Does this sound like you?
- You are used to waiting until the last minute to complete a task, explaining, “I work best under pressure.”
- You take care of unnecessary and unimportant tasks to avoid taking care of bigger ones.
- You wait to start a task, telling yourself later would be better – you need to research, prepare, and plan before beginning. However, you never actually reach the point where you are ready to begin.
- You mentally – and sometimes actually – create scenarios where it is impossible to complete a task. For example, you want to find a better job, but think about how you have put so much into your current job, and, after all, maybe things will get better.
- You are caught looking at your past. You dwell on past failures or keep analyzing what you have done in your past life and never get as far as completing a current task.
Procrastinators often make an undesirable task so complicated, it becomes almost impossible to complete.
Reluctance to Make a Decision
Seeking Perfection
Self-Doubt
Procrastinators often set themselves up for failure by setting up roadblocks that prevent success.
Suggestions we provide will work for everyone. We have included those deemed most successful by those who have managed to stop procrastinating. Additionally, some of our suggestions come from mental health experts who have worked with procrastinators whose problem was so debilitating they sought professional help.
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Let Others Know You Plan to Complete a Task
Telling others about your plans to complete a task adds accountability. Family, friends, and others will ask how the completion of your task is going whenever they see you. The possibility of embarrassment when you must confess you have not yet begun your task can be a powerful motivator.
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Decide on the Process You Will Use to Stop Procrastinating
Read our list of ways to stop procrastinating and choose whichever you believe will work for you. If you are not successful, try a different one. Sometimes it works to combine more than one method.
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Write Down the Reasons You Procrastinate
Review the section on the personality traits of procrastinators and decide which of those mentioned apply to you. Doing so will help when you map out a personal process for change. You cannot change your behavior unless you understand the reasons behind it. Here are some possible reasons for your procrastination. You may have one, a few, or, if you have been procrastinating for a long time, all of them:
- Poor physical or mental health
- Fear of failure
- Comparing yourself to others
- Insufficient ability to complete a chosen task
- Unrealistic expectations
Methods for Breaking the Procrastination Cycle
Again, not all of these methods work for every individual. You may that one even contributes to your procrastination, for example, making a list is as far as you ever get as you perceive the job as completed once it is listed.
- Prioritize Tasks
Make sure you are concentrating on getting the right things done. Yes, there is always more to do, but do not think about that, instead, decide what you really need to do. Make a list and then number the items in order of importance. Work through your list in numerical order.
- Create a Timeline for Large Tasks
Large tasks often seem impossible to complete, especially for a procrastinator. Break your large task into shorter chunks and then set up a timeline for completion. Set specific dates for completing each chunk of the task.
- Make a To Do List
Design your to-do list to meet your individual needs. Some people do well only listing items usually avoided, and excluding tasks done every day. Others list everything, as they get a feeling of accomplishment by crossing off items. You may like dividing tasks into groups using time, the similarity of tasks, or days of the week.
- Eliminate Opportunities to Procrastinate
Get rid of distractions. Turn off the TV, do not answer the phone, and if you are tempted by Facebook or email updates, turn off the automatic notification options. Some people set up a special place for working on tasks – a designated room, computer, or location – in which they only work on tasks needing completion.
- Break the Task into Manageable Segments
Procrastination frequently occurs when a task seems just too overwhelming to begin. For example, writing a book seems daunting. However, breaking the task down into steps, such as creating an outline, writing the rough draft one chapter at a time, and revision (after the book is completed!), makes the task more manageable.
- Create Rewards and Punishments
Reward yourself at milestones on a long task. Take a break and allow yourself to solve a puzzle or read a chapter of a book after an hour of uninterrupted work. Use larger rewards at the end of completing a large task or at the end of a week of productive work, such as a night out with friends. Establish some consequences if you avoid a task. For example, if you do not exercise three times a week, you cannot shop for new clothing.
- Delegate Some Tasks
Determine if there are parts of a task that you can delegate. Family members are capable of completing many routine tasks, freeing you to complete a larger, more complicated task. See if someone else may be able to accomplish part of the task, i.e. having what you write proofread by someone else instead of doing it yourself.
- Choose a Productive Environment or Workspace for Completing a Task
Examine your work area. Make sure you have the necessary tools to complete your task. Your work area should be well lit, with comfortable seating. However, make sure you are not so comfortable you find yourself relaxing instead of working. It may also be necessary to change the arrangement of your workspace if it becomes less conducive to work after some time.
- Begin the Task
- Be around productive people and pattern your life after the things they do to achieve success, especially in those areas in which you tend to procrastinate.
- Continually clarify your goals. You will never get there if you do not know where you want to go.
- Do not compare yourself or your ability to others. You can always find someone more creative, faster, smarter, or better able to complete whatever task you set for yourself.
- Take action. If you cannot tackle the big task, go for the small ones. Get something done each day – something you can feel good about accomplishing.
- Quit making excuses. You may think you have valid reasons for delaying a task, but learn to be honest with yourself when you procrastinate.
- If necessary, go to the doctor to remove any physical or psychological reason for your procrastination. Poor health can impede the best efforts.
Do not give up. With time and effort, you can overcome the habit of procrastination and lead a happier, healthier, more productive life.
