Effective methods for overcoming procrastination

We’ve all dealt with procrastination at some point, and we know just how paralysing it can feel. We convince ourselves there’s plenty of time, when in reality… not so much.

For many of us, procrastination has almost become a way of life. And it doesn’t just show up at work, it creeps into everything. Going to the gym, running to the supermarket, leaving the house at all, tidying up, making that phone call, or even reaching out to someone to apologise… it can all feel oddly impossible.

In short, procrastination might just be the most effective way of getting absolutely nothing done.

So why do we do it?

Putting it bluntly, we make excuses. It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are or how much self-talk you do; putting things off until the last minute can be the bane of our daily lives. 

You know that feeling of ‘I’m just not in the mood today’? Well, many of us experience this on a day-to-day basis, but I don’t see that presentation writing itself, do you? Lack of motivation or inspiration is just one of the things we sit around waiting to happen, and, well, it just doesn’t happen. 

Before you know it, your deadline is tomorrow, and all of a sudden, waiting to be in the right frame of mind is not such a magical moment after all. 

We’re also pretty good at convincing ourselves that the work won’t take as long to finish as it actually will. So we keep putting it off until the time comes when we actually have to start difficult tasks and you feel like you’ve aged 50 years. 

Have you been assigned a task that you have absolutely no idea how to approach or don’t understand what needs to be done? Don’t worry, just throw it into the imaginary too-hard basket and forget all about it. 

Here, take this simple, unimportant task to help you pass the time and feel better about being useful. Sound familiar? Sometimes, the hardest tasks will be lucky to even get a glance. 

And, for a minority of people, we simply don’t want to do something. Or we don’t care. Or we play the blame game. Chronic procrastination is when we really do need to worry. 

The impact of procrastination

Some people think that the outcome of constant procrastination only affects them alone, but what you need to realise is that actually, procrastination can impact others around you too. 

People rely upon you to get a job done so that they can get on with theirs. If you can’t deliver, there’s growing resentment from others because they depend on you. 

No one wants to be viewed as an incompetent, unreliable sloth. You can apply the same scenario with friends and family. In effect, social relationships are damaged because you’ve become a burden on others and yourself in the long run. 

Procrastination is also known to take its toll on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. When we feel anxious, we lose our ability to focus, and stress builds up. Stress then leads to more stress and we’re stuck in this unhealthy cycle. In the end, we have to fight this backlog of work and stress simultaneously. 

Ways to conquer procrastination

Plan and prioritise
Define your tasks and make a start on the most important, albeit maybe not the most exciting, tasks and move your way down the list to the less important ones. Force yourself to start, get the bigger projects done and dusted, and then relax and enjoy the rest of your day. If it helps, draw three columns on a piece of paper and title them ‘urgent’, ‘important’, and ‘can wait’. This helps you visualise your workload and breaks it down into doable chunks.

Work in time blocks
Spend half an hour focusing on your workload without looking at your phone (it would be better to turn your phone to silent), checking emails (unless it is work-related, and no, emails back and forth from colleagues at work don’t count), or talking to colleagues in the room. Once you’ve accomplished this, at the end of the half an hour, take five minutes to relax, and I guess, if you must, check Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

Battling boredom

Find yourself twiddling your thumbs? Don’t let boredom get the better of you. Ask your boss for more work to keep you challenged and on top of your game. 

Getting enough sleep
This is an obvious one, but we don’t always listen to what we preach; get enough sleep so you won’t lose focus and get the best out of your working day. Feel confident and in control of what you’re doing and be positive about getting it done. 

Reward yourself
Go on, treat yourself. If you can establish a set amount of work and achieve it within a set timeframe, go ahead and get your coffee, gym, or chocolate fix.

Mind over matter
If you’re struggling to make a start on a project, turn your thoughts to celebrating once you’ve finished your task. For example, feel like giving up during a gym session? Imagine yourself tucking into a slab of dark chocolate afterwards (that’s healthier, right?)

Set deadlines
Set yourself a deadline, even if it’s before the actual deadline. Imagine how good you’ll feel knowing you’re well ahead of schedule. Feel accomplished and celebrate your success. 

Embrace fear
Fear is the thief of joy. Instead of pondering about whether or not you can do a job, get out of your comfort zone and shake off mental debates and give yourself a pep talk. By doing this, you’re still ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.

What they said

“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.”
– Christopher Parker

“I swing between procrastination and being really thorough so either way things aren’t getting done quickly.” – Freema Agyeman
“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” – Don Marquis