7 Tips to Stop Procrastination

Procrastination is one of the top reasons most people never accomplish the life they dream of.  How many items on your to-do list have been sitting there for way too long?  Do you have lists of things you’ll get around to later, when you have more time?  Or, do you have huge, daunting tasks that you know will propel you forward toward your goals, yet you don’t know where to start, so you keep putting them off?

 

 

Most people will never know how simple it is to master their life, simply because they’ve allowed procrastination to become a habit.  Don’t let things like a phone call, a visit from an office mate, or Facebook stop you from getting things done.  Don’t let the heaps of irrelevant tasks you’ve created for yourself stand in the way of life’s really important to-do’s.    

 

It’s the important tasks that separate an average life from a life of excellence.  You can become swift and focused!  You can break the habit of procrastination today!

 

How to Break the Habit of Procrastination

Make the following tips HABITS, and procrastination will be a thing of the past!

 

1. Set Deadlines.  Set a deadline for any and every important task.  Then, put it on your calendar and to-do list.  Break large tasks down into bite-sized pieces to make them less overwhelming and help you get the ball rolling.  Set a deadline for each bite-sized task as well.

 

2. Hold Yourself Accountable.  Create accountability to finish a task by telling others your deadline for completing it.  Making a promise to someone else makes you more likely to follow through.

 

3. Reward Yourself.  Decide on a reward for completing your important tasks.  Don’t stop working on a task until it’s complete, and when it is, reward yourself by getting up and taking a quick walk, grabbing a cup of coffee, etc.

 

4. No Excuses!  Don’t make excuses for unproductive behavior or rationalize it – just get it done!

 

5. Take Responsibility.  Take full responsibility for completing a task on time.

 

6. Be “Now-Minded.”  Take care of important tasks immediately.  If you know it needs done, get started on it.  Don’t give yourself time to think of an excuse for why you need get back to it later.

 

7. Stay on Track.  Once you’ve started an important task, and your mind starts to wander, check in with yourself.  Ask yourself, “Is this the most productive use of my time?”