Top Three Tricks for Killing Procrastination

Procrastination is something that can ruin your day, damage your career, and negatively impact your relationships.  

Procrastination is doing low-priority tasks and activities instead of the high-priority ones which so often contribute the most to our long-term success. For some, procrastination becomes a harmful habit that impedes personal and professional development in their life.

If procrastination is so harmful, why do we do it anyway? We tend to put off doing things for the following three reasons: they are unpleasant to do, they are difficult or complex to do, and they involve making tough decisions that can be overwhelming to us.

Often, we laugh about procrastination as though it were an amusing habit and sometimes it can be. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t also incredibly destructive. Imagine it’s 4pm and you have work you desperately need to finish by 5pm but you can’t stop browsing Facebook or making trips to the kitchen for more cups of coffee.

What happens? One option is that you end up going home very late and lose out on time with your family. Another option is that you end up not finishing the work and starting the next day incredibly behind.

Either way, this is a serious problem. We got to do something!

So, what can you do about it? Here are a few tricks that can help you.

Start the Most Enjoyable Task First

One effective way to reduce your proneness to procrastination is to take on the easiest/most enjoyable task first. Our natural inclination is very often to handle the most difficult task first and to that way get it out of the way.

But if you’re struggling with motivation, then this is going to be a big up-hill struggle to get yourself to commit.

Instead, if the first task is something easier and more fun, then you’ll find you can work more easily without being distracted. And once you’ve done that, you should be in a slightly more work-oriented frame of mind to tackle the difficult part.

Coming to tackle that difficult part then it is advised that - if you could figure out how to break it into other smaller, easy, and manageable tasks then you'll find yourself doing the impossible without realizing it. Doing those small easy tasks can create what is known as a ripple effect of another positive small change, followed by another, etc. In other words, small positive changes can lead to other related big changes. Next thing you know, you've generated an unstoppable tidal wave of success!

Make it More Interesting

Procrastination often comes from one simple fact: the job you should be doing is unpleasant and boring. Hence you would rather be doing something else, pleasurable and interesting.

One simple solution is to make said task more enjoyable or interesting. This might mean turning letter stuffing into a game. Or it might mean providing yourself with a little stimulation: I will often write articles while watching videos on silent just to ensure that I have a bit of stimulation.

If you’re writing, then try to make the topic more interesting so that you’ll be less likely to be bored. If you’re bored writing it, then it’s probably not going to be great to read! 

Alternatively, you could try to apply the techniques of accessing the state of flow as a way to avoid procrastination. Click here to check out this post for more details.

Increase Energy

Finally, note that we are much more prone to procrastination when we’re tired. Why? Because will-power requires energy. When you take that energy away, it becomes much easier to be distracted or interested in other things. Give yourself more energy by sleeping better, by eating supplements that boost energy levels and by avoiding stressful events wherever possible.

Another thing you could try to boost your energy is by doing exercises regularly. Exercise almost guarantees that you'll sleep more soundly. It also gives your cells more energy to burn and circulates oxygen in your body. And exercising causes your body to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, stress hormones that in modest amounts can make you feel good and energized. Even a brisk walk is a good start to reap the benefits of exercising.

Procrastination is a habit, so you've to break it by stopping making those excuses, and start doing your tasks!

"We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.

The night is coming, and then no one can work.

But while I am here in the world,

I am the light of the world." 

John 9:4-5, NLT. 

Here's a video that offers advice on overcoming procrastination by applying the knowledge of self-worth theory.