People work much more focused and efficiently when they know they have enough time to spare. That’s why planning ahead is better than doing things spontaneously at the last minute.
Every morning, after I have breakfast before work, I open my to-do list and check my incoming messages. Then I distribute tasks on my calendar, allocating the necessary time period for each.
Justin Pot
blogger, journalist
A to-do list is, of course, a good thing, but a calendar is better. It is no coincidence that businessmen, entrepreneurs and other busy people prefer this option. A calendar gives a more accurate idea of time. Looking at a to-do list, you are unlikely to be able to determine at first glance how many days or hours you have allocated to this or that item. With a calendar, everything is clearly visible.
2. Tell others about your intentions
We are all very good at lying to ourselves. We can convince ourselves that we will watch that funny video on YouTube first, and then we will attack work with tripled force. True, the first funny video is followed by a second, then a third, and the work time is irretrievably lost.
This trick doesn’t work with others. So tell your colleagues (or other people you trust) about the things you’ve firmly planned to do today. Ask them to remind you about it and to monitor you: knowing that you’re being watched from the outside is very disciplining. After all, it’s much easier to come up with an excuse in a dialogue with yourself than to hear from others, “You still haven’t done anything?”
3. Do something even more unpleasant
Still can’t get yourself to start on a task you hate? Find some routine activity that you find even less enjoyable and do it for a while. After a few minutes, you’ll start to crave getting the main task done as soon as possible.
Trick number one: take on something that you like to do the least – cleaning, some unimportant errands, etc. In comparison to these really unpleasant tasks, the main task will seem very interesting to you.
Peter Malmgren
developer
Cleaning is a good option for such a “hated activity” because it does not require much mental effort. If you feel that you cannot escape from procrastination, submit to it, but instead of pleasant and meaningless surfing in the browser, arrange documents, wash the kitchen or clean the entire apartment.
First, you’ll be procrastinating in a way that’s not entirely useless. Second, during your routine, your mind will be in a sort of “scattered” state, perfect for brainstorming your main task. Just don’t get too carried away, or you’ll spend the entire day doing nonsense.
4. Promise yourself to figure it out in five minutes
Do you have a grand project in mind, but you can’t force yourself to sit down and somehow start implementing it? There’s a simple trick. Promise yourself to do what you planned in just five minutes.
Sit down, set a timer, and try to work for that entire time without getting distracted. No multitasking . Everyone can do it for five measly minutes without getting distracted, right? But the trick is that once the time is up, you’ll be more inclined to keep working on the task rather than abandon it.
Yes, and if you have things planned that can be done in less than two minutes, do them now. Get into the habit of solving small tasks right away, without putting them off, and they won’t clutter your list and distract you from the really important items.
5. Break the task into smaller parts
Large and complex projects are tempting to put off until later. Small tasks, on the other hand, can be done immediately. Therefore, a good way to finish something large and unpleasant is to break the project into many small tasks.
Even a journey of 1,000 li begins with a single step.
6. Reward yourself
Dog trainers know that a well-timed treat is a good way to reinforce good behavior. Despite their evolutionary differences, humans and dogs have one thing in common: they both value rewards.
Try this: promise yourself something worthwhile before you start an unpleasant task. Finish the work and reward yourself for your work. Simple and effective.
For example, an episode of your favorite TV show or a walk in the fresh air. Reward yourself for what you do, and you will be much easier to get started.
A similar strategy underlies the Pomodoro Technique : you work for 25 minutes without distractions, then reward yourself with a five-minute break.
7. Consult with colleagues
Still haven’t got your act together? Why not ask your colleagues for help and discuss the project with them? The ideas they throw at you will help you stay focused on the task at hand.
Plus, the attention of your coworkers will give you extra motivation. It’s easy to slack off when no one is watching. But if people expect you to do something important, you’ll have an extra incentive to live up to their expectations.
Humans are social creatures, they need each other. There is no shame in asking people around you for ideas on how to start a difficult task. It really works.
8. Finish reading and take action
Reading articles about overcoming procrastination is also a kind of procrastination . So bookmark this post – you’ll come back to it in the evening. And now, finally sort out all the things that are weighing you down. Good luck.