Every individual, at some point in life, gets into the procrastination mode. People tend to procrastinate in their personal, work, education, and even social life too. But, once it crosses a line where you feel your productivity stops, you need to self-analyze. The whole definition of procrastination changes with situations.
If you are young and starting in your career, procrastination can be a big hindrance to your achievements. It applies to everyone in all walks of life. Considering all the above problems of procrastination, we have shared some ideas to overcome it through this article. Furthermore, we have explained and discussed effective time-management tips to beat procrastination.
Before we begin, we also need to understand the underlying causes and reasons behind procrastination. By understanding the reasons, you will be better able to handle it.
Let's discuss everything in detail.
Is Procrastination a Time-Management Problem?
Not in every situation. Procrastination becomes more like an emotional concept in many places. People tend to procrastinate as a way to cope with and overcome unwanted emotions and thoughts. Individuals tend to procrastinate to reflect their mood, disinterest, etc. through good time-management techniques, you can effectively handle procrastinating habits.
Does Procrastination come due to Poor Time-Management?
The answer would be No. Poor time-management is not the only reason why people procrastinate. In reality, there are multiple reasons for procrastination. If you understand the reasons, you will find clear ways to fit the time-management techniques to beat procrastinating habits.
9 Reasons why people procrastinate:
If you don't like it, you will not do it: It's simple logic. Most People procrastinate towards things that they don't like. It also applies to things they don't care about anymore.
1. Under-Estimating
By under-estimating tasks or anything in case of your personal as well as professional life, you bring in lethargy and careless mind-set. It is one of the major reasons for people procrastinating. Under-estimating habits lead to procrastinating things. It gives the individual a feeling of less-importance. As a result, it is postponing, and ignoring starts to happen.
2. Over-Estimating
Likewise, over-estimating habit makes people procrastinate. It quickly brings disinterest. It leads to a feeling of disconnect with the concerned project/work.
3. Poor Time-Management
It leads to procrastination, especially with students and young professionals starting with their careers.
4. Unclear about What to Do
While going through this phase, where we don't know what to do, we procrastinate. It happens to everyone at some point in life. It applies to your career, personal life, business, studies, etc. Particularly concerning young people and professionals, 'unclear about what to do' can happen often. To cope with that, people tend to procrastinate.
5. Lack of Interest
With no interest or decreased-interest, people start to procrastinate.
6. Not Motivated
If people start to feel that if the work they do no longer motivates them, they start to procrastinate. Cannot see where this task is headed: People start to procrastinate if they don't see where the work is headed. Similarly, if the work is not beneficial to them, they start to ignore it.
7. Voluntarily Delaying
It's the most common reflection of procrastination. People knew that the work has to be done. Instead, they focus on other things. If people show voluntary-delay in their activities, it eventually means they are procrastinating for some reason.
8. Emotional Reasons
Procrastination can also be due to reasons such as boredom, anxiety, stress, fear of failure, unable to cope with changing situations, negative emotions, worries, etc.
9. Starting Trouble
It's another major trigger for procrastination. Whenever people find difficulties in starting, they procrastinate. The trouble of getting started can be due to various reasons. Corresponding reasons could be due to lack of skills, negative or unwanted thoughts, expecting perfection, lack of adequate training, fear of failure, etc.
The main reasons behind procrastination fall under these 9 points. By understanding why you procrastinate, you can easily find ways to overcome it. If you could relate yourself or your procrastination habit to any one of the above reasons, it means you need a game plan. This is where good time management techniques get to save the day.
10 Simple & Effective Time Management Techniques to Beat Procrastination
With a simple and easy to follow time-management techniques, you can easily overcome the procrastination habit.
1. "Active" in Your Spare Time
Have a few hours of spare time every day. If you feel like you are procrastinating or very hesitant to start any work, close it as of now. Find some spare time in any part of the day. Work in spare time. The point is, instead of procrastinating, you can try different things in the same area in which you are working. Be active in those spare times with related work. Practice this technique.
To better explain the concept, let's see an example.
