The grandest plans, the greatest ambitions, all come crashing down in the face of procrastination. People all over the globe complain how they are busy all the time and never have time to do anything they like. Yet when they do have free time, all they do is waste in on pointless endeavour. It has been said that even the most monotonous and plain objects suddenly become utterly fascinating when you have something to do. I have spent hours playing with my pen when I should have been working, and there has never been an occasion on which I have not regretted procrastinating.
So why do I still do it? In fact, how come millions of people all over the world procrastinate even when they know they will regret it? More importantly still, is there anything that you can do to stop wasting your time, put an end to your procrastination, and get your work done? I discovered some great trick which helped me stay focused on my work, and saved me the embarrassment of missing crucial deadlines. Find out 10 tricks which helped me stop procrastinating, and can help you as well!
1. Don’t overthink it:
A plan needn’t be perfect. It should just get the work done. Spending hours, days, or even weeks planning something, is only going to cause you endless delays.
2. Don’t wait too long to start:
So you have come up with the perfect plan to do it. Great! So why aren’t you starting? Stop waiting for the perfect moment, there is no such thing. Start today. Start this very instant. You will thank yourself later.
3. Divide and conquer:
If the British could rule over half the world with this strategy, you can certainly use it to get that priority assignment done! Break it down. Start small, and just keep going. Divide, and conquer it all!
4. Stick to your deadlines:
When you set a deadline for yourself, it is somewhat easy to not follow it. Follow them anyway. Make it a habit. Self-discipline is the only way to conquer procrastination.
5. Remove all obstacles:
Whether you are studying or have an important project submission, it is easy to find things to keep you distracted. Identify what these commonly are, and eliminate them before you start work.
6. Work with others:
Teams are made for a reason. They not only reduce your overall work load, they also keep you focused. Work with other people and surround yourself with them. If you have to study, go to the library or the common room.
7. Broadcast your goals:
Seek support from your friends and let them know what you are trying to do. Tell them your goals. Their positive feedback will inspire you to work harder.
8. Ask an expert:
There will be people who have already achieved what you are trying to do. Seek them out if you can and ask them for the strategy that helped them succeed.
9. Stop making your life difficult:
There is no need to complicate things. Sometimes a task can be very simple, and we just keep making it harder by delaying or not planning properly. Do yourself a favour and simplify your goals whenever you can.
10. Be sure of why you are doing it:
Setting a goal, such as Complete this assignment in 5 hours is a great start. But what is your end goal? How will you benefit? Remind yourself why you are working so hard, and it will help you stay focused.
So now you have my 10 simple ways to get work done. They helped me stop procrastinating and I hope they will help you succeed as well!
