Beating Procrastination

Neeraj Tewari

According to Merriam-Webster's definition, procrastination is the

act of postponing tasks that need to be completed, and it gets the

better of everyone at least once in awhile. 

Even the seemingly most productive people have struggled with

putting off a project or series of tasks, but they are also proactive in

their efforts to get their work done.

Everyone procrastinates from

time to time and if you struggle

with procrastination, there are

effective ways to counteract

the behavior and keep yourself

from waiting until the last

minute to complete a project.

The following tips will help you

break the cycle of

procrastination and gain more

control over your work life.

Change Your Way of Thinking

Try not to be harsh with yourself about your previous times of

procrastination as it will likely do you no good moving

forward. It’s best to think positively and feel empowered,

knowing you can and will take steps to correct your behavior.

Find Out Why You're Putting Something Off

The majority of people that

procrastinate don’t do it because

they’re lazy, they just aren’t in the

frame of mind to complete a task

when they’ve set aside time to do so.

When you are scheduled to do

something but don’t want to, think

about why.

Are you unhappy with your job or

feeling overwhelmed? When’s the last

time you took a break from your desk? 

Whatever the case may be, figure out why exactly you don’t

want to work on something and take a few minutes to think

about why you’re trying to keep yourself from doing it.

This mindful approach can actually be the most effective

because you’re forcing yourself to look at your behavior and

think about what is holding you back.

Break Up Big Projects

Large projects can often be

overwhelming. If you have a huge

undertaking, try to break it down

into smaller, more manageable

tasks.

When you start crossing off tasks

from your list, it will give you a

boost of confidence in your ability

to get the job done and a boost of

energy that will revitalize your

efforts. 

Just because you are now taking active steps to stop

procrastination in its tracks, doesn’t mean you’ll never push

aside any projects again. 

Like any other behavior or habit, procrastination takes time

and conscious effort to overcome.