Procrastination is a disease that affects everyone in some way. It can be very debilitating and often times, we don’t even realize that it’s affecting us until we experience an overwhelming urge to procrastinate.
There are some things that we can do to overcome procrastination. Some of these methods come from self-help books, while others come from scientific studies and trials. But it's really important that we understand how procrastination works to begin with, before we start applying the methods to overcome it.
Here are 5 tips for overcoming procrastination and getting more done:
- Start Small
You might think that because you want to accomplish a big goal, you need to start small. That’s not true. Instead, start small by tackling small tasks. This will help you to stay motivated because you’ll see tangible progress every day.
2 Use the Pomodoro Technique
You probably heard about this technique from productivity gurus, but it’s important that you understand how this method works. The Pomodoro Technique is a simple approach to increasing productivity.
Basically, you take short breaks throughout the day, focusing only on the task at hand for 25 minutes. Then you take a longer break before moving onto the next task.
3 Break Down Tasks into Easy Steps
To stay productive, break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help you to stay focused and on track.
4 Use a Calendar
Calendars help us to stay organized because they allow us to check off items as they are completed. It’s much easier to follow through with our tasks when we have a calendar to refer to.
5 Focus on Short-Term Objectives
By setting short-term goals for yourself, you are able to focus your attention on what matters the most. When we set unrealistic goals for ourselves, we end up feeling frustrated because we’re never able to complete them.