We all know the feeling. You’re sitting at your desk, staring at a blank Word document with the cursor blinking mockingly at you. You have a looming deadline for a project that’s due tomorrow, but for some reason, you just can’t seem to get started. So you decide to check your email… and then you remember that you need to respond to that text from your friend… and suddenly it’s an hour later and you’ve accomplished nothing. If this sounds familiar, then you’re not alone. Procrastination is a common problem that plagues people of all ages, genders, and walks of life. But why do we do it? And more importantly, how can we overcome it?
There are two types of procrastination: active and passive. Passive procrastination is when you simply can’t be bothered to do something, even though you know it needs to be done. Active procrastination is when you delay doing something because you’re afraid of failing or being judged.
Most of us have a combination of both types of procrastination, but usually one is more dominant than the other.
There are a number of reasons why we might procrastinate, but some of the most common include perfectionism, low self-confidence, and negative thinking. These are all habits that can be changed with a bit of effort and perseverance.
Here are some tips to help you overcome procrastination:
1) Set realistic goals for yourself and break them down into small, manageable steps. When you have a large project looming over your head, it can be overwhelming and tempting to just put it off until later. But if you break the project down into smaller tasks, it will seem much more manageable, and therefore less daunting.
2) Make a list of everything you need to do and set a deadline for each task. Once you have a plan laid out in front of you, it will be easier to get started because you will know exactly what needs to be done and by when. This will also help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed by the scope of the project.
3) Set aside time each day to work on your projects without any distractions. This means no checking your email, no browsing social media, no playing solitaire—just focused work time. Even if it’s just 30 minutes, this dedicated time will help you make progress on your projects without feeling like it’s taking over your life.
4) Find an accountability partner who will check in with you regularly to see how you’re progressing on your goals. Knowing that someone else is counting on you to meet your deadlines will help motivate you to actually get the work done.
5) Give yourself permission to not be perfect. We often procrastinate because we’re afraid that our work won’t be good enough—but the truth is that nothing is ever perfect! So give yourself permission to not be perfect and just get the work done. You can always go back and revise it later if necessary.
6) Reward yourself for completing tasks on time! This could be something as simple as taking a break for 10 minutes after finishing a task or treating yourself to a nice dinner after completing a project ahead of schedule. Whatever works for you, make sure to give yourself some sort of positive reinforcement so that you associate meeting deadlines with something pleasant instead of dreaded drudgery!
7) Finally, don't forget to cut yourself some slack! If you find that despite your best efforts you're still struggling with procrastination, don't beat yourself up about it—just try again tomorrow! Everyone has off days (or weeks), so don't let one setback derail your entire efforts towards overcoming procrastination once and for all!
Procrastination is a common problem that affects people of all ages, genders, and walks of life—but there is hope! By setting realistic goals, breaking them down into small steps, staying focused and organized, holding yourself accountable, and giving yourself permission to not be perfect, you can overcome procrastination once and for all! Just remember to cut yourself some slack every now and then—we're only human after all!
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
