{"id":14640,"date":"2023-09-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/?p=14640"},"modified":"2023-09-22T15:53:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T19:53:04","slug":"how-to-stop-procrastinating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/how-to-stop-procrastinating\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Procrastinating"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are you looking for some useful and practical tips on how to stop procrastinating<\/a> all the time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to finish that looming project<\/a> or assignment, or cross those items off your to-do list?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all have to deal with procrastination from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all had work projects, school assignments, household tasks, or personal errands hanging over our heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know what needs to be done,<\/a> but we just don\u2019t want to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procrastination is annoying…but it is all part of being human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And like many things in life, the only way to solve a problem, is to identify it for what it is, and deal with it head on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this practical post, you’ll find seven smart tips on how to stop procrastinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bookmark this page and keep this post handy for those times when the procrastination monster rears its ugly head!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Stop Procrastinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stop making excuses.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This tip is all about checking your excuses, whining, and complaints at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This a serious, no-nonsense, time to get things done approach that takes some major self-discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it may feel like an enormous strain to focus<\/a> your mind on what you need to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s get real for a moment: do you want to stop procrastinating…or do you want to keep procrastinating? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The choice is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you set yourself up for success? Here’s how to do it:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Simply run towards your procrastination blockage, headfirst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set your focus and intent on what it is you\u2019re going to accomplish over the next hour or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, pull out your tools, materials, information, notes, ideas, and get to work. It really is as simple as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling the terrible procrastination pangs of \u201cI don\u2019t wanna,\u201d keep pushing through that resistance. It may take you several tries to push through your reluctance to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, it may take a good chunk of time, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, if you keep pushing through and persist, you\u2019ll eventually settle down into a work groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, this might not be the most comfortable or productive work session<\/a> you\u2019ve ever had in your life, but that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll have gotten something done. You\u2019ll have emerged victorious against procrastination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s what truly matters, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure out why you\u2019re procrastinating.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People procrastinate for many different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll say the weather\u2019s not right, they don\u2019t have the right clothing, they can\u2019t find time in their schedule, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, however, they might be fearful, feel unknowledgeable, overwhelmed, or have some other mental block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While someone else\u2019s motives for procrastination can look blatantly obvious to you, what\u2019s not always apparent is why you personally procrastinate on tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to stop procrastinating, you need to figure out what is holding you back. You can then find a suitable solution to your problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why are you procrastinating? Ask yourself the question! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have a sneaking suspicion as to why you don\u2019t want to perform such-and-such task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the facts at hand? How do you feel right now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way to find the answer is to be brutally honest with yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can take targeted action once you answer the question at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s some ideas for you if you’re:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fearful of something. <\/strong>Remind yourself that there\u2019s a first for everything. Get inspired<\/a> by books, blogs, family, and friends. Remind yourself of all the other things you were afraid of doing in life, but came through with flying colors. You can do this, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeling unknowledgeable. <\/strong>Learn something new. Read a book or magazine, read a blog, watch videos on YouTube, take an online course, ask an expert, take a class, etc. More information may help you feel more comfortable and allow you to take that next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lazy and unmotivated.<\/strong> Schedule<\/a> work time into your calendar. Set a timer and get busy. Need some motivation? Make a friendly wager with a friend. Tell them you will make a donation to the organization of their choice if you don’t accomplish what you say you’ll do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeling overwhelmed. <\/strong>Write down your thoughts and ideas in a notebook.<\/a> Then, organize<\/a> these items on paper. Remind yourself that not everything has to be done at once. Work on one thing at a time. Start with the easiest task first. Take your work step-by-step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delegate work.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Okay, so you really don\u2019t want to do whatever it is you have to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you ensure your work will get done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution? Delegate your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, delegation can be best course of action when it comes to procrastination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially the case if you know full well that you will never finish that despised household chore, or finish a task because of your schedule, no matter how many weeks, months, or years pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have lots of options when it comes to delegation. As a matter of fact, delegation can take many different forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a few ways it can play out in real-life situations if you:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Work in an office. <\/strong>Do you have an assistant? Ask them to conduct research, make phone calls, follow up with contacts, and so on. Do you work with coworkers or colleagues on an a project or assignment? Ask if you can trade tasks with someone else so the tasks will be better suit your skill set. Maybe you write emails well, but dislike proofreading, and your colleague is an excellent proofreader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study at school. <\/strong>Ask other group project members if they will swap their tasks for yours so you can find a better fit. Do you participate in an extracurricular activity, group, or club? Ask for support or guidance from a helper, volunteer, or director. You can also call in a favor from a fellow classmate or friend. And remember, don\u2019t just pay people lip-service; keep your work and make sure you actually finish the work you say you\u2019ll do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spend time at home. <\/strong>Ask friends or family members to pitch in. Ask someone to walk the dog, shop for groceries, organize the hall closet<\/a>, complete household chores, and so on. Alternatively, you can outsource and pay people to perform tasks, be it a professional cleaner, babysitter, or dog walker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delegate tasks clearly and effectively. You need to explain exactly what you need from the other party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explain how the task should be completed as well as when the task should be completed by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a note in your calendar<\/a> to check in with them when the appointed time arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if all of this \u201cdelegation work\u201d sends a chill down your spine, keep in mind, these steps are a small price to pay to avoid the work you don\u2019t want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take time to procrastinate.