Defeat Procrastination for Good

Transcript

[presenter] I know why you're watching this video. To avoid that boring task you don't want to do, right? Remember how it started at the top of your to-do list? Now it's the last thing you want to do.

We're all guilty of procrastinating from time to time, but even minor episodes can make you feel ashamed and set you back. If you keep procrastinating over a long period of time, you can become demotivated and sabotage your chances of success.

Fortunately, there are ways you can break your procrastination habits, starting today.

1. Identify when you're procrastinating

The first step is to identify when you're procrastinating. Sometimes you have to delay tasks for good reason, or you face blockers that you have no control over. That's OK. These things happen.

But, if you find yourself filling your day with unimportant tasks or waiting to be in the right mood to start an unpleasant job, you are procrastinating.

2. Understand why you're procrastinating

Next, reflect on why you are procrastinating. Often, we put things off because we feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to start. We might also be afraid of failure or worried about what others will think of us.

3. Apply anti-procrastination strategies

Once you identify the root cause of your procrastination, you can apply strategies to overcome the habits.

A good place to start is by eliminating distractions as much as possible. This means turning off your phone or email notifications, finding a quiet place to work and minimizing interruptions.

Eating the frog is another effective method. Don't worry, this doesn't involve eating an actual frog. It just means getting the trickiest tasks out of the way early on. You'll then have the rest of the day to concentrate on work that you find more enjoyable. And just think about how good you'll feel when you've ticked that ugly frog off your to-do list.

How about promising yourself a little treat as a motivator? When you finally complete those dull or difficult tasks, celebrate! Treat yourself to something you enjoy like a coffee or a chat with a friend over the phone. Take a moment to relish that awesome feeling of accomplishment.

If you're still struggling to commit to the work, try using a little peer pressure. Ask one of your colleagues to check up on your progress later in the day to keep you motivated and accountable.

Procrastination is a self-sabotaging habit and not something you can overcome just like that. Beating it takes time and commitment. Start by identifying when and why you are putting off tasks, then apply strategies, like reducing distractions, tackling the worst jobs first, rewarding yourself and getting others to motivate you.

If you start practicing these strategies today, you'll be well on your way to defeating procrastination habits for good.