Kick Procrastination - Part 2

Submitted on Monday, 10 November 2008Add to Technorati Favorites7 Comments

Leave nothing for to-morrow which can be done to-day.

- Abraham Lincoln

This article is second one in the series : Kick Procrastination, you can read the first one here.

Many times we are not able to achieve our dreams because we keep putting off things for a later time.

Here are some common problems because of which people procrastinate. I am providing a list of solutions which can help in eliminating procrastination.  You deserve Success, yeah.

“I start, but I get distracted and never finish.”If you start, you’ve already made a big step towards finishing. Now you just need to work on the distractions.

  • Small tasks. I mentioned this above, but it’s really
    important to repeat here. If you are getting distracted, it may be
    because you are working too long on a single task or project. To remain
    focused, do only a small task — you are more likely to stay on task. If
    the task takes a long time, focus on only doing 15-20 minutes of it.
  • Single-task. Don’t allow yourself to do multiple tasks at
    the same time. Just do the one task before you. If you tend to do
    email, IM, surf the web, read your RSS feeds, talk on the phone and all
    of that while doing a task, you will inevitably be distracted from a
    task. Do one task at a time. If you feel yourself being pulled from the
    task, stop yourself. And bring yourself back.
  • Unplug. The biggest distractions come from connectivity.
    Email, IM, phones. Unplug from these connections while you’re working
    on your single task. This is always an unpopular suggestion, but before
    you reject it, give it a try. Turn everything off, and try to focus on
    one task. You’ll get a lot more done, I guarantee you. Right now, I’m
    writing this post while disconnected from the Internet. It’s much
    easier to concentrate…..lol
  • Clear your desk. Distractions can come from visual clutter.
    It can be worth it to clear everything off your desk. Also clear your
    walls and your computer desktop, and only work on one program at a time
    if possible.
  • Focus. Once your desk is clear and you unplug, and you’re
    working on that single task, really put all of your concentration on
    it. Pour your energies into that task, and see if you can get it done
    quickly. You might even get lost in it, and achieve that highly touted
    (deservedly so) state of mind known as “flow”.
  • Take breaks. It can help you to focus for a short amount of
    time on a single task, and use a time to help you focus, and then to
    take a break. This allows you to reboot your brain. Then, get back to
    work and focus on the next task.

“I often don’t feel like doing any work at all. The idea of work seems horrible and I never start doing anything.”I know this feeling well. It plagues us all, and there’s no one good answer. However, here are some suggestions:

  • Groom yourself. If you work from home, take a shower. Often the act of grooming ourselves can make us feel much better.
  • Take a walk. I find that a little walk can get my blood
    pumping, refresh my mind, and allow me to think about what I really
    want to do today. It might not be what you need, but it’s worth a shot.
  • Again, think of opportunities. Think about tomorrow — not
    tomorrow as in the distant future, but tomorrow as in the day after
    today. Imagine yourself looking back on today from tomorrow. Will you
    be glad you laid around? Or would you be happier if you did something,
    and took advantage of the opportunities in front of you today? It’s
    useful to think in terms of your future self — because
    what we do today will open up opportunities and new roads for tomorrow’s us.
  • Baby steps. Don’t think in terms of having to tackle an
    entire work day, or an entire list of stuff to do. That’s overwhelming.
    Just think of doing one thing. That’s all you have to do — just that
    one thing. Make it something small and easy, and ideally something fun
    and rewarding. Focus on that easy task. Once you get started, you might
    be more willing to do another thing. Then another.
  • Find fun stuff to do. If you just have boring or unpleasant
    things to do, you won’t feel like doing them. Instead, change your path
    for today — see if you can find something that’s fun or exciting, but
    still moves you forward on a project or goal. That might be what you
    need to get you jump-started to do other stuff..
  • Commit thyself. If motivation is your problem, commit
    yourself to making some progress with a goal or project today, or every
    day this week — tell all your family and friends, write it in your
    blog, or subscribe to my feeds — they will be a great motivator for
    you. Then hold yourself accountable by reporting to others what you did
    today.
  • Rewards. Tell yourself that if you just do that first task,
    you’ll get a nice ice cream sundae. Or that you can buy a book, or DVD.
    Whatever your reward, use it to motivate yourself to just get started.
    Then let the rest flow from there.

If you have your own methods of getting your to-do list done? Or If you have other problems? Discuss it in the comments :)


Have you missed any of these??? Check them out

  • Kick Procrastination - Execute your To Do List ...
  • Simple Living : How to Simplify your life and feel calm ...
  • The Phenomenal Power of Focus !! ...
  • 19 Ways to Free Up 1 Hour daily for Goals !! ...
  • 7 Comments »

    • linksmarker.com (author) said:

      Kick Procrastination | The Positive Life…

      Many times we are not able to achieve our dreams because we keep putting off things for a later time. Here are some common problems because of which people procrastinate. I am providing a list of solutions which can help in eliminating procrastination…

    • Margaret said:

      For me, I have to start with the job I hate the most or that is the most difficult. Once I get that behind me, then I pretty much coast through the rest of the list. That means I start with laundry and dishes because I absolutely detest both of those chores :P
      I do multi-task on certain things such as laundry and something else, because jumping up to fold the load of clothes that just finished drying gives me that break from concentrating on some other task and when you’re a coder like I am, that often helps get you past the spot your stuck at, but if you’re on a roll, leaving that load in the dryer isn’t going to hurt much of anything.

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    • TheBillionDollarGirl said:

      This is a really great article. It is sooooooo easy to get distracted. I agree you have to focus and cut off your phone. That helps alot.

    • chrisso said:

      Procrastination is a big problem of mine…from tomorrow onI stop procrastinating and get on with the job.For today,I will rest…

    • Raj said:

      @Margaret - I am glad u r using this strategy :), Just to add -

      1. When I have got enough time, I go with the strategy you mentioned, of doing tough tasks first and then doing easier ones.

      2. But when time is less, then I focus on doing easier tasks first, so that more % of work is accomplished within the deadline

      Great Going !! Keep it up :)
      @TheBillionDollarGirl - Yeah, Focus is one of the biggest constituents of Success !!

      @Chrisso - Not from tomorrow buddy, start from today - In fact from now itself ;) That’s what I have been saying in the article

    • dizzed.com (author) said:

      Kick Procrastination - Part 2 | The Positive Life…

      Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today. - Abraham Lincoln Many times we are not able to achieve our dreams because we keep putting off things for a later time….

    • healthranker.com (author) said:

      Kick Procrastination - Part 2 | The Positive Life…

      Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today. - Abraham Lincoln Many times we are not able to achieve our dreams because we keep putting off things for a later time….

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