Being a victim of procrastinating can be daunting, but don’t turn yourself into one. Procrastination stems from various reasons, but it is not laziness. Brains often believe that tasks will become easier to solve in the future. However, if this happens consistently, it can be detrimental.
Here are some simple ways to stop procrastinating:
1) Question your reasons for putting it off
“What happens if I do it?”
It is fascinating how people have a way to keep procrastinating, even knowing the negative outcomes. Instead of inducing fear, visualize the success and rewards you will be getting if you start doing it now. Even though the progress is little, it is still progress, and it means you are one step closer to what you have desired.
“Why am I avoiding this task?”
Identify the reasons why you are avoiding the tasks. Recognize the answers that come up. You may find answers that you might have: fears of failing, discomfort with the task, uncertainty about how to proceed, a lack of motivation, or finding the task boring. If you are afraid of failing, set achievable goals, learn more. If you feel discomfort, find easier ways to do it, change workspace or create a purpose for motivation. If you don’t know how to proceed, find out what you don’t understand and find ways to do it. If motivation is preventing you, find reasons and a bigger purpose to complete the task. Then, if the task seems boring, make it interesting or try different ways to do it. Also, it is important to recognize what your body is telling you. If you have noticed that you have been working relentlessly, it might be a sign to take a break.
“Do I scroll the phone too much?”
This question might remind you of what your mom says: “You are scrolling your phone too much.” Her concern is valid. The habit of scrolling social media and watching movies actually does not equal rest. Analyze your screen time and start taking rest seriously. Taking a proper rest could look like this: stepping away from smartphones, taking a deep breath, taking a short nap, exercising, or going for a walk.
2) The key is to just start doing it with this one rule
Overthinking what might happen will only prevent you from initiating it. Doing it immediately will just eliminate your attention from any other tasks that you think you should be doing. The most effective way is by doing it for 3 minutes. This rule has also been made into a book for people who have shorter attention spans. It is guaranteed that you will not stop for only three minutes, but longer than that. You might even end up finishing the task. That is the point of it, and it is one of the best strategies to prevent procrastination.
Is it possible to consistently avoid procrastination?
It is actually not possible, but with discipline, it can be. If you have set a routine to reach the goal, it is better for you to stick with it and use the method above to prevent you from delaying it. Don’t forget to include in the schedule an appropriate amount of rest and take breaks regularly so that you won’t burn out. Remember, rest is very important for everyone. In fact, better performance comes from getting quality sleep and rest.
Conclusions
Procrastination is a common challenge, but it can be overcome. By questioning the reasons behind your procrastination and using the “3-minute rule” to just start doing the task, you can rewire your brain and break the cycle of putting things off. Identify the root causes of your procrastination, whether it’s fear, discomfort, or a lack of motivation. Address these issues and make the tasks more manageable and engaging. Remember, it’s not possible to completely eliminate procrastination, but with discipline and the right strategies, you can minimize it and become more productive.
