Procrastination is a habit that we have all picked up over the years, shifting due dates in our minds while thinking about the work but not actually doing the work. We have missed deadlines, doubled up work for weeks when we could have done it in a few days. We begin to multitask and burden ourselves with so much work load we burn out before a day ends. If you really want to break out of the procrastination cycle, then it is time to stop speed reading this post and quiet your mind down and learn.
Looking through Atomic Habits, a book by James Clear, all we need are practical steps to pushing ourselves into productive mode.
- 1.Don’t do it later
2.Put Up a Reminder and Don’t Ignore It
3.Make it Fun
4.Change Your Mindset
Don’t do it later
Pushing your tasks to a different time only means you’ll keep pushing it until deadline turns really read. I know there is a thrill that comes with getting work done while the hour glass runs out of sand but saving time to something other than a waiting for deadline to reach hit should be a priority. Thinking about rest while the work is already done gives a more satisfying feeling at the end of the day. You already know that pushing it aside will only get you stressed out by the end of rush hour, so why not just get the task done immediately?
Put Up a Reminder And Don’t Ignore It
Your alarm rings and then you hit ignore, according to Atomic Habits, we are training our brains to always ignore important triggers, we see deadlines but wait until it’s closing date to get it done, we set goals and ignore them because we want to enjoy the moments and leave work that has become seemingly unimportant to our brains to the unknown place called “later”. You can start by setting new triggers to get you to work, a friend who can push you to do better, build a healthy competition to become your best friend by starting with one simple task at a time.
Make it Fun
If you’re a studio ghibli fan like me, you’d also love the aesthetics that come with the main characters learning in the animations, they have become role models for the LoFi study sounds on YouTube. So, what would you do to make progress making and growth gaining fun for you? Romanticize the idea of what lies ahead when you get that task done, how much time you would have on your hands to get other things done, personal goals and rest. Find the right motivation, add a little more fun into it and get yourself fueled up for the win
Change Your Mindset
Your mind is where all the real work happens, if you are able to relearn and unlearn formed unhealthy habits, you are well on your way to getting things done. Start with little and simple steps like laying your bed when you wake up in the morning, putting your dirty clothes in the right place not that chair in your room, folding your clothes as soon as your get them from the dryer, setting simple tasks and goals for your day will help you form healthy habits quicker than you expect. Training your brain to do what is right and not what is easier to do over work or rest.
Procrastination can also come from perfection, but beyond looking for perfect and spending time to do what does not benefit you at the point should not be a priority on your list. Get things done, get rest done and move procrastination out of your way. Keep pushing to be productive, it will happen over time and not by the swap of a magic wand.