Later things. This is the line common among students. The painful part is that later doesn’t always come as expected. Many young persons keep shaking hands with Procrastination.
It is high time we lived life with a sense of urgency, overcome procrastination and get stuff done. Have the mentality,”…Time is limited in supply”.
You’re more effective when you focus on what creates the desired result for your life. So many persons ask the question, “I procrastinate a lot, how do I stop procrastination?” Here are 7 steps you must take to overcome procrastination and start doing well…
What's in this guide?
1. Ask Yourself Questions
Ask yourself Questions, why am I wasting time? Why wait for another time when the time is now?
You must understand the reasons you’re procrastinating. This will enable you to quickly solve the problem. Your source of procrastination could be:
- You are lacking the zeal to do the task
- The task is intimidating
- Not planning the task very well
- You don’t really know how or where to start
- You think there is still time, and so on.
- You are naturally lazy.
Discovery is the beginning of improvement. Identify why you are swimming in the ocean of procrastination and start taking conscious efforts to be free.
2. Always Have Plans
One of the things you should do every morning is to make a to-do-list. Write out the tasks to be carried out and how to carry them out. Monitor the progress of the task…
Structure your day so as to be able to work on tasks. Save the more difficult task for the afternoon or evening. You will not regret it. Nothing makes you plan well like thinking well. This is an efficient way to overcome procrastination.
Read: 10 Benefits of good thinking
3. Break Down Tasks
Set a list of tasks you want to accomplish. Begin to carry them out bit by bit. Huge projects can make procrastination seem attractive. Do not start what you cannot finish. It is better to be slow and sure than to be fast and stop.
Not breaking tasks into bits makes everything more complicated. Set some tasks for the morning, then afternoon and a few for the evening. You can also do something productive when you wake up at night.
As well, monitor how it is being carried out. Mark the ones you have accomplished and prepare for the ones yet to be carried out. This will act as a check and balance.
4. Don’t Be Deceiving Yourself
Understand your strength and weaknesses; tell yourself the truth about everything. Remember, telling yourself the truth is honesty and telling others is integrity.
It is understandable if you don’t tell others the truth; they may say that you lack integrity. But telling yourself the truth is honesty.
It is being honest to yourself, not what others say, that determines your freedom from procrastination. Help yourself stay on track by getting enough sleep, eating good food and always get at least a bit of exercise.
If you are too weak to carry out the task, take a break. This will enable you to come back stronger. Telling yourself the truth, you can overcome procrastination and laziness.
Read: 10 things to know before Graduation
5. Motivate Yourself
Give yourself reasons to get back to work. Reward your own accomplishments by treating yourself.
Self-motivation leads to self-improvement. Reward yourself for tasks successfully carried out. Set big rewards to more difficult tasks and vice versa. This will boost your zeal and ultimately save you from Procrastination.
Motivating others will make them get things done for you faster and more accurate. How much more, if you motivate yourself? it is going to be shot on the target. Use this strategy to overcome reoccurring procrastination.
Read: 15 vital money lessons you should have been taught in school
6. Control Social Networks
Addiction to Social networks is one of the major sources of procrastination for students. In fact, It is more tempting to avoid getting things done than not replying a text. Joshua Abuwa said,
The problem with a lot of young persons is that, they don’t have vision; they only have televisions
What does this imply? don’t focus your energy on minor things at the expense of the major ones. Learn to prioritize and manage your time well. I agree that we are in a technological world. It actually means that you should use technology and not technology using you.
Addiction to social networks can even interfere with your studies. Set your priorities right, Stop procrastination and start studying.
Read:How To Start An Ecommerce Business:- The Ultimate Guide
7. Avoid Procrastinators
Whom you follow determines what follows you…
If you really want to overcome the ‘I will do it later attitude’, you need to start moving with those that are getting things done now. Make it one of your guiding principles to go out with and the future.
It is better for people to say that you are proud than calling you a failure. The key to failure is trying to make everyone around happy.
Now is the best time to starting doing the things that create the desired result. You may say, “I don’t have time” or that you are busy. Here is a question; what is the most valuable use of your time right now?
