Everyone procrastinates at some point in their lives. While it might be easy to spot for some people, others aren’t so lucky. Want to learn how to identify and deal with procrastination? Find the best Tips to Avoid Procrastination right here.
What is Procrastination?
In simple terms, procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing a task or set of tasks. When you procrastinate, you end up doing things that aren’t really productive. This tends to happen when you should be doing important work or tasks.
Causes
While knowing the definition is good, it’s better to know what the causes are. Once you do, you can work on correcting it or finding ways to prevent it from happening again. Some common causes are listed below.
Fear of Failure
This is one of the most common reasons why people procrastinate. It can act as a defense mechanism that shields you from the possibility of real failure. By not attempting anything, you are guaranteed not to fail.
Perfectionism
If you are a perfectionist, then you might find it difficult to take action unless you know you can do a job and be completely satisfied with it. This becomes a problem, especially when you have to try something new.
Low Energy Levels
Not having much energy often leads to not wanting to do things. This is common if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle. If you want to be active and productive, but lack the physical energy to do so, then you are probably suffering from low energy levels.
Lack of Focus
Having a lack of focus means that you often feel like your life has no direction. If you don’t have any goals set, you will end up using all of your energy on things that aren’t very productive. You may feel as if you are just drifting through life.
Tips to Avoid Procrastination
Know what you should be doing, but simply don’t want to? That’s where procrastination starts. Luckily, there are ways for you to prevent it. Find some simple Tips to Avoid Procrastination listed below.
Get Organised
You can’t do any work if you don’t know what you need to do. Make sure you get a planner or calendar to help you make a note of important dates. This makes it much easier to keep track of all your work.
Set Simple Goals
Part of the reason why we procrastinate is that the task at hand seems too intimidating. It’s a lot easier to get started if you know exactly what you need to do. This is why you should set small goals that are achievable, rather than a big vague plan.
Create a Schedule
Once you have your goals set, create a schedule that will help you complete them. This could be a study timetable for an upcoming exam, or a mind map for an essay you need to write. Breaking your work into small chunks over time makes it more manageable.
Get Rid of Distractions
To avoid getting side-tracked while you’re busy, get rid of anything that could distract you. If you tend to spend a lot of time on social media instead of studying, turn your phone off. Your surroundings can also be distracting, so be sure to choose a quiet and uncluttered area to work.
Use Rewards
Everyone loves being rewarded. Make it count by doing something productive first. It’s easier to pay attention to something if you know there’s something in it for you. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Use small rewards to motivate yourself to complete certain tasks. That way you win twice.
Do the Hard Stuff First
It’s hard to start something if you don’t really want to do it. But by getting the most difficult task done first, anything you do after that seems a lot easier. It will also take a shorter amount of time to do as finishing the hard task can act as a good motivator.
What Effects can Procrastination Have on Your Life?
Procrastination may seem harmless at first. But if prolonged, it can cause real damage to your productivity and life. Take a look at some of the effects procrastination can have if you aren’t careful.
- Loss of precious time
- Missed opportunities
- Lowered self-esteem
- Not meeting goals or deadlines
- Stress and anxiety
- Career setbacks
Ready, Set, Don’t Procrastinate!
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