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You want to move your work forward, but for some strange reason, you\u2019re still procrastinating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oddly enough, you\u2019re sick and tired of procrastinating. What should you do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re going to soak in that procrastination for a brief time, and then you\u2019re going to promptly deal with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tip is for those situations when you\u2019re ready to move through your procrastination, but need a strict, helping hand through the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you do get to fully soak up and experience your procrastination\/boredom tendencies, but then you push them to the side, AND take forward action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea here is to concentrate and compound your procrastination into a teeny-tiny unit of time so that you eliminate the urge to procrastinate out of your system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the equivalent of throwing a procrastination temper-tantrum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You procrastinate and get on with your day like nothing happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to go this route, be forewarned: it will be an intense experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how to take time to procrastinate:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ready to get started? Time yourself using your wristwatch<\/a>, smart phone, tablet, computer, or wall clock for five minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are not allowed to do anything productive during this time period. You must procrastinate to the fullest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vent your frustrations. Talk about how much you don\u2019t want to do X task, pace about the room, frown in front of the mirror, vigorously wave your hands in the air, whatever you like. Do everything you can to get it out of your system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the five minutes have passed, take several deep breaths to calm down and compose yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you\u2019ve addressed the issue head on, the next step is to pull out your tools, materials, items, and you guessed it\u2026get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build momentum by working on small tasks.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is my all-time favorite tip to beat procrastination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of tackling a nagging task head-on, you get off the beaten track, and take a sideways approach to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can think of this as taking a detour to your work destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only difference is that this detour will be a productive<\/a> one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can think of this clever tip as a one-two productivity<\/a> punch. This tip is extremely powerful because you circumvent the mental block you\u2019ve put up for yourself, plus you get things done. What’s more, accomplishing small tasks may not feel like you’re actually working!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put your focus and attention on tiny tasks that are directly related to your procrastination. Ideally, tasks should take less than five minutes to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your tasks are so incredibly small, you can\u2019t help but make progress in your work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how this works in action if you have to\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Write a draft chapter for a report.<\/strong> Instead of thinking about writing the draft chapter, write a bare-bones, basic outline. You can pencil your report due date into your calendar, open a new word processing document and save it as \u201cDraft Report_Chapter 1.\u201d Creating and labeling a folder on your computer for report drafts counts, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mow the yard or lawn.<\/strong> Instead of thinking about mowing the lawn, put on your sneakers and yard work clothes. Walk through the lawn and pick up debris, pull out lawn bags, locate the rake, and prepare the lawn mower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare dinner in the evening.<\/strong> Instead of thinking about preparing dinner, pull out a large cutting board, read a cookbook for inspiration, inspect the fridge and pantry for ideas, preheat the oven, start pulling out ingredients, wash your hands, and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you string all of these small, related tasks together, you\u2019ll find you\u2019re further along in your work than when you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if your tasks aren\u2019t perfect or are half-baked (you created a word processing document and folder, you picked up stray twigs from the yard, or you chopped up some onions for dinner), you\u2019ll have something with which you can work in future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, that you\u2019ve had time to warm up your mind and body, it\u2019s time to push through your procrastination and dive into your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find an accountability buddy.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been trying to get things done, but to no avail, you might need to call in some external support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to do this is to work with an accountability buddy, or someone who will keep you on track, and make sure you accomplish all that you say you\u2019ll do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several ways you can work with an accountability buddy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some ways you can work with a buddy:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Work together in the same physical location or space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set up a date and time to meet at a dormitory, office space, coffee shop, library, or park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring a piece of work you need to complete. You sit down for the scheduled amount of time and do your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second option is to meet up virtually with a friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You schedule a time in which to do your work, and check-in with each other via phone or video conference about which task you will finish within the next hour or two\u2026and get to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the allotted time has passed, reconnect via phone or video, to discuss your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the third option? Check-in with your buddy at regularly scheduled intervals. This way, you can update them on your work progress (or lack thereof).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose the accountability buddy route, find someone who will hold you 100% accountable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last thing you need in your life in your quest to beat procrastination is someone who yields at the slightest sign of pressure, coddles you, or helps you make excuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This accountability buddy role isn\u2019t for the weak or fainthearted: you absolutely need a buddy who is unrelenting when it comes to holding you accountable in your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a friend, acquaintance, coworker, or someone else in your life who has the following traits: 1) a taskmaster, 2) takes things seriously, 3) calls things as they see it, 4) has a positive attitude, and 5) won\u2019t be swayed by your excuses, complaints, or whining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temporarily give in to procrastination.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When all else fails, give into procrastination. Sometimes procrastination must run its course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll then be motivated to take action. Be forewarned: this tip should only be attempted under the right conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure whatever it is you are procrastinating on won\u2019t pose a danger or threat to yourself, other people, or your immediate environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay the electricity bill before your lights get turned off at home. Shop for food before your cupboards are bare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find yourself procrastinating on a run of the mill task? Here’s what you can do:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let go. Go for that walk, see that movie, organize that clothes closet, or mop the first floor of your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take your mind off of your immediate task.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also \u201cdo nothing.\u201d Let yourself be bored for a time. Being idle is highly underrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a break from being on the go, thinking, working, and playing. It will do you a world of good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens when you talk, walk, or roll your eyes through your boredom? Your subconscious mind is busy at work! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is figuring out various solutions to your procrastination problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sooner or later, you\u2019ll find yourself bored at playing the boredom game. This is where the true magic happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You come up with an exciting idea, find yourself motivated to take action on your project, or are inspired to get back to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just like that, your temporary bout of procrastination has been defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about you? What are your reasons for procrastinating on a task, project, or assignment? Which of these tips are you going to use the next time procrastination strikes? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for some useful and practical tips on how to stop procrastinating all the time? Do you want to finish that looming project or assignment, or cross those items off your to-do list?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[142,184,852,853,62,741,221,130],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14640"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25853,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14640\/revisions\/25853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}