Five Tips to Beat Procrastination

Why do it today if you can do it tomorrow? Thinking like that is the beginning of the end when it comes to getting anything done — work or home chores. The key to being more productive at work is to stop procrastinating before it gets a foothold in your thinking process.

Why do you procrastinate? There are several reasons and some might surprise you. Fear of failure is one reason. No one wants to be make mistakes but they are a part of life and they do happen to everyone.

Fear of success is also a reason why you might procrastinate. Here is the rationale: If you succeed you will be expected to do so all the time. The pressure alone can stop your work.

Stress causes procrastination, too. It is easier to deal with a problem by hiding and pretending it will go away than meeting it head on. The problem is that the day you are ready to deal with it never comes.

Use the following tips to stop procrastination from hindering your work.

1. Make a list. Use dashes instead of numbers so the items on the list aren’t ranked in any particular order. Add deadlines so that you can prioritize the list. As you finish a task on the list, cross it off with a colorful pen. Every time you look at the list you will get a sense of accomplishment.

2. Set aside time for other tasks. All work and no play, as they say. Sometimes when you work, you’ll notice your mind thinking about taking a break and doing something else. We’ve all done it. Avoid those breaks in productivity by scheduling time to get away and take a break. Knowing that you will get a break makes you want to stay focused on your work until that time.

3. Don’t overload your schedule. If you have too much to do in a small span of time, procrastination will surely creep in. No one wants to slack off at work, but biting off only as much as you can chew is not the same thing. You are more productive when you can manage your tasks instead of drowning in them and missing all of your deadlines.

4. Find coping mechanisms. Stress can lead to procrastination. Deal with the stress before it affects your work. Learn breathing techniques; take an exercise class; chant a mantra. Whatever will relax you can also keep you working.

5. Stay organized. A desk piled with papers, folders, and sticky notes is not what you want to see every morning you walk into the office. Keep your desk neat and everything where you can find it when you need it. Organization stops you from abandoning the task at hand because of a misplaced file.

Procrastination is hard to beat because it comes from within us. Use the above tips to regain your level of productivity in the workplace.