HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
Want to know how to stop procrastination? Perfect! Here are 7 cool and unusual cures for procrastination…(so you can start DOING today!)
Hey my friend,
Here’s the magic question – how to stop procrastination?
If you tend to procrastinate, I want you to know that you are not alone.
Everyone in this world has procrastinated at one point or another.
However, some of us are better at dealing with this procrastination than others and not getting sucked into it.
The people that get things done are more effective at minimizing procrastination, which is a good goal to have.
You honestly don’t have to remain a master at procrastination.
You can choose to become a master of productivity instead.
Now I know: getting things done can be challenging. It’s much more challenging than not getting things done (aka. DOING NOTHING), in the short (term.
However, procrastination has a steep price that you will have to pay for later.
It creates a lot of stress.
Yes, even while you’re avoiding a task, chances are you’re still stressed and anxious. You’ll also tend to be way more stressed at the end when your deadline approaches.
So if you want to nip procrastination in the bud, try these unusual strategies to deal with it:
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
1 – Put your procrastination to good use.
Take the time to think about what you do when you procrastinate.
You might perform one task in lieu of performing another activity that you REALLY should be doing.
If that’s the case create a new list that includes a couple of reasonable, but awful, tasks that you can add to your to-do list.
If you need to procrastinate on anything, do it with those non-essential tasks so you can focus instead on performing the tasks you really need to accomplish.
- It might sound silly, but this technique is highly regarded by many productivity professionals. You might be willing to do one unpleasant task if you can avoid something even more unpleasant.
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
2 – Go to a new location.
This was my secret tip when I was started to get restless working from home.
I choose to change the scenery (go to the library) and you can do the same. Head to the library, park, or coffee shop.
Alternatively, if you want to stay home, consider moving to a different area of the house or if you are at work, find a vacant office at your workplace.
A change of scenery can often minimize the tendency to procrastinate.
Part of your brain associates procrastination with your usual hangouts, like your desk, which is why it is great to change the scenery.
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
3 – Use a timer and a very short time frame.
Getting started is often the most challenging part and once you have started everything is so much easier after that.
It’s surprising how easy it is to complete a task versus taking the first step.
So, set a timer for two minutes and see how much you can get done.
Is two minutes too much?
That’s okay, try one minute first instead.
- Have a list of baby steps clearly written out and begin on the first one. When you have a list, you won’t waste any mental energy trying to figure out what to do first.
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
4 – Try working at an unusual time.
Get out of bed at 4 AM and see how much you can get done before your normal wakeup time.
Try staying up late and see what happens.
It’s sometimes good to shake up your routine so you’ll be less likely to engage in your old habits.
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
5 – Focus on enhancing your mood.
How you feel sometimes has an impact on how likely you are to do the work.
People tend to procrastinate when they feel bad, when the thought of performing the task makes you feel even worse.
This is where you need to step in and address the real issue at hand.
What would make you feel better?
Work on enhancing your mood and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate.
- Think happy, positive thoughts, eat a healthy snack, or listen to music that lightens your mood. Once you feel better, get started on your task will be easier and won’t require that you overthink it.
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
6 – Give your friend money.
This is a fun trick to keep up your sleeve.
You may have enlisted the assistance of a friend in the past, but did you do it in the most effective way?
Instead of telling your friend that you’ll give her $50 if you don’t complete your to-do list by Friday, give her the money upfront.
YES, GIVE HER THE MONEY UPFRONT!
That way you only get your money back if you’re successful.
It changes the dynamic significantly (trust me, you will be less likely to procrastinate this way).
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATION
7 – Give yourself a big reward.
I truly believe that it is important to reward ourselves when we do things well.
Make completing a future task as positive and desirable as possible.
Instead of viewing a task as painful, begin to view it as something exciting, something worth striving for.
Promise yourself a day off, a meal at your favorite restaurant, or a massage (or really anything you would LOVE to have!).
All in all, procrastination occurs when not performing a task is perceived as less miserable than performing the task.
Let me repeat that for you.
YOU NOT PERFORMING THE TASK
IS A BETTER | NICER OPTION
THAN YOU PERFORMING THE TASK
But in the end procrastination often comes back to bite us in the butt.
Procrastination ultimately creates stress, and can even put your work, schooling, and relationships at risk if you are avoiding things that are critical to get done.
When you procrastinate too much, in the long run you fail to live up to the reasonable expectations of others and of yourself.
Your opinion of yourself matters too.
So, do your best to deal with procrastination by tackling it head on.
I’ve offered you quite a few interesting strategies here so start today.
You’ll soon discover that you can beat procrastination and get things done – no tears required.
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Before You Go…
– See my EVERYTHING PAGE and grab a free gift > HERE
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– Or for biz owners, listen to LIFE COACH FOR BIZ MOMS Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
With a degree in psychology, Frances Vidakovic is a certified life coach, course creator and host of the Inspiring Life Podcast. Her superpower is transforming dreamers into doers with simple, kick-up-the-butt strategies.
