How to manage procrastination effectively by The Vizier

Procrastination is one of those skills that is easy to pick up and become really good at when we should be working hard. Because it has been affecting my productivity, I have made a list of how I manage procrastination effectively. Read on to find out how I do it.



How to manage procrastination



These are some of the methods that work best for me when it comes to managing procrastination.



-Clear your mind



A distracted mind is unable to focus on any task at hand. Try meditating for 20 minutes before you begin what you have to do.



-Eliminate all forms of distractions



Eliminate all forms of external distractions. By eliminating external distractions, you force yourself to focus on the task at hand.



-Why tomorrow is bad for managing procrastination



Do not give yourself an escape route. What we leave unfinished today will add to the work that tomorrow brings. Finish each day's work today because there is no tomorrow.



-Perceptions and procrastination



Our minds tend to exaggerate the magnitude of a task. Reality is often different from our perception of things. When you begin a task, you will often find that it is not as difficult as imagined. So think less and begin early.



-Create meaning for your task



When we don't know why we have to do something, we are less likely to do it. So it is important for you to understand why you are doing something. Having a meaning for finishing a task will not finish it for you, but it will give you the motivation needed to get it done.



-Breaking it down



Procrastination usually occurs when we feel overwhelmed about what we have to do. To counter this, break down and separate the tasks. Then for each task, break it down into simple steps that are doable. When you tackle you tasks in small bits, it is easier to get things done.



-Prioritize



Prioritizing your tasks gives you much needed clarity. You will see at a glance the relative importance of the things you have to do and how you should allocate your time and energy.



-Set clear definable goals



After prioritizing your tasks, set clear definable goals to accomplish them. This gives you a better idea of what needs doing and by when. Next, schedule your tasks and do them. By defining your goals, it makes it easier for you to get things done.



-Gaining momentum through your to-do list



To manage procrastination effectively, you need to build momentum to overcome the inertia. One way of doing this is through a to-do list. As you work through your to-do list, the satisfaction you gain is usually sufficient to get more things done.



-Finish the easy things first



Begin with the easy things first. Because they are easy to do, you will be able to complete them quickly and move on to the next item. This helps you to gain momentum to finish more things.



-Plunge in and start



Getting started is always the hardest part. So just plunge in and start. Do something, anything. The important thing is to get something done and carry on the momentum from there.



-The power of rewards and incentives



Motivate yourself with rewards and incentives. If you manage to finish something, reward yourself accordingly. Rewards and incentives give us the extra push needed to overcome procrastination.



-Flexible progress



If you find yourself procrastinating over the task at hand, consider doing something else first. Further procrastination only wastes time and energy better used elsewhere. The order in which you get things done isn't important. What is important is to build and keep up your momentum of finishing your tasks.



Parting Thoughts



Procrastination is difficult to manage because we underestimate its accumulative effects and overestimate our ability to handle them. If we cannot eliminate procrastination from our lives entirely, the next best thing is to contain it. This means being aware of our procrastination and taking steps to deal with it. Through constant vigilance, we can manage procrastination effectively and maintain harmony in our lives.



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