Procrastination is the art of putting everything off until tomorrow. We all procrastinate to some extent, whether in our personal or professional lives. For less important tasks, the impact on our lives is minimal. But when it comes to urgent tasks, it can have detrimental consequences on our daily lives.
And when you look closer, we often procrastinate on the same things.
To remedy this, we must first understand why we procrastinate.
Why do I procrastinate?
1. Because I manage my time poorly.
It can be difficult to estimate the time needed to complete a task or the time remaining before the deadline. This poor estimation leads to a constant sense of urgency that is tiring and sometimes dangerous. Sometimes we miss an action due to lack of time, not lack of skill. We then begin to feel guilty and enter a vicious cycle that forces us to put everything off until tomorrow.
2. Because I want to do too well.
Perfectionism can be a hindrance to productivity, especially when we lack self-confidence. We want to set the bar too high, to prove to ourselves and others that we can do it. As a result, the pressure increases and slows us down. By trying too hard to do well, we end up doing nothing at all.
3. For fear of failure.
Some tasks are anxiety-inducing because we believe we lack the skills, the will, or the ability to complete them. This is often the case for tasks we've never done before or with which we've had a bad experience. In this case, procrastinating allows us to temporarily cancel out the stress. We prefer to do something we know and can do because it's reassuring.
How to stop procrastinating?
1. Start at the beginning.
If procrastination has become a habit, you can't stop it overnight. You have to prepare for it and make an action plan. This starts with prioritizing your tasks. What is the most important task to complete? What is the second most important task? ... and so on. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete, sorting them in order of importance.
2. Break down these tasks.
If a task seems overwhelming, break it down. For example, tidying a very cluttered room. Start in one corner. Then another. Then another... This will help reassure you and give you the satisfaction of a job well done.
3. Reward yourself.
It's important to reward yourself for achieving your goals. Do something you enjoy. This will also be a source of motivation for future goals.
4. Don't commit too hastily.
For each request, you must assess your ability to complete it within a given timeframe. Saying yes to everything is the gateway to procrastination.
5. Avoid distractions.
Social media, text messages, emails, music... There's no shortage of distractions. To avoid getting sucked into any of them, try to distance yourself from them as much as possible. This means turning off your phone or even turning off your Wi-Fi.
6. Be positive.
Commit yourself voluntarily rather than being forced into something. It's always easier to do something you choose rather than something that's imposed on you. You have to figure out what the real benefits of completing a task will be.
7. Define the times of day when you are most productive.
Morning, afternoon, evening—we all have a time of day when we're most productive. Use these times to complete your priority tasks.
8. Allow yourself only one postponement.
As with medical appointments, you only have one wild card. Once, but not twice.
9. Organize your schedule.
Set a time block for each task (processing emails, making appointments, making phone calls, etc.). This will help you keep up the pace and avoid becoming overwhelmed.
10. Alternate between rush and relaxation phases.
If you're only effective in an emergency, set yourself limits that you can't exceed. This will force you to be highly productive for short periods. Then release the pressure and start again.
“One today is worth two tomorrows.”
Francis Quarles
What if you started now?
