How to stop procrastinating: 10 quick tips

Postponing and delaying important things, the desire to do anything but what is necessary; feeling guilty because deadlines are missed is not laziness, as most people tend to believe, it is

Procrastination (Latin: procrastination - "belonging to tomorrow") is an unhealthy postponement of tasks and responsibilities. It is the inability to perform actions, even if they are necessary and desirable. People have been doing this for a long time, but modern everyday life is especially conducive to procrastination, so it is important to learn how to overcome it.

Why fight procrastination?

A wide choice often causes decision paralysis. This is due to hesitation and postponement, while life passes by. This state causes discouragement and depression.

However, when we realize our potential, dopamine is produced. We are happy, we feel better, we are satisfied with life.

The causes of procrastination include:

• Fear of failure and fear of success are caused by negative experiences. Why is success scary? It implies responsibility, activity, and openness. And we are not always ready for this.
• Multitasking, which is especially frustrating for people accustomed to consistency and order.
• Lack of understanding of your own tasks and goals. It arises on the basis of crises, uncertainty about the future, about what you are doing.
• Disobedience (the spirit of contradiction) is an unwillingness to accept reality, to do things "in spite of" people or circumstances, a desire to demonstrate: "I am the master of my life".
• Lack of motivation, perfectionism.

How to deal with procrastination?

• Effective time management will help: structuring cases and tasks, bringing initiatives to fruition, setting goals, and distributing efforts. Try to control personal and work matters without mixing them. Also, don't take on new tasks until you've finished the old ones. Break down complex tasks into components. Be specific, because abstract tasks always seem more difficult.

• Develop a sense of self-worth and positive self-esteem. Insecurity prevents us from reaching our potential mainly because we are afraid of making mistakes. However, when we manage to overcome fear and step out of our comfort zone, the feeling that we are capable of more is inspiring! Hunt for positive emotions, watch motivational movies, follow the advice of world leaders, listen to good music.

• Replace the phrase "I have to" with "I choose". It is always more pleasant to make your own choices: not "I have to read this" but "I prefer to read this". Instead of "I'm afraid we won't meet until Monday," say "I'd like to meet after Sunday."

• Learn to say no. I'll give you a real-life example: a freelancer worked for himself and didn't know how to say no to people. He was always being asked to help, he put off his own business because he "didn't get around to it" and very quickly his income was 0. Later he went to work in an office and had to stop helping others - the management controlled his time. And surprise, surprise - the hero of the story is a very reliable and efficient employee.

• Motivate yourself. Let me predict the result of your future work. Learn to love what you need and make it a habit. Also, don't forget to reward yourself: "I will work until morning coffee, a delicious dinner, an afternoon nap, an interesting movie, a trip around the world."

• Stop feeling sorry for yourself and take responsibility for solving your own problems yourself. Self-pity is the main killer of self-esteem. Besides, no one likes a person who complains all the time and shifts responsibility to other people or circumstances. Find a reason to praise yourself.

• Also, from time to time, allow yourself to "dumb down", get into a shell and change the picture. Procrastination is useful because it allows you to accumulate energy, switch your attention and relax. It also allows you to look at problems from a different perspective, find new solutions and ideas.

• Morning meditation, a cool shower, and sports always help you get started. If you don't succeed right away, you can involve others in the process.

• Be Never distracted by "hundreds of unnecessary things". Get rid of external stimuli such as chaotic games, shopaholics, meaningless discussions on social media, constant smoke breaks and coffee breaks. Let them take their insignificant place in the plan called "rest".

• Create an artificial deadline and try to meet it. Think about how nice it will be to feel like a free and strong person who has managed to overcome his or her own weaknesses after reaching it!