Example: Imagine yourself as an artist. You keep procrastinating' a project due to lack of inspiration or motivation. Hence it becomes difficult to start the work. To begin with, find a few hours of spare time in any part of the day. Instead of focusing on the project, relax your mind.
Take a canvas or journal and start drawing or coloring whatever comes to your mind. By doing so, you get to hit the brain's refresh button. You can get some ideas if you focus on yourself instead of postponing or ignoring it. Over time, you might get a spark to start.
2. Divide the work into little chunks
Big tasks can be overwhelming. In due time, you start to feel total exhaustion. Likewise, big works bring starting troubles. Eventually, people start to procrastinate. To beat procrastination, divide the works into little chunks. Break them into little actionable tasks. Divide tasks according to various categories. For instance: divide them based on importance, time-required, resources needed, etc.
3. 'Short-Time' things first
Work on things that take short-time. In this way, you will not have difficulty to 'begin' the work. Beginning with short-time projects can be a healthy alternative to avert the feeling of procrastination.
4. Get Started somewhere
You cannot procrastinate in the long run. The habit leads to a level where your reputation can be at stake. If you don't find anywhere to start, it's fine. The next day, work something out. Analyze the task in hand. See what you can do about it. Instead of postponing, look for ways to begin somewhere. It can be as little work as 'creating a folder for your work. Do simple tasks like writing in your planner, or talking it with your colleagues. Begin somewhere.
5. Take Little Breaks
Celebrate little achievements. Take little personal breaks. If you feel like you are triggered to procrastinate, divert your thoughts. Go out, listen to music and get some fresh air. Do things you like, settle yourself, and begin fresh. Don't let the feeling of procrastination take shape.
6. Stop Notifications for a While
Social media, smart-phones, gadgets, and notifications divert the attention highly. Once you are addicted to them, you will automatically procrastinate with the work in hand before you begin to work, mute, or turn off notifications for a while. It'll help you get started without any disturbance.
7. There's 'No' Perfect time
There is no 'perfect time' to start work. Waiting for "prefect-timing" is one of the common reasons behind procrastination by individuals. Don't wait for a perfect moment or perfect day or perfect time to start your work. Don't use this as an excuse.
8. De-cluttered Workplace
A cluttered workplace can be a big distraction. Too many objects, including stationery items, gadgets, or any sorts of clutters on the table, can divert your attention. You may find something of interest to you. For instance, if you see a book, you will start flipping pages or start reading things. Your focus changes here. To beat procrastination clean your Workspace before you sit to work. Preferably, look for a secluded and comfortable place to begin your work.
9. Schedule & Prioritize
Scheduling and prioritizing are simple yet effective time-management techniques to overcome procrastination. If you don't know where to start, then start prioritizing your work. It should give you baby-steps to begin a job. Track down little things related to your task. Start with it. Schedule and prioritize based on what's important and what needs immediate attention. Besides, add the closest task that can be completed. Maintain a little notebook for it.
10. Better Idea than Avoidance
This is a simple technique for your brain. Your brain can sense boredom if you can sense dis-interest. As a result, it keeps doing the same thing again and again, i.e., triggers the feeling of procrastination. Feed your brain some positive actionable thoughts. Whenever your brain triggers the thought of 'Let's procrastinate,' divert it by giving valid ideas. Don't give the thoughts of 'Postpone' or 'avoid it.'
The ten reasons we discussed here are the best time-management techniques to beat the procrastination habit. The reasons can help you with bringing productivity. We hope that these points will help you to think through procrastination and follow simple ways to overcome it.
Conclusion:
Procrastination is normal. You don't have to feel guilty about it. To beat procrastination, allocate a specific time or a few hours in a day to do the things that you like to do. In this way, you won't be thinking about them while you are set to work seriously. But, the concern here is if we keep procrastinating, it puts a question on our credibility.
We need to draw the line somewhere. Good time-management skills can help you treat procrastinating habits a lot better. The article about time-management tips and techniques for overcoming procrastination will be of use to you. Especially to professionals, we hope that this article will be of very much help.