What is Procrastination?
Procrastination means the activity of not doing anything on time, delaying, and postponing everything. In many cases, procrastination is not a deliberate issue. Sometimes, people procrastinate because of their habit of not completing tasks until the deadline arrives. Procrastination is a lifestyle problem.
What are the causes of Procrastination?
The causes of procrastination or the reasons people procrastinate are:
- Not knowing how to do a specific thing
- Not knowing when to do it
- Forgetting to do it
- Waiting for the right time and last minute
- Giving preference to some other work instead of doing the work on time
- Lacking the motivation to do something
- Anxiety, Depression, etc
What are the Types of Procrastination?
There are two types of procrastination
Active Procrastination- Active Procrastinators intentionally postpone doing something. They feel that some time is still left to complete the task. They are under the impression that working under tight deadlines helps them to be more productive and encourages them to perform better.
Passive Procrastination- Passive Procrastinators postpone their work as they face difficulties making effective decisions. They also face problems in doing their tasks. They are afraid that something might go wrong.
Simple Tips To Beat Procrastination
- Break Down Tasks Into Small Parts
The breaking down of tasks into small parts makes the work easier. We feel productive and motivated to complete our tasks. For example, in writing an article or a blog, we first have to select a topic, decide the subheads, note down the crucial points under the subheads, write the piece of article, and later proofread them. Similarly, we can divide monotonous and problematic tasks into small chunks.
- Make a List and Prioritize Tasks
Make a list of all the tasks that we have to do. Then decide which tasks need the maximum attention. Firstly, complete the vital tasks and then do the other assignments. Prioritizing our tasks will help us concentrate on the most necessary tasks and then focus on our other projects.
Prioritization helps us understand which tasks we should do before, how to do the projects, and when to do our projects. Prioritization prevents time wastage on unnecessary projects and avoids confusion and doubts regarding our projects.
- Set Deadlines and Reward Yourself
Setting up deadlines for every project and assignment is a pleasant way of beating procrastination. Set up deadlines for each task. Setting deadlines will keep us under pressure and motivate us to finish our work on time.
If we can complete our work before the deadline, we can give a small reward to ourselves like having our favorite ice cream or brand of chocolate and similar things.
- Opt For a Productive Workspace
The selection of a productive workspace can sometimes be challenging. We can opt for a workspace that motivates us to work efficiently. We can opt to work at a cafe while having a cup of coffee and a plate of delicious cookies.
We can opt to work from a library, set up a room in our house in a way that makes us more productive, and also work from our balcony. Having a committed workspace helps us work in a relaxed manner.
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Ignore Distractions
The best way to avoid distractions while working is to put our mobile phones in silent mode. Even if we do not put our cell phones in silent mode, turning off the notifications while working or studying will help us stop procrastinating. Indulge in deep work sessions to complete all our tasks.
Even after putting our cell phones in silent mode or turning off the notifications, we procrastinate, then the best option is to remove our phones from the workspace. Sometimes, we do require our mobile phones during working hours. For personal reasons, we can opt to receive calls and texts from our near and dear ones.
Conclusion
It is relatively easy to beat, curb, stop, and overcome procrastination. We have to motivate and cheer ourselves and others up to be more productive and encourage them to utilize time wisely and effectively. Time is a very precious thing and doesn’t wait for anyone. Although there are many more tips, the tips mentioned above will help everyone to avoid procrastination.
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