Wondering how you can reduce or altogether stop procrastinating? It may seem to be a Herculean task but doesn’t necessarily have to be. In fact, you can achieve this goal by following some practices and making a few lifestyle changes.
I used to be a master procrastinator. During my school days, there were times when I used to put off doing my homework till the last possible minute. As a kid and even in my teenage years, I had the habit of delaying tasks. And when I look back now, there was really no reason for me to be that way. I was brought up in a household that ran with proper balance of discipline and independence. Yet, procrastinating was my signature move I guess.
Things changed when I went to college. Interestingly, I did not realize that until much later. Now, in my thirties, I am someone who prefers to get my work and chores done and planned well within time. I have come a long, long way from my early days and learned how to effectively stop procrastinating from my life experiences.
Why Do We Procrastinate?
It is said that the tendency to put off things or tasks for “tomorrow” arises mostly from a place of fear. The fear of failure, to be precise. The very idea that we might start to do a much-needed chore and face some difficulties in completing it makes us not begin at all.
Another reason why we love to procrastinate is that we think we have ample time to complete something later. Need to fold the laundry? You can always do it later. The clothes are not going away anywhere.
The final reason? Well, humans are usually hard-coded with a risk-reward mentality. So we subconsciously weigh the benefits of doing a particular job. Tasks that do not seem to have a great “perceived reward” value tend to pile up as a result. For example, not folding the laundry because you will anyway wear the clothes tomorrow. So what’s the point?
Wait, There Could Be Something Else Too
Sometimes, we just procrastinate because we are plain lazy or feel unmotivated. That’s it, no other hidden agenda.
Whatever be the reason, life gets much better once we learn to stop procrastinating. It not only brings a certain order to our days but also increases productivity. While it may seem difficult, one can follow certain practices to procrastinate less consciously. We will discuss 7 such practices in this post.
“My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.”
Charles Dickens
So, How To Stop Procrastinating?
There are many resources on the internet that talk about various ways in which you can reduce or stop procrastinating effectively. However, the 7 points that I elaborate on here are practices which I personally follow. Some of these came to me as a way of lifestyle change. While some others I have included consciously into my everyday life.
I hope you find some inspiration in these ideas and successfully incorporate some (or all) of them in your life!
1. 15-Minutes Rule
Whenever I feel like slacking off or ignoring a chore, I ask myself- “Is this going to take more than 15 minutes?”
If the answer is no then I finish that work before I pause to think. And once I start with a small task, I eventually end up tackling the bigger ones because I get into the flow. The idea here is to just start and then go from there. The more you pause to think, the more work piles up.
2. Think Small
Breaking a big job into smaller chunks makes it less intimidating. This tactic is extremely useful if you want to stop procrastinating.
Tasks that need a limited amount of time not only seem doable but also feel controllable. There are lesser chances of things going awry. As a result, we do not put them off as often as we do with bigger things.
3. Combine Tasks
There are certain times when multitasking is a good idea. Especially when you are stuck with doing something otherwise mindless and boring. For example, listen to a podcast while cleaning. Since the actual task of cleaning gets done in a somewhat autopilot mode, you can pay attention to the podcast simultaneously.
I always listen to audiobooks while cooking. I love reading but do not get enough time to indulge in it. Hence, this arrangement suits me perfectly. While I do like cooking, this habit of combining tasks has made the procedure even more enjoyable to me.
4. Get Organized
The importance of being organized in our daily lives cannot be stressed enough. Having our workspaces tidy and our work for the day laid out makes it a tad bit easier to follow through. While some people find inspiration in chaos, most just find it confusing.
Not all clutter is physical. Mental clutter is equally prohibitive for leading a productive life. Things like to-do lists help immensely in tackling that.
So look around you. Can a little bit of an organization actually motivate you to stop procrastinating?
5. Routines Rule
Routines play a pivotal role in carving an organized lifestyle and stay self-disciplined. While they might sound restrictive, I would highly recommend trying them out. Start with a basic morning or evening routine and go forward from there.
Routines establish habits. And as we discuss in the next point, habits help to boost motivation.
6. Create Conscious Habits
It is said that a habit takes 21 days to form. While I really don’t have much idea about the number of days, once thing that I am sure of is that any habit needs conscious efforts.
Related Read: How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick
So, if you want to reduce the amount of time you spend procrastinating over something, trying to create conscious habits can set you on the right course. Habits can rewire your brain into thinking that completing a particular task is inherently necessary to carry on with your day.
For example, I now believe that my day doesn’t start until I make my bed in the mornings.
7. Incentivize, But Thoughtfully
There must be a reward, right?
One thing about us humans is that we are motivated by incentives. You can use this effectively if you want to reduce or stop procrastinating. Treat yourself to something once in a while for a job well done or even a job done.
Just be careful to not overdo it. Otherwise, you may lose focus on the bigger picture and get hooked on the reward part more than the actual idea of being more productive.
Stop Procrastinating and Reclaim Your Time!
One of the biggest things that the habit of procrastination takes away from us is TIME. Time is one resource that we can never have enough of. Hence, it makes absolute sense that we try to get back some of it.
At the same time, I also want to emphasize the fact that trying to be always productive is probably not a good idea. We aren’t machines after all. Every once in awhile, it becomes necessary to give ourselves a break. It may sound contradictory, but it is the truth.
Ultimately, the key lies in finding the right balance between productivity and procrastination. That is where the magic happens!
Peace.
Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
I use the 15 min trick for so many things…nice to be able to check 4 things as accomplished in an hours worth of work.
https://littleblackdomicile.com/2020/07/13/a-minimal-kitchen-renovation/
That’s so true Laurel.