There are three types of procrastinators. The first type is the "chronic procrastinator," with a dominant emotion of fear. They are afraid of failure, mistakes, and bad decisions. At the same time, they are scared of success because they're not sure they can handle it. All these fears hinder anxious people from acting, changing, and making decisions.
Another type of procrastinator is the smart and talented "rebellious procrastinator." They often display anger, resentment, and harshness, which only mask their low self-esteem. Their procrastination is a kind of defiance.
The last type is the "neurotic perfectionist." In the pursuit of perfection, they keep improving instead of getting the job done. The desire to be flawless leads them to anxiety and exhaustion. They can only do their work in a rush due to approaching deadlines.
Have you recognized yourself as any of those procrastinators? If you want to do something with it, the following tips will help.
Tip 1. Set a time frame
It's much easier to achieve goals if you set them not for long periods, such as a year, but for shorter ones, such as three months. Effectively setting such goals can be helped by the S.M.A.R.T. goals methodology, proposed by George Doran in 1981. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specify your goal by asking questions like, "What will it be? Where will it be? When will you achieve it?" Measure your goal by answering basic questions like "How much? How long?" Plan realistic goals that you can achieve. Make sure your goal is relevant to your desires. Lastly, set deadlines.
Tip 2. Work efficiently, not a lot
Many people believe that the more tasks they manage to complete in a day, the more productive they are. However, personal success is often measured not by what you've done but by how much time you've spent on it. For example, the most successful people in the world invest all their energy and time into a few projects instead of trying to succeed everywhere. So, focus your attention on some tasks that are important to you.
The 25-5 rule will help you with this. For this method, write down twenty-five things you want to focus on and succeed in over the next few years. After that, highlight only the five most important items. Then, focus on achieving only these five things for at least a few months. New tasks may arise in your life, which you will also devote time and energy to, yet the chosen five areas should always be your priority until you achieve them.
Tip 3. Don’t be afraid to say no
Learn to say "no" to non-priority tasks. After identifying your five main goals, politely explain to people as soon as possible why you can't take on new projects. Inform your boss about your decision to narrow your focus. Explain that you have decided to take this step to improve work quality and productivity and that it is one of the ways to prevent possible procrastination.
For example, you have prioritized spending more time with your loved ones and children, engaging in sports, spiritual relaxation, improving health, and getting a driver's license. Therefore, refuse work meetings and phone calls outside of work hours. Spend weekends not with a laptop searching for new clients but in the park playing ball with the whole family. Sign up for driving lessons twice a week after work and ride toward your goal.
Tip 4. Make plans in advance
Plan your week to find a balance between all activities. To do this, buy a nice planner or download a convenient app if you prefer digital programs. Create "Thematic days." Instead of putting effort into all priority areas in one day, try focusing on just one. That is, do not combine working on a project, swimming, meeting with the whole family, and shooting a video clip for your YouTube channel all in one day.
Tip 5. Keep taking small, confident steps
Eradicating procrastination from your life is quite a challenging process. Try introducing new habits gradually rather than all at once. Divide habits into groups if they differ in their areas of application.
Don't get discouraged if you don't see significant results in the early stages; focus on daily small improvements. For example, yesterday, you had a vitamin smoothie and tasty egg pudding for breakfast instead of a whole chocolate bar with coffee. Today, you did some breathing exercises after waking up. Enjoy how you gradually overcome your bad habits and change your life for the better.
Tip 6. Use all your mental states
Seven mental states allow you to work productively. Five of these states make work a reality: Prioritize, Explore, Research, Generate, and Polish. In addition to priority tasks, you have routine tasks such as cooking and washing dishes, ironing clothes before work, or doing skincare before bedtime. The sixth mental state, Administrator, is necessary for everyone to keep all these tasks in order and get work done.
The seventh mental state is Recharge. You can't work without a break, so don't be afraid to rest. Take short breaks during which you can switch to something else and then return to work tasks. For example, go to a cafe to have delicious cocoa, watch funny videos on social media, or read a fiction book.
Tip 7. Keep going in the face of obstacles
Do something if you feel like you can't do anything. This advice works especially well during dark times, such as losing a job, falling and spraining an ankle, or having an argument with parents. Instead of sitting and just feeling sorry for yourself, start with small actions.
For example, take short walks to the park where you can breathe fresh air on a bench and relax. In the same park, you can meet your parents and have a conversation in a calm atmosphere. Every day, spend half an hour on job search websites looking for vacancies to find the job of your dreams. Remember, small steps lead to big results.
Tell yourself, "I quit procrastinating." Accepting the fact that you have a problem is the first step towards solving it. Remember that all the reasons for any type of procrastination stem from your emotions, such as shame, resentment, or fear from the past. Leave the negative experience behind and look only forward. We believe that you have enough strength to fill your life with higher productivity and desired achievements.
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