5 Tips On How To Avoid Procrastination

How do we avoid procrastination, as a part of human behavior, to create incredible lies?

We all procrastinate every day without being aware of it. The reason is quite simple: we are humans. But how can we avoid procrastination?

Procrastination exists because we decide to let it exist, resulting from our emotional level. Sometimes, we have duties that we know must be done, but at the same time, we find the task tedious. Immediately, a voice somewhere tells us there are more “important” things to do now. The task we try to procrastinate on is more important, but your emotion creates an extraordinary lie you are willing to accept as the truth.

A good example could be cleaning the house after a party. Probably you recognize a situation like that, where whatever task is more important than cleaning up the house.

In my marathon training, I sometimes find jumping out of bed very early in the morning challenging. All possible excuses go through my head, trying to convince me that I should cancel the training this morning.

When I do my weekly long run, sometimes a firm voice “talks” to me. “15 K is enough” instead of continuing and doing the 26K according to the plan.”

How often has it happened that you have to execute a certain job with your computer, finding yourself after several hours answering e-mails or surfing around on websites that have nothing to do with the task you were supposed to do? Or even worse, playing games recently downloaded.

The list of examples could be endless, but it all comes down to one central point:

Emotions win over rationality.

Many articles about procrastination explain the behavior of “paying the price” by avoiding pain and continuing in the comfort zone.

Be A Cheater or Be Cheated

With the risk of being repetitive, my marathon training often teaches me a lot and gives tips on handling any situation in life. That little voice behind my ear telling me that it’s enough with 15K instead of the planned 26K appears when the legs tire when you slowly run out of energy, and the first signs of pain show up. That little voice tries to appeal to how you are suffering and your low level of defense at that moment.

I solved the running issue by running 13K and turning around back home again. That little trick makes it impossible to stop after half the distance, as you must take the road back home again. There is no other choice.

Applying this to daily work would be to shut down all applications that do not relate to the job you are planning to do—yes, including your e-mails. This is an easy way to concentrate on the actual task and not be disturbed by anything else.

Only focus on the task to do

Look after to get the task to do clearly,

Identify the problem in writing and give it a deadline.

Without a daily written “what to do” in my marathon training, I would never have come to the starting blocks adequately trained.

If the work to do is of a specific size or complexity,

break it down into various sub-tasks.

It’s always easier to fulfill the entire task with many smaller tasks, and as each sub-task gets fulfilled, it’s easier to jump over to the next one, as all the victories along the road encourage and motivate you to continue.

Everything in life has a purpose, and all tasks, no matter how boring they are or whatever excuse we come up with to procrastinate, and a good way of getting things done is to visualize the result of getting the task properly executed

Visualize the victory,

of when it’s all ready. The pride you will feel is that you can now celebrate your accomplishments.

One of the most frequent excuses to procrastinate is to blame others or circumstances for not getting things done. How easy wouldn’t it be to convince me that today I should cancel my training when it’s raining and the temperature is below what is typical for the season? The circumstances decide for me. However, that missing training session will influence my final result, and if repeated with a specific frequency, it will make it hard to fulfill the 26.2-mile marathon race I’m training for.

Always make yourself accountable.

This is probably the strongest argument against procrastination; you must be accustomed to it. Remember:

No one else than yourself is responsible for your destiny.

These five tips on how to avoid procrastination are simple and probably not new science. However, talking on the road can often be both long and windy, and it all comes down to being a cheater for that little voice behind your ear that constantly boosts procrastination into your life.

How often haven’t you promised yourself, your family, or friends that your life will change? You are going to earn more money. There will be more time for friends and family. You are going to have more freedom. One of the main reasons the change doesn’t occur is because of….yes, guess what…

Procrastination!