How To get Rid of Procrastination and Laziness
Who is the thief that steals away all my precious hours (86400 seconds)..!!
As the alarm jolts me awake at 6 am, I check the time.
It hits me suddenly—I need to rise early and finish the presentation for the upcoming workshop. I go into the kitchen to make some tea, intending to get on with my PowerPoint slides.
But wait… while I’m here, why not unload and reload the dishwasher?
That way, I won’t have to do it later.
With tea in hand, I go to the terrace, but before I can focus on my work, I notice the plants. A quick watering session, I tell myself, and then I’ll be ready to take on the presentation.
Back in the kitchen to keep the cup, I think, why not make some sandwiches for the kids?
Breakfast sorted, and then I can finally concentrate on my slides.
With that done, I head back to my desk.
Or do I? I spot the clutter on my study table and decide a tidy place leads to clear thoughts.
But first, a quick shower to freshen up for the day. Once that’s done, I promise myself, I’ll focus solely on my presentation.
But wait—there’s the laundry basket. I quickly throw a load into the machine.
Feeling a bit hungry, I opt for lunch before settling down to work.
Oh, its siesta time, I decide to set an alarm for a quick nap, assuring myself I’ll be more alert afterwards.
However, when the alarm finally rings at 2:00 pm, I realize with a sinking feeling that I’ve yet to even start on my presentation.
Sitting down at last, I find myself writing this post instead of tackling my slides.
PROCRASTINATION is my THIEF !!
Procrastination is my sin.
It brings me nothing but sorrow.
I know that I should stop it.
In fact, I will — tomorrow..!!
Procrastination Meaning:
We all procrastinate sometimes, putting things off until the last minute.
Procrastination is the tendency to delay or unreasonably postpone a task.
It is a habit that affects everyone to a greater or lesser extent
We all procrastinate sometimes, putting things off until the last minute.
Reasons for Procrastination:
Fear of Messing Up
People might worry about failing or not doing something perfectly, leading them to procrastinate out of fear of making mistakes.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Tasks that feel like climbing a mountain can be daunting, causing individuals to procrastinate as a way to avoid that overwhelming feeling.
Not Feeling Like It
Boring or uninteresting tasks can easily be put off in favor of more enjoyable activities, leading to procrastination.
Getting Stressed
Just thinking about a difficult task can make individuals anxious, prompting them to procrastinate to avoid those uncomfortable feelings.
Perfectionism
The fear of anything less than perfect might keep individuals from even starting a task, resulting in procrastination.
Distractions
Easily getting distracted by phones and other devices can make it challenging to focus and get things done, leading to procrastination.
Excuses
Tricking oneself with thoughts like “I work better under pressure” can lead to procrastination, even if it’s not true.
Feeling Down
Low energy or unhappiness can make it harder to get motivated to do a task, resulting in procrastination.
Stressed Out
Feeling overwhelmed or stressed can also lead to procrastination, as individuals may put things off because they feel like they can’t handle them right now.
Too Happy!
Even being in a very good mood can sometimes lead to procrastination, as individuals may feel relaxed and enjoy themselves, making them more likely to put off a task for “later.
RELATED: SELF LIMITING BELIEFS
15 Tips to Overcome Procrastination:
Break It Down
Break big tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to make them less intimidating and give yourself a starting point.
Plan Ahead
Schedule dedicated time slots for specific tasks, including breaks, to stay focused and prevent procrastination.
The Power of Lists
Make a to-do list and prioritize your tasks to provide a sense of accomplishment and keep yourself motivated.
The Power of “Just One Thing”
Choose one small thing to complete to get started, as often, getting started is the hardest part, and completing small tasks can boost confidence.
Limit Distractions
Silence phone notifications, close unnecessary browser tabs, and find a quiet place to minimize interruptions and stay focused.
Reward Yourself
Celebrate completing tasks, big or small, with a reward to motivate yourself to continue being productive.
The Power of “Just Five Minutes”
Commit to working on a task for just five minutes, as often, those five minutes can turn into much more productive stretches.
The Pomodoro Technique
Work in focused 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks to maintain focus and prevent burnout.
Progress, Not Perfection
Accept that “good enough” is often good enough and focus on making progress, however small, rather than striving for perfection.
Identify Your Peak Times
Determine whether you are a morning person or a night owl and schedule difficult tasks for when your energy levels are highest.
Be Easy on Yourself
Don’t beat yourself up about procrastinating; instead, learn from the experience and recommit to your goals.
Find an Accountability Partner
Team up with a friend or colleague to hold each other accountable for completing tasks and provide support and motivation.
Visualize Success
Take a moment to visualize yourself completing the task and the sense of accomplishment it brings, to boost motivation.
Power of “No”
Learn to politely say no to requests that don’t align with your priorities to protect your time for focused work.
Declutter Your Space
Organize your workspace to create a clean, clutter-free environment that promotes focus and reduces distractions.
Take Breaks
Schedule regular breaks to move your body, stretch, or clear your head to prevent burnout and maintain productivity.
Reward Yourself (Again!)
Celebrate achieving major goals with a bigger reward to reinforce positive goal-achieving behavior and keep yourself motivated for the future.
Just be patient with yourself
Building momentum is key.
Start small, celebrate your wins, and keep these tips in mind.
Overcoming procrastination isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible with the right strategies and mindset.
Breaking tasks down, planning ahead, limiting distractions, and rewarding yourself for progress are just a few ways to beat procrastination.
Now it’s your turn! Take a deep breath, pick one small step from the list, and start implementing it today.
Whether it’s setting a timer for five minutes of focused work or scheduling dedicated time slots for your tasks, every action counts.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start making progress towards your goals.
Take that first step today.
- “The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.” – Dawson Trotman
- “Procrastination makes easy things hard and hard things harder.” – Mason Cooley
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
RELATED : GOAL SETTING TIPS
Understanding Procrastination and Laziness
Procrastination:
- Putting Things Off: It’s about delaying tasks, often due to emotional reasons like fear of failure, overwhelm, or lack of motivation.
- Intention to Complete: Procrastinators generally intend to finish the task eventually, they just keep pushing it back.
- Feeling Guilty or Stressed: Procrastination often leads to guilt or stress if we are unable to complete the task.
Laziness:
- Lack of Motivation: Laziness is simply a lack of desire to put in effort, regardless of the task.
- No Intention to Complete: Someone who is lazy might not even plan to do the task at all.
- Feeling Content or Indifferent: Laziness doesn’t usually lead to negative emotions, just a lack of urgency.
An Analogy:
Imagine you have a project or an assignment due tomorrow.
Procrastination:
- Delaying Tactics: You keep telling yourself you’ll do it later, even though you know the deadline is approaching. You might feel stressed and guilty as the deadline gets closer.
Laziness:
- Lack of Initiative: You simply don’t feel like doing it and might not even consider starting it. You might feel content relaxing and watching Netflix instead.
Procrastination is about delaying tasks due to emotional hurdles, while laziness is a lack of motivation to put in any effort at all.
Procrastinators often feel bad about putting things off, while laziness doesn’t typically cause negative emotions.
These are some very good tips! Thanks so much.