successes much more often. Without wanting to put things off.
7. set your priorities
Take a look at your to-do list. Do you have "clean out the closet" next to "write a paper" and "get a gift"? Organize your to-dos according to priorities. That way, you avoid getting bogged down with less important things.
8. say goodbye to perfectionism
Sometimes we put things off because we are secretly afraid of falling short of (our own) expectations. Not tackling projects or tasks at all seems better than giving everything and still failing.
You should ask yourself the following questions: Who has these demands on me? What happens if I make a mistake? And yes, it is yourself. And no, the earth still keeps spinning. Everything is all right. You are all right. So loosen up :)
9. no postponing: set yourself realistic goals
Having big visions and goals is totally great. But if you set your goals too high, they can paralyze you and you start to put off your to-dos. Therefore, be realistic. Start with attainable goals. And keep your dreams as a vision.
10. do not take on too much
One reason we procrastinate so much is because of the mass of our To Do's. Take one project at a time. That way, you can focus on one thing at a time without getting caught up in the next project.
Do you want to lose weight? Then dietary changes and sports are on the plan for you. Start slowly to change your habits. First cut out sugar and go to the gym 2 times a week. Once you have a routine, you can take the next step.
11. stop controlling
Have you ever put something off on purpose to spite someone? Did you leave the household to let your boyfriend see what it's like? Did he care? Surely not. Did it drive you crazy? I'm sure it did. So, don't! :D
12. do not distract - do not postpone!
Working on a laptop is always a balancing act, of course. You need the Internet to get your pesky task done. And at the same time, any tidbits of procrastination lurk just a mouse click away.
Instead of losing yourself in cat videos on Facebook or similar things, here comes the solution! Just temporarily block the pages that you are particularly susceptible to. How to do this with your browser, you can find out very quickly on Google. :)
13. have a plan
Procrastination is much harder when you have a clear plan in mind. Be aware of what you want to accomplish and by when. And what comes next. This way you can concentrate much better. And approach your goal step by step.
14. do not get lost in the organization
I'm sure I'm not the only one who can spend all day organizing without actually becoming productive. It's an absolutely horrible habit that only serves to wrap itself around unpleasant To Do's.
What helps against this? Not to be so petty with the planning. It's good to have an idea. But it's enough if the tasks are prioritized, the milestones are set and you know roughly what to expect today. The rest should remain flexible :)
15. put your cell phone aside
One of the biggest distractions is undoubtedly our cell phone. Besides numerous apps, there are calls, Whatsapp, Messenger and so on. For this reason, mute your phone and put it out of sight.
16. divide your time wisely
You spend your afternoon at your laptop. But instead of finishing your paper, your mind is constantly elsewhere. The result: you waste your time and don't get anything done. Which is why you're understandably frustrated.
Discipline is not super sexy. But it is necessary. Therefore, you should strictly and meticulously divide your time. Work on your task for 45 minutes, take a break for 15 minutes. You can't concentrate longer than that anyway. You'll be amazed at how quickly you make progress.
17. learn to focus
One of the biggest difficulties is to concentrate properly. It helps to do mindfulness training. Or meditating for a few minutes every day. What does it bring? Look here: Meditate daily: This is what really happens in your brain.
18. take sufficient breaks
This may sound paradoxical. But as you've already read, our brain can't concentrate fully for much longer than 45 minutes. That's why you should definitely take breaks in between.
It's best to set your breaks as rewards. So when you're working or studying, it's best to turn off your head. By the way, the same goes for every milestone you reach and every task you finish :)
19. get support
No matter what you're nibbling on. You don't have to go through it alone. Find someone who supports you, helps you or motivates you. This can be study groups at university or joint meetings for running. It's more fun in pairs anyway!
20. not afraid of success
There are several reasons for not tackling things. One of them may be that you're afraid of succeeding. Because of course - leaving aside the day-to-day stuff - there can be big changes ahead with various projects.
For example, with a successful application. Or the end of your studies. These moments may be intimidating. But you'll see that it's worth taking these paths. And to master the challenges. :)
21. imagine it is already done
You can't put anything off forever anyway. What helps to tackle your tasks faster is to imagine the goal. Close your eyes for a moment. And then imagine how much better you feel now that you've done everything. Well, motivated? :)
22. draw a line
Maybe you know this: You sit in front of your tasks all day with little motivation. You cancel appointments because you're so busy (at least in theory).
And you end your day knowing all the cat videos, being socially isolated and not having done anything again. That's not working at all! Set yourself a deadline. And take time every day to have fun. What do you think about 6pm? :)
23. loosen up
Nothing is as bad as it seems. It doesn't matter if you're stuck on a project. Or have a really unproductive day. It happens. Don't stress yourself out and relax. Better days will come again. For sure! :)
Our conclusion:
Everyone is familiar with putting things off and procrastinating for far too long. This inevitably leads to frustration and stress. And it doesn't really make us more productive. That's why we've given you 23 tips on how you can avoid putting things off and finally get to work on them.
Eliminate distractions, set clear and realistic intermediate steps and goals. And allocate your time sensibly and wisely. This way you will be much more productive and won't slip into the vicious circle of procrastination so quickly. We wish you happy work :)
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