How to stop Procrastinating | 8 steps to become more Productive

If you’re a hardworking individual, chances are you have a long to-do list of things that needs to be completed within a certain deadline. We all get stuck in the habit of putting off daunting tasks to do later until the very last minute. The blog article that needs to be finished, work projects, a difficult conversation, etc. You are not alone as this is quite a normal thing that we all go through. However, learning how to stop procrastinating and finally starting to tick off the things on that list is one of the most important things you can do to make continuous progress towards your career and life goals. 

If you’re determined to beat procrastination and start getting things done, keep reading as I share 8 steps that will help you to not only stop procrastinating but unlock new levels of daily productivity.

1. Break down a major task into smaller tasks:

The idea of a big project can be daunting if you think of it as one big task. Take a major project and break it down into smaller more achievable tasks. This way you see a clearer path towards completing your project and remain motivated as you keep on completing the smaller tasks. Procrastinating isn’t really that hard to beat if you’re aware of what is holding you back.

2. Try the Pomodoro Technique:

Pomodoro is a time management method where you break the work down into short, timed intervals called “Pomodoros”. Research shows that focused slots of short periods work best to achieve higher levels of productivity. Turning off all distractions such as email, messages on your phone and, setting a timer for 25 minutes to solely focus on the task can help you achieve a lot more than you usually would within an hour of work with distractions. If you aspire to achieve great levels of productivity, my earlier post on getting things done (GTD) can be really helpful.

3. Allow yourself the distraction your mind needs:

Sometimes, no matter how organized you are and how hard you try you can’t seem to get into your groove of focused work. When this happens, don’t try to fight it. Instead, allow yourself to go through that distraction and check social media or do whatever it is that you wanted to do. The key here is to make sure that this time for procrastinating is scheduled and timed. For instance, you could take 10 minutes after every Pomodoro as a break. This way, you are still getting 50 minutes of focused work done every hour and it doesn’t end up becoming 45 minutes of distraction.

4. Set aside dedicated time for the most important task of the day:

You may have a long list of things to do, but out of them there must be some tasks that are more important than the others. Making sure you set aside dedicated time to work on the most important task every day can ensure that you aren’t giving yourself a false sense of accomplishment by completing minor tasks that aren’t taking you towards your goals. If you can work on the most important task every day along with smaller supportive tasks, nothing is stopping you from reaching your goals. 

5. Organize your workspace:

The space you work in isn’t the most important factor that contributes to your productivity but, having a clean organized, and dedicated space for work can contribute to how productive you are. Let’s say your workspace is full of distractions such as gadgets, media, and other things that you do not need for the work you’re doing, it can distract you once every now and then. These distractions usually end up taking a lot of time that you could have spent finishing important tasks. So, enhancing your workspace can boost your productivity and focus. 

6. Change of scenery:

No matter how well organized your workspace is, sometimes you will may it hard or even get bored of sitting in the same space to do your work. When this happens, listen to what your inner self is trying to tell you and make a small temporary change. Grab your laptop and head out to your favorite café, park, or even a beachside restaurant that will help you get a fresh perspective about your goals. This can help you think about things differently and find smarter ways to work on your projects.

7. Hang out with people who inspire you to do better every day:

It is no secret that the people with who we surround ourselves influences our behavior. Look for the people amongst your friends, co-workers, and colleagues that talk about inspiring things and work regularly to become better people and spend more time with them. It won’t be long before you start picking up some great habits and motivation from them. 

8. Take Action:

No matter how well you plan and organize your tasks, it is not going to do itself. The most important thing out of all these tips is to just do it. Or at least start on it. You’ll be amazed at how things change when you start working on something. Ideas will seem to flow to you more easily and you feel a sense of accomplishment that boosts your motivation. No one has ever accomplished anything great by just planning things out, what drives the results is always action.

Getting a grip of your tasks and ticking off all the things you need to finish is something that you need to work on daily. There is no overnight magic formula to stop procrastinating and be more productive. Daily grind and persistence are what will keep you heading towards your life goals. So, decide for yourself that you are going to keep working on your goals consistently and keep going. The only thing standing in between you and your goals is you.