Why procrastination is bad? 7 effective steps to beat it today

Are you unnecessarily postponing important tasks? Are you focusing on more enjoyable and easy activities instead? If your answer is yes, it means you’re procrastinating, and that’s quite bad. It’s vital to understand the dangers of procrastination, so you can identify them on time. By identifying them you’re one step closer to handling them as successfully as possible.

Don’t fall into the procrastination trap! Procrastination hurts one’s performance, career, financial status, relationships, morale, and well-being. It can lead to stress, which in turn leads to mental and physical health issues. Let’s beat procrastination and work more effectively from home by following these 7 proactive steps!

1. Realize that you’re procrastinating 🛋

You aren’t necessarily procrastinating if you’re briefly putting off a task for a genuinely good reason. You’re procrastinating if you start delaying the task on an indefinite basis because you want to avoid the work. You’re also the procrastinating type if you:

• Fill your daily agenda with low-priority tasks
• Leave an important activity on your to-do-list for a long time
• Go off to make a coffee the minute you start working on a high-priority task
• Keep waiting for the right time to tackle a task 
• Start working on unimportant tasks for other people instead of finishing the important ones already on your list

Keep in mind, recognizing procrastination is the first and most important step!

2. Understand WHY are you procrastinating ❓

Once, you realize that you’re procrastinating, it’s crucial to understand WHY? Why, because you can’t handle the issue if you don’t know the reason why it occurred in the first place.

Are you avoiding a specific task because you think it’s uninteresting or unpleasant? If that’s the case deal with it quickly, so you can focus on the more enjoyable aspects of the job.

If you got poor organizational skills, most likely they’ll lead you to procrastination. Start learning how to organize yourself and how to set your priorities. Procrastination is something organized people successfully overcome. So, follow their lead, and use a prioritized to-do list and an effective schedule.

Don’t be afraid of failure, don’t feel overwhelmed by a task, and try not to be a perfectionist! You’d be surprised how often perfectionists become procrastinators. 

3. Implement anti-procrastination strategies 🥁

Now that you know you’re procrastinating, it’s time for the next step. Let’s do something about it! Even though we can’t break this nasty habit overnight, we can start by practicing some of these anti-procrastination strategies:

• Leave your procrastinating behavior in the past
• Commit to your task
• Be persistent and let someone check up on you
• Avoid distractions
• Clear the unpleasant tasks as soon as possible
• Think about the results

In the entire anti-procrastination strategies implementation process, concentrate on the long-term benefits. When you know that it could affect your annual performance review or your bonus at the end of the year, you’ll think twice before procrastinating!

4. Stay focused 🎯

The most important tool when fighting procrastination is the focus. We often become overwhelmed when we have too much to do and lose focus. It’s wise to choose one thing to commit to.

When you narrow it down to one task, take immediate action. Even if it’s a small one it’s still an action that’ll keep you on the right track away from procrastination. Focus goes hand in hand with the organization. So, if you want to stay focused you’ll need to implement these organizational skills:

• Use a to-do-list
• Create an Action Plan to organize a project
• Schedule activities on your calendar 
• Prioritize activities
• Set time-bound goals
• Do the hardest tasks when you’re most efficient

If you’re looking at a large project and you’re tempted to delay it, do NOT! Divide the project into smaller tasks and focus on their start, rather than their finish. That way you’ll keep procrastination at a safe distance. 

5. Use a power hour 🧭

To harness the optimal performance of your brain and body use a power hour! What’s a power hour you might ask? It’s an hour (or even less) of putting aside all distractions and to start working fully concentrated.

Within that power hour, you should also foresee short periods of rest, to restore your energy. Scientists have come to the conclusion that our brain works through cycles, “ups and downs” to be more precise. They believe that to honor those “ups and downs” you should balance concentrated focused time with relaxation. 

The time for rest is crucial. For maximum output, balance it well within the power hour!

6. Kill it with compassion 🕊

Don’t beat yourself up about past procrastination. The sooner you put it behind, the better! Be compassionate, and forgive yourself. By getting over past procrastination you’re more likely to overcome your current procrastination and take action. 

Self-compassion is something we can all work on. That way we’ll be able to make peace with our past decisions leading to procrastination, and start fresh. 

7. Create a reward🏅

We love rewards! Our brain is stimulated by rewards. So, it doesn’t hurt to treat yourself once you finish a certain task. 

A reward is a great motivator, that’ll keep you on the right track while working on a project. It’s probably procrastination’s worst enemy. It also helps you stay focused. When you have your eyes on the prize it’s much easier to commit your time and energy to the task and take immediate action.  

Implement these 7 proactive steps, and be the best version of yourself! Don’t think twice, try them out!

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