Five Techniques For Beating Procrastination

We’ve all heard it said that the hardest part about doing a project is starting it. Easy tasks have the ability to mushroom out of proportion if we don’t take care of them in a timely manner. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and with that in mind, I’ve put together this list of five techniques to use for beating Procrastination and getting on with your life.

Remove Distractions

I once had a professor tell me that the key to having good study habits was “keeping your butt in the chair.” The same technique can help you beat Procrastination. Put yourself in a room with what you need to get done, and remove all of your distractions. Then, keep your butt in the chair. If you don’t allow yourself to do anything else, sooner or later you’ll do what you’re supposed to.

Ask for Assistance

Friends and family are always there to help, especially when it involves self-improvement. You may not know this instinctively but ask them to give you a hand keeping you on task and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They can help you to find ways to get back on track when your mind starts to wander and you begin wasting time.

Reward Yourself for Working Hard

Set up a system of reward that follows the following model: If I work hard for X amount of time, I will reward myself with Y. Start with a shorter amount of time for X at first, and a really good reward for Y. Over time, increase X and decrease Y, until you can work without thinking of the immediate rewards.

Prioritize and Budget Your Time Accordingly

There are only so many hours in the day, so it’s imperative that you spend them doing the most important things. Don’t waste time on little unimportant things. Find out what the big things are, and then set aside time for them. Make a schedule and stick to it!

Start Now

Don’t wait until later to start your battle against Procrastination, because if you do you’ve already lost.