How to Stop Procrastination Now? Learn 4 Effective Rules For A Balanced Life!

Have you ever dealt with procrastination lately?

Are you struggling to meet your personal and professional deadlines on time?

Are you finding it intricate to deal with the stress, when you knowingly and unknowingly fail to finish your daily tasks? 

If your answer is yes, then this blog will definitely help unlock the secrets to tackle procrastination effectively. Let’s begin!

If you are eager to know why you procrastinate, first accept that we all are sailing in the same boat. It is not something that happens with “you” only. Whether it’s about completing some important chores at home or work, every individual falls prey to the procrastination monster. 

So, what is procrastination? 

As per the Britannica Dictionary, procrastination means “to be slow or late about doing something that should be done.” “Procrastination in any task” literally impacts our ability to manage time effectively and efficiently. It becomes daunting to cope with challenging emotions and pessimistic mood swings induced by specific tasks. The reason behind procrastination is mainly because of boredom, self-doubt, insecurity, anxiety, lack of confidence, and beyond. The question is, how do we deal with it? 

“Procrastination is the thief of time,” a famous quote by Charles Dickens, will surely inspire you to make the most of the time. Without further ado, let’s find out what truly helps in dilly-dally and be more proactive in meeting the deadlines.   

Quick steps to stop procrastinating

• Make your to-do list by writing down the tasks that you want to finish or update your list on applications like Todoist, TickTick, GoogleTasks, MicrosoftToDo, and much more to keep track of your productivity and task management. 
• Prioritize the list of tasks depending on their urgency and importance. 
• Choose the task that needs your immediate attention and time. 
• Set the right goals that help in meeting the timelines. 
• Prefer to work in a distraction-free space that lets you focus and be more productive.

Rule no. 1: Don’t be a perfectionist

When you set your expectations too high for yourself, it will eventually turn the tables or backfire on you. Let’s find out, why?

Perfectionism not only leads to procrastination, but inadvertently causes unproductivity, higher stress levels, and skewed views of reality as well. 

So, how do we overcome being a perfectionist? 

• Set attainable goals 
• Finish tasks in a realistic timeframe. 
• Focus on the good, despite finding faults in your work. Learn, unlearn, and relearn, but never give up. Making mistakes is completely alright. It rather gives you opportunities to learn and grow simultaneously. 
• Do not pressurize yourself. Be kind to yourself, accept your flaws, and still be motivated. Always remember, no one is perfect in this world.

Rule No. 2: Organize your workspace

Is your space disorganized? Are you finding it tough to find your files and documents in one place or are you having a restricted work area? 

Well, there is a solution to everything, all you need to do is – make it clutter-free to be super productive. Before starting any task, it’s important to spend some time decluttering your work area to create the right ambiance for distraction-free work.

Check out a few hacks below to declutter your space.

1. Keep your important files in proper folders, shelves, and desk organizers. 
2. Label your files with colorful sticky markers that let you categorize them.  
3. Use boxes to organize your stationery, chargers, and cables. You can buy organizers on Amazon for keeping your desk spick and span. 
4. Keep your desktop/ laptop tidy and organized by keeping files or other important documents in labeled folders. 

Rule no.3: Invest in “me hour” 

Whether you are a professional, homemaker/new mom/ mom-to-be, or a student, it’s quite essential to invest some time in “you” as life will go at its pace and you will never have time for yourself.

Our lives have become busier than ever, and it’s turning out to be tougher for all of us, to live it our way. We are so engrossed in fulfilling our responsibilities that we neglect our health and well-being due to societal pressures.  

If you find yourself stuck in the same routine then, it’s recommended to take a break from a sedentary lifestyle and spend some quality “me time”. This will certainly help you in rejuvenating yourself and set you free from stress that stops you from reaching your goals. 

Spending “Me time with Yourself” will eventually help you boost your mental & physical health, and allow you to make better decisions.  Investing in “Me time” is crucial for a balanced and fulfilling life.

So what are you waiting for? Go out and indulge in activities that refresh your mind and soul to give you a clear perspective. 

Do what you love doing, it could be anything: from reading a book to going for retail therapy, going on an outing with friends, or spending time alone at your favorite place.

Writing a journal, watching TV, or your preferred series on Netflix to learn a new thing, or may be traveling to a place that’s been on your bucket list for a long time. 

Rule no.4: Limit distractions

In this ever-evolving era, where advanced technology and internet dissemination are surging immensely, staying focused and productive at work is even more challenging.

Whether you are freelancing, or working from the comfort of a home or office, the constant involvement of distractions in our life is making us more distant from accomplishing the tasks. 

If you want to get things done on time, then you will have to keep distractions away by following these rules: 

• Activate “Do not Disturb” on your phone, switch off your TV, and a big no to the internet as more than 90% of people spend time on social networking sites(TikTok, YouTube, Instagram , and Facebook) which is the major cause of unproductivity.  

According to Data Reportal, “An average internet user spends 2 hours and 31 minutes daily on social media.”

• Prioritize your tasks and prefer working in hours that make you more productive. 
• Focus on finishing a desired task in a set time frame. 

Pro tip: Have you ever pondered over following a time management technique that lets you focus on your task? If not, then you must try the Pomodoro technique which is regarded as the time management method developed by Francesco Cirilli in the late 1980s. You might be wondering how this technique works. Am I right? 

Let me tell you in detail how the Pomodoro Technique works: 

1. Choose the task that you are aiming to finish. 
2. Set a twenty-five-minute timer on your phone 
3. Keep working on the task until the timer is up 
4. Take a five-minute break, go for a brief stroll, or have a cup of coffee/tea or anything you love doing, but don’t forget you have only five minutes. 
5. After four pomodoros, opt for a thirty-minute break and repeat the process. 

The Pomodoro technique is quite helpful in regaining your consciousness and enhancing your concentration span. Try and share your views on the same. 

Takeaway

In conclusion, the act of procrastination is reliant on one’s frame of mind. A pessimistic outlook is likely to result in disappointment, whereas an optimistic approach is more conducive to problem-solving. It is worth bearing in mind that every issue has a solution and that nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.

With dogged determination in pursuit of one’s objectives, success is certain to follow.