Proven Ways On How To Stop Procrastinating

It’s almost noon, and time is running out. You’re rushing to finish a task before the three o’clock deadline, quietly blaming yourself for not starting earlier. What caused this to happen? Where did things go wrong? Why did you lose your concentration? Does this ring a bell? If that’s the case, you’re not alone! Procrastination has turned out to be a major stumbling block to success, and here’s how to get rid of it for good.

Most of us fall into the trap of procrastinating. Truth be told, it may soothe you to know that you’re not alone. But it’s also disheartening to discover how much it can draw you back. Perhaps your procrastination is just a simple issue that is hindering your performance.

Or it could be a serious one that is keeping you from attaining your objectives. Either way, you’ve tried several ways to stop procrastinating but discovered how tough it is to do so. Thus, this article begins with an overview of procrastination. Next, we’ll explain why we procrastinate.

What’s more, we’ll explore some proven methods for how to stop procrastinating. However, while reading this article, remember that procrastination is a difficult problem to deal with. However, if you carefully read and establish a viable plan of action, and then walk through it, you will find a good way to stop procrastinating.

An Overview of Procrastination

Procrastination is the practice of holding back or extending a task or group of duties. It’s the barrier that prevents you from doing what you should be do‌ing. Procrastination is sometimes mistaken for laziness, although the two are not the same.

Procrastination is a deliberate action in which you choose to do something other than the activity you know you should be performing. While laziness connotes indifference, passivity, and a refusal to perform.

Procrastination entails putting off a less pleasurable but perhaps more crucial duty in favour of something more fun or easy.

However, succumbing to this need might have significant drawbacks. Sometimes, little instances of procrastination might make us feel guilty or humiliated. It can impair performance and hinder us from achieving our aims.

Often, we can get demoralized and frustrated with our work if we delay for a long time. As a result, we can link procrastination to worse academic performance, reduced employment wages, a higher risk of unemployment, more stress, higher rates of mental health concerns, and higher rates of physical health difficulties. Of course, it can also lead to depression and even job loss in extreme circumstances.

What Causes Me to Procrastinate?

Every procrastinator has undoubtedly asked themselves some form of the questions below:

“Why do I still procrastinate despite knowing how horrible it is for me? Are there available measures on how to stop procrastinating?”

Many believe that the major causes of procrastination are laziness or a lack of self-control. However, the truth is far more complicated.

It is the psychological abilities that we use to self-regulate our actions, in our attempts to bring ourselves to take measures that are to our greatest advantage.

Whenever we need to complete a task, we remain dependent on our subconscious to get us to do it.

Our drive, which is based on the need for compensation because of accomplishing that work, may offer a useful boost to our self-control.

This may allow us to act fast. Many demoralizing variables, such as worry or fear of failing, might have the opposite impact on our drive. It causes us to procrastinate activities more instead of completing them on time.

There are several impeding variables, such as mental tiredness or confusing situations, that directly interfere with our self-control and drive. Such factors make us more prone to procrastination.

We procrastinate whenever these demoralizing and obstructive influences overcome our self-control and enthusiasm. So, we’ll have to wait for the balance to change again to our advantage before beginning our task. And this might take a long time.

That said, as you read this article, it’s workable to alter this balance in your favour sooner by adopting the correct strategies.

It will help you reclaim control of the situation and complete your tasks when you choose, not when your procrastination thinks you can. Look at this guide if you want to understand more about why people procrastinate.

Other Causes of Procrastination are;

Decision-Making Paralysis

There are incredible opportunities available in today’s world. Everyone treasures personal freedom in modern culture, with the notion that the more free individuals are, the better they will be.

But, why aren’t people today happier than they were in the past? As we have greater freedom to make our judgments and act, we are now confused about what to make as a primary concern. Including what is vital and what is not, what is good and bad.

As a result, this has made us unmotivated to accomplish anything at all. However, for you to know how to stop procrastinating, you must clarify your principles and personal goals and develop good habits. This is the most important factor in how to stop procrastinating.

Overlooking Time’s Relevancy

Everyone’s time on planet Earth is both short and precious. Given these truths, time is the most important item you own; not money.

Unlike time, you can borrow, save or earn money. That is impossible to achieve with time because every second you waste can never be recovered.

When you understand that life is finite, it causes you to become more cautious about how you spend your time on earth. You’ll know how to stop procrastinating when you judiciously use every minute you spend on tasks.

How to Stop Procrastinating

The first step in figuring out how to stop procrastinating is to identify how procrastination prevents you from attaining some goals.

Next, identify the nature of your procrastination. For example, look out for the factors that make you overwhelmed while working on a task.

Here, you’ll learn more about the strategies to undertake if you’re thinking of how to stop procrastinating.

1. Figure out the Problem

If you want to properly fix your procrastination problem, it’s necessary to first recognize the source of the issue you’re struggling with. When examining your procrastination, consider the following three primary factors:

When do you procrastinate?

This means questioning how you procrastinate in different scenarios. Do you procrastinate more while you’re working remotely than when you’re working at the office? Do you find it difficult to complete projects you’ve started, or do you find it difficult to begin in the first place?

What are your reasons for procrastinating?

This means identifying what is prompting you to postpone. Do you find yourself continually distracted or confused to the point that you don’t know where to begin? Do you get distracted by social media, video games, and hanging out with friends? Or do you always think there’s more time for you to round up a task?

Now, let’s imagine the above questions in this scenario. Think about it whenever you work on office tasks. Every time you’re given a job, you focus on your laptop in the office (when). However, instead of focusing on the project, you end up surfing the internet (what), since the task is so uninteresting.

Rather than expecting that things will change in the future, take time to analyze the source of your procrastination problem and then come up with a viable solution.

For more details about why we procrastinate, read the psychology of procrastination.

2. Embrace Anti-procrastination Tactics

Procrastination is a habit — a deeply ingrained pattern of behaviour. Habits only cease when you stop doing them. So, one of the ways to stop procrastinating is to try many of the tactics listed below.

Recognize that you’re a procrastinator and forgive yourself.
Write down realistic goals you want to achieve during a specific period. Then concentrate on any tasks at hand and ensure you carry them out as planned.
Reward yourself always. If you finish a challenging task on time, reward yourself with a packaged gift, a piece of chocolate cake, or a cup of coffee. In addition, don’t forget to appreciate how satisfying it is to complete tasks!
Avoid distractions. Whenever it is time to work, always flee from distractions. Distractions could come from social media, emails, games, or television. Sometimes, the environment in which you live may not be conducive to you. You can easily become distracted by the noise from cars, generators, neighbourhood quarrels, and so on. In a case like this, you’ll require a change of environment.
Last, ask a friend to remind you of the tasks at hand. If you feel that won’t work for you, use procaster for self-monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions About Procrastinating

What does procrastinate mean?

Procrastination simply means the act of shifting a supposed action or event without any tangible reason to a later date.

What does it mean if you’re procrastinating?

Simply put, it means you are lazy, unserious and lack focus and motivation.

How do I stop procrastination?

Procrastination can be stopped by setting your priorities right and disciplining yourself to achieve your set goals.

What are the 3 types of procrastinators?

Simply put, there are basically three types of procrastinators which are; perfectionists, the dreamy and the dawdlers.

Why am I Procrastinating?

You are procrastinating because you have not set your priorities right.

Conclusion on How to Stop Procrastinating

At the end of it all, everything boils down to action. You may strategize, plan, and expect all you want, but nothing will happen unless you take action.

Hence, after reading this article on how to stop procrastinating, don’t just sit back and relax. Instead, get up, put yourself together and ride on!