I remember going through a typical day of work and life on autopilot. My brain wouldn’t click on until about 7:00 pm, and I would end the day full of dread and disgust at myself for wasting yet another day. Procrastination is one of the most pervasive problems in the world. While some people may have a natural inclination toward delaying projects or not starting at all, I think most procrastinators can learn to overcome their tendencies with little effort. It can also be overcome if you know how to identify and figure out why you procrastinate. Here are seven ways I’ve found helpful for dealing with my procrastination issues.
Why do you procrastinate?
Understanding your reasons for procrastinating is key: it’s not just about knowing how to overcome your tendencies but understanding why you have them in the first place.
According to Business Insider, there are four types of procrastinators:
- The Performer “Mrs. I work well under pressure” herself. This type of procrastinator holds off until the very last moment to start work, thinking they will focus better by having less time and more pressure. She also struggles with perfectionism…this is me.
- The Self Deprecator This procrastinator is hard working in the literal sense and in how they push themselves internally. They put themselves through mental boot camps with excuses for why they aren’t getting work down when the real reason is burnout.
- The Overbooker “Mrs. I’m busy all the time and can’t get anything done.” She isn’t as busy as she tells herself; she’s avoiding the work.
- The Novelty Seeker, A type of procrastinator that believes everything that glitters is gold. They go after their ideas with little to no hesitation but can’t seem to focus on one project long enough to see any real growth. (source)
As you take the first step in overcoming procrastination, ask yourself –
- What are the benefits of getting things done?
- What are the benefits of procrastinating?
7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination
#1 Stop overthinking your procrastination.
I know it’s easy and almost second nature to beat ourselves up over our mistakes. Instead of beating yourself up over everything that you haven’t done yet and the fact that it will take longer to get it done because of your procrastination, focus on the things that are already completed. If you spend all day dwelling on how much work is left and how behind schedule you are, this will only make matters worse. You’ll start feeling like a failure instead of embracing your accomplishments and moving forward towards completing more tasks in a more timely manner. Beautiful, you are not a failure if you don’t get everything done immediately. Not to mention that we serve a God who knows every detail of every secret. Ask Him for clarity and direction. He’s faithful.
#2 Focus on one task at a time.
If you’re struggling with procrastination, focusing on one task at a time is important. Here are a few tips to help you focus –
- Prioritize your to-do list by due dates or level of importance
- Break down big tasks into smaller ones. Don’t multitask. Don’t worry about what you haven’t done yet; instead, let your mind focus on the task at hand and give it 100% of your attention!
#3 Ask for help.
Procrastination can stem from being completely overwhelmed. As wives, moms, and women determined to take action on our dreams, it’s easy to attempt to tackle everything on our own. While I believe we are superwomen, we don’t have to do it alone. Trying to do it alone leaves us empty, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. No wonder it’s so hard to start that project!
#4 Make a plan.
As someone who identifies with The Performer, making a plan has helped me avoid putting tasks off to the last minute and overthinking them. Having a plan lets me feel in control of my day by knowing what I’m doing and when. It gives me peace of mind and frees up so much mental space. Using a planner and calendar to block out time in my schedule for EVERYTHING taught me that I have more time than I ever realized. This was the biggest game changer for me.
#5 Set a start date
Setting a start date is a great way to combat procrastination. The start date is more or less a commitment or deadline you’ve given yourself to get things going. Knowing when you will start can help alleviate some of the many emotions we face when we start a project. We can peacefully prepare ourselves from fear to anxiety to get things going.
#6 Stop waiting for inspiration
Consistency requires a mindset shift and discipline. I recently shared on Instagram that our success lies on the other side of our consistency, not our random burst of motivation. I share 5 Secrets to Staying Consistent shortly after this post. Click the link to start your journey of self-discipline.
#7 Reward yourself for the tasks you do get done.
Rewarding yourself for the tasks you get done is a great way to step away and rest and acknowledge your work. But, there is a right and wrong way to do this.
- Make sure your reward is something you want. It’s a waste of time and energy to reward yourself with something you don’t want, or that doesn’t make any sense at all (e.g., “I’ll reward myself with a new car if I write this article.”)
- Make sure your reward is something affordable. If it’s too expensive or otherwise out of reach, there’s no point in working toward it; you’ll be frustrated.
- Make sure your reward is something enjoyable and easy to use right away. You’re going to avoid procrastinating to get this thing as soon as possible! Long wait times between earning and enjoying your rewards will only help perpetuate bad habits!
- And finally: make sure the reward fits into an ongoing pattern of positive reinforcement throughout your day/week/month/etc. This will help ensure that positive habits become ingrained over time and the need for rewards lessens significantly (or disappears entirely).
You can overcome procrastination when you understand it and know how to break it down into manageable parts.
Procrastination is not a disease but rather a habit. The more you practice your new behavior and stick with it, the more likely it is to become automatic for you. The first step is to look at why you procrastinate. Once you know that, it will be easier to take the tips you’ve learned, implement them, and get things done!