I'm not a Procrastinator! - Really? - Steps to Avoid Procrastination

Steps to Avoid Procrastination
Channel: Armand Nicolas
Producers: Armand Nicolas
Writer and Publisher: Armand Nicolas
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The Root Of Procrastination
Why is this? Why do we set goals only to drop them? One critical thing getting in our way is procrastination.

The bigger the change or project, the more likely we will procrastinate and for longer durations. Consider the simple example: If there are only a few dishes in the sink, it’s easy to just do them. If the sink is full, we avoid the kitchen. The act of the dishes filling up in the first place is a reflection of procrastination. Like debt, the longer you push the needed work into the future, the harder it becomes to face it.

Procrastination can help explain why people persist in jobs they hate and stay in broken relationships for years. It can explain why people postpone their highest aspirations, only to one day ask, “What might have been?” As Harold Hill has said: “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.”

“I’m too busy right now.”
“I don’t have enough money.”
“It seems way too stressful.”
“It’s too risky.”
“There’s no guarantee it will work anyways.”
“I’m not experienced enough.”
“I’m too old now.”
“I’m too young.”
“That would be too disruptive to everything going on in my life.”

10 WAYS TO AVOID PROSCRASTINATION
1. Get organized
You can't do any work if you don't know what assignments need to be completed. Invest in a planner or start using the calendar app on your phone. This makes it much easier to keep track of individual assignments and important due dates.

2. Set simple, achievable goals
Part of the reason we procrastinate is because the task at hand seems too daunting. It’s a lot easier to get started on a project when you establish simple, reachable goals rather than a big, vague plan.

3. Create a timeline/schedule
After you set your goals, create a timeline to complete them. This could be a study schedule for your big exam coming up (“On Tuesday, I'll study chapter five, and on Wednesday, I'll study chapter six”), or it could be mapping out an essay you have to write (“On Saturday, I'll write the introduction and conclusion”). Breaking an assignment into small chunks over time makes it much more manageable.

4. Set a deadline
So many people get trapped in the cycle of "Someday, I'll organize my notes," or "I'll get to that math homework eventually." The truth is “someday” and “eventually” never come. It's important to set a specific date for when you want your goals to be accomplished. If you have an assignment due, aim to have it completed one or two days in advance. That way, if something unexpected happens, you still have extra time to complete it.

5. Get rid of distractions
It’s important to rid yourself of all potential disruptions before you begin working so you don’t get needlessly sidetracked halfway through your task. If you tend to spend too much time on Snapchat or Instagram when you should be studying, then shut your phone off (all the way off). Distractions could also be external sources, like annoying siblings.

6. Time yourself
When loaded with assignments, it's easy to overwork yourself. Set a timer for 60 minutes to prevent yourself from burning out. Then you can…

7. Take a break
It's important to take mental breathers from school work every now and then. When your timer goes off, take a 10–15-minute break. Listen to music, take a walk, or scream into a pillow—anything that takes your mind off of work and allows you to relax.

8. Use incentives
Everyone loves being rewarded. It’s important to give yourself incentives, no matter how small. It could be something as simple as, "If I work on this assignment for an hour, I'll watch an episode of my favorite TV show tonight." Or it could be a bigger goal like, "If I get an A in math this semester, I'll go to my favorite restaurant.” It’s easier to pay attention when something is at stake.

9. Get the hard stuff done first
This may make you want to push everything back farther. It's hard to do something that you don't want to do. But guess what? Once you do it, it's over! It is best to complete your most challenging assignments first. That way everything after it seems easier and takes a shorter amount of time. If you keep pushing that English essay back, you’re never going to get it done. It’s best to buckle down and just do it.

10. Tell someone about your goal
It’s easy to forget about assignments or put them off if you’re the only person holding yourself accountable. If you really want to get something done, tell a friend or family member. Now there is someone holding you responsible for your goals. You can't back out or slough it off. As an added bonus, you also have someone to celebrate your victories with, no matter how small.

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