How to beat procrastination? Here’s the magic spell to do so!
Wait, there’s no magic spell. Procrastination is part of almost everyone’s life, whether it’s founder, employee, or student! I still remember replying to my founder’s LinkedIn post, joking that procrastination was just part of my personality and that I always delayed things without a second thought.
But did I get stuck there? Nope—because I didn’t procrastinate when it came to deleting that comment! That moment made me realize how easy it is to label ourselves as procrastinators and accept it as an unchangeable part of who we are. However, procrastination isn’t a personality trait; instead, it’s a habit that can be changed with the right strategies.
So, here we’ll discuss the causes of procrastination and share 7 tips to overcome it—these tried-and-tested strategies. We have curated them by some of our most productive team members. So, you’ll find practical insights to help you beat procrastination and make real progress!
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Causes of Procrastination
According to experts, procrastination is a self-defeating behaviour that brings short-term benefits at long-term costs. Besides, it most often results in stress. Based on a 2014 report, 20-25% of adults are chronic procrastinators. Here are 4 key causes of procrastination:
- Lack of Interest:
We often delay boring tasks or don’t feel excited doing them, regardless of difficulty level.
- Self-doubts:
Low self-esteem often causes us to delay the task as we avoid facing the consequences. Whether it’s a medical test or any new project, we try to run away from the responsibility.
- Chasing perfectionism:
Fear of failure and judgment are common reasons behind procrastination. We either wait for the right moment or avoid the task with self-doubts, resulting in constant stress.
- Distraction:
Everyone at least once sets time aside to complete specific tasks but spends time on other things like social media, playing games, texting, or in self-thoughts. These small yet impactful distractions take up time and lead to procrastination.
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- Struggling with time management:
Not having a clear plan and proper time management can lead to doing low-priority tasks or taking up a sheer volume of work, making you feel overwhelmed. This causes delays in decisions and actions, as you are always pending with something or the other.
7 Actionable tips to beat procrastination
As you know, the causes of procrastination. Now, let’s discuss how to stop procrastinating. Here are 7 actionable tips for beating procrastination and being more productive:
- Set clear goals per day
Begin your day with realistic and measurable goals. Starting work without proper goals can overwhelm tasks and lead to procrastination. Set 2-3 primary tasks you want to achieve in the day.
- Break tasks into smaller parts
Large tasks can feel intimidating, causing delays in starting. Divide them into smaller and achievable parts to reduce stress and increase focus. Rather than setting a task like “write a blog,” break it into smaller chunks like “Make blog outline and write introduction.” Small steps are easier to complete and boost motivation.
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- Make a to-do list before
Make a to-do list at night for the next day. Creating a task list earlier keeps your brain motivated and helps you prioritize tasks better for the next day. Besides, it eliminates decision-making time about what to do next.
- Use Pomodoro for time management
Working for long or uninterrupted periods is challenging and also leads to burnout. Use the Pomodoro technique to maintain focus and not feel tired quickly. In this technique, you need to set a small break of 5 to 10 minutes after each session of working 25 to 30 minutes. There are various apps available to use this technique.
- Eliminate distractions
Whether it’s social media or siblings, try to eliminate distractions. Regarding phones, use different apps and in-built features like focus mode or Do Not Disturb to avoid wasting time on screen. Identifying and eliminating distractions can help you save time and be more productive.
- Use the two-minute rule
Small tasks are often neglected for later, leading to the piling up of several tasks, making them overwhelming. So, always do tasks that take 2 minutes or less time right away instead of scheduling them. This approach avoids adding up work and also boosts motivation.
- Understand your brain behavior
My sibling’s mind is most productive in the morning, while I can work better in the evening. Everyone’s brain functions differently throughout the day. By recognizing when you’re most productive, you can optimize your schedule to match your natural energy levels. This approach avoids procrastination, especially for tasks you might postpone due to emotional triggers like fear of failure or perfectionism.
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Conclusion
Procrastination isn’t limited to professional life—it seeps into everyday tasks, like finding the best skin care products or decluttering a room. Beating procrastination starts with paying closer attention to your daily habits and making intentional changes. The tips above will improve your productivity and create a more balanced and fulfilling routine, freeing time and energy for what truly matters.
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