16 Tips on How to Stop Procrastinating at Work
When you find yourself in a state where you are staying away from completing a simple task, then that is known as procrastination. But no one likes the feeling when things hit them at once because several pending tasks are overdue, and the pressure is overwhelming. We have compiled this list to help you break the procrastination habit.
What Does Procrastination Mean?
Procrastination is the act of spending your free time and putting off crucial tasks that we should be doing until it is too late. And when it gets too late, you start to panic, wishing you had done the work earlier.
Make Use of Time Blocker
To stop procrastination in the workplace, set a 1-hour time blocker several times each day so that you stay focused. With a time blocker, you will be able to avoid unnecessary distractions from anyone or anything. You can use your time to work on an important task. However, if you are unable to focus for one hour, it is okay to start with thirty minutes. Over time, you will learn that you have started to break your procrastination habit.
- Know When You Are Procrastinating
To solve a problem, you have to admit that it exists. Therefore, to prevent procrastination, you have to know when you are doing it. Unless you do that, you can spend the whole day staying away from work that you are supposed to be doing. There is nothing to feel bad about since many people out there are also struggling to prevent procrastination. From there, you can stop procrastinating by applying the right strategies.
- Change Your Environment
Various environments have different impacts on our overall productivity. Take a look at your working room and desk and figure out what needs to be changed. Even as you struggle to stop procrastinating, if you have the wrong working environment, you will feel exhausted and sleepy. Also, it is important to know that a surrounding that makes you feel inspired today might have a different impact after a few days or weeks. Therefore, you need to change your environment periodically to make your procrastination problem go away.
- Create Time for Breaks
Though you are fighting to eliminate your procrastination problem, this does not mean you should abstain from breaks. To ensure that you do not procrastinate, it is vital that you take short breaks from work so that you feel energized. It is not healthy to focus on a single task for too long since that would burn you out. Therefore, plan breaks at regular intervals and make sure that you have enough rest and you won’t have to procrastinate at work.
- Work on The Most Difficult Task First
Even if you feel that you have a difficult task ahead, there is no need to panic. Take out your to-do-list and make sure to get started as soon as you can to avoid last-minute frustrations. This is one of the best ways of ensuring that you do not procrastinate at work. After you have taken care of the toughest work, you will feel relieved, and you will be able to avoid procrastinating at work.
- Know Why You Are Procrastinating
There are a number of reasons for procrastinating at work. Maybe you are bored, seeking perfection, overworked, or lacking challenge. Regardless of the reason, you still have to stop procrastinating at work. But it is good progress if you are able to identify the reason why you are procrastinating.
- Know That You Can’t Do It all
There is a wrong notion that all work is equal, and all time is also equal. The truth is that the value of each moment is determined by the amount of time you spend during that moment. Therefore, if it is work, do not procrastinate if you value what you are doing. However, even if you spend time doing your work all day, you can never get it all done. Therefore, you will feel great by completing one valuable work at a time. Just do not procrastinate once you get started.
- Hang Out With Inspiring Individuals
If you spent ten minutes talking to Mark Zuckerberg and Steve jobs, you would be more inspired than when you spend the same time doing nothing. Therefore, to deal with procrastination at the workplace, you need to surround yourself with individuals that make you feel inspired. The individuals you spend time with can greatly influence your productivity. If you change your circle, soon enough, you will stop struggling with procrastination at workplace.
- Set Mini-Goals
To achieve bigger goals, you need to set mini-goals. This is one of the best ways to stop procrastination since you won’t struggle to get the work done. For instance, you want to go to the gym each day; you need to start by packing your clothes. Also, if you want to study, start by arranging your desk. There are many other ways to stop procrastination, but this one is the easiest to apply.
- Leave The Comfort Zone
The major cause of procrastination is the comfort zone. Therefore, the best solution to this problem is to leave your comfort zone. It is vital that you get used to discomfort so that you become more productive. One of the best ways to avoid procrastination is to take part in sports because it keeps you from your comfort zone. After some time, you will grow beyond your natural limits and enhance your productivity.
- Re-visit Your Goals
Goals are supposed to keep you inspired and motivated. Thus, to overcome procrastination at work, it is important that you re-visit your goals periodically. If you clearly understand your goals and that they inspire you, it becomes easier to overcome procrastination at work. You will feel motivated because you simply can’t wait to achieve your goals. If your goals don’t inspire you, then you might want to consider changing them. By the time you are done, you are supposed to be more willing to stay focused and work on your goals.
- Reward Yourself If You Complete The work
You need to understand what causes procrastination and decide that if you overcome it, you will reward yourself. You can treat yourself to a unique meal, or watch your favorite TV show. Also, by knowing what causes procrastination, you will understand what needs to be done so that you break the bad habit and become the most productive person in the workplace or at school. By rewarding yourself, you will be motivated to work harder to get the reward you have promised yourself.
- Talk To Someone Who Has Achieved Similar Goals
Procrastination behavior is destructive and should be avoided at all costs. If you know someone who has attained similar goals before, make sure to have a talk with them so that they share their tips with you. They will help you understand how best to control procrastination behavior so that you have your eyes on the goal.
- Just Take Action
If you want to stop procrastinate, just pick something that you can do and start working on it. Despite the amount of work waiting, you can do things bit by bit as long as you are making progress. Therefore, stop procrastinate and take a look at the entire project at hand and start somewhere. If you feel stuck with the project, consult with your workmates or team members so that you get the necessary assistance.
- Make a Public Declaration
Now that you have understood that you might be a procrastinate perfectionist, it is vital that you make a public declaration that you will get the job done. Tell your friends that you have some work pending, and though you are a procrastinate perfectionist, you will do everything possible to get it done on time. Tell your peers about the objectives you have in place and let them know that you might need their support at some point.
- Don’t Complicate Things
Even if you are still not sure about how to stop procrastination, it is not right to complicate things. Note that there is never the right time to sit down and start working, so you should get started now. Stop doing unnecessary things and focus on the pending work so that you are not stressed out when there is not enough time left. Perfectionism is one of the biggest reasons for procrastination, but this should not hold you back whatsoever.
The Bottom Line
If you have been struggling with procrastination, we hope that this article helps you get through the predicament. Make sure that you remain productive despite the challenges you might be faced with. If you feel overwhelmed, try talking to an expert so that you get assistance. However, the information in this piece would suffice if you are looking to learn how to stop procrastination. Kindly feel free to share this information with a friend or loved one trying to break the chains of procrastination and restore their productivity.