20 simple ways to stop procrastination

Do you sometimes find comfort in postponing what you have to do now, for later and perhaps even later on? Do you then regret not achieving your set goals on time? If you feel concerned enough, and you want to stop your procrastination, read on…

Everyone has procrastinated at some point in time, if not always. In this blog post I’ll list out 20 tips that I’ve personally seen as helpful to stop procrastination for good.

Throughout life:

1. Strategically, you should first know your ‘why‘ or your life purpose. This is at the core of realizing what you really want in life, so it does apply to stop procrastination, as with everything else that you want to achieve in life in general.

2. Set goals using the SMART model (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) or another that you may prefer. This makes sure that you plan correctly.

3. Plan for success. Make sure you plan for things that truly matter to you so that you have no reason to procrastinate at all!

4. Quit perfectionism. While you should set high standards for yourself, waiting to be perfect will not help you to stop procrastinating.

It may be a debate if procrastination is a habit or nature of a person. However, work on it to see results for yourself.

“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” – Napoleon Hill

On a daily basis:

6. Get motivated! Adopt a positive mind/attitude, repeat affirmations and live in the moment to be focused on doing things.

7. Prioritize tasks and set deadlines for better productivity. Make sure that the most important and urgent things get done first.

8. Have a to-do list. It guides you throughout the day.

9. Eat the frog! Get started with the hardest task first and get done with it.

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” – Mark Twain

10. Eliminate what’s unnecessary by reviewing your to-do list. Are there things that have become redundant?

11. Take baby steps by breaking down your work into smaller bits. Progress gradually and surely!

12. Batch similar tasks together to get things done properly and at ease. Avoid multitasking, which has been seen to decrease productivity and increase stress levels.

13. Having a morning routine will ensure that you get started with the day in an orderly way. Hitting the snooze button of your alarm, on the other hand, won’t!

14. Discipline or rather self-discipline will support you a lot in not procrastinating. Having a daily fitness routine helps to inculcate habits that are productive in nature.

15. Decluttering your office (and even your home) creates a more organized space. Declutter your life as well for emotional benefits.

16. Block out distractions. Quit checking emails unnecessarily, switch off your phone and turn off notifications that can wait.

17. Be accountable to yourself (and if possible to those close to you as well), so that you answer about how you’re progressing towards your set goals.

On a regular basis:

18. Enhance your environment. Work in spaces that bring out the best in you. If at work, suggest to your manager to make small reasonable changes to your office. If you’re your own boss, you can bring all the changes you desire by yourself!

19. Tell close ones about your goals, so that you’re more motivated and you’ll then just have to achieve them!

20. Reward yourself. Now that you’ve achieved a goal, no matter how small… celebrate! Buy yourself your favorite ice cream, watch a movie with your friends and spoil yourself!

Conclusion:

Procrastination doesn’t have to lead to failure! You can stop procrastination for better results in your personal and professional life. Do you have any tips to share? Please do so. Thank you!!¹

1. Read more on procrastination by clicking the links here. “Understanding Procrastination” and “The Psychology of Procrastination” ↩︎