Lessons On Personal Development: #5 Stop Procrastinating

It is true what they say that a year from now you will wish you had started today.

We all know that procrastination is the thief of time and yet, we keep doing it. Why is that so? Procrastination is not just your problem, it is a general human problem. According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, if a body is at rest will remain at rest unless it is acted upon by a force to do otherwise. Should I dare to say it? YES. The entire universe procrastinates. But just because delaying things is a universal thing, it does not mean that it is a good idea.

Perhaps the most valuable result of education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.

We mutter, “I should really be working on that idea or working out,” as we scroll down our top 3 smartphone apps, stand in front of the open fridge for the third time in an hour, realize that we are watching how-to-play ukulele tutorials on YouTube when we do not even have one or already watching the last season from that Netflix TV show that we randomly chose 2 days ago.

How many times have you felt bad when you found yourself procrastinating even though you know you shouldn't? Too many to count? OK, then how many times during the last week? Now you get my point. I bet you don’t like that feeling at all but it is there, it is important, vivid, and it makes us feel bad. Therefore, we must stand against it. But hey, hey, not tomorrow! We are doing it TODAY.

Procrastination is our favorite form of self-sabotage.

1. Make a list and get the quick things out of the way

Making a list will give you the first feeling of “doing the right thing”, but long to-do lists can also intimidate you into the procrastination cycle —that is why you should start checking some of the things as done. My tip is to make a list with side notes on how long each item should take to complete. As you go through the list, take any item that can be completed in an hour or less, and do it right away! This can not only shorten your to-do list quickly but can energize you as you mark off the tasks. It also sets you started in the right direction to finish the rest.

2. Take small steps — break big tasks into smaller tasks

Breaking down large tasks that are usually procrastination-worthy projects into smaller steps is a highly effective technique. It is always much easier to begin tackling a task that you know you can complete quickly than to start with a big one. Don’t forget that once you’ve taken a few beginner steps in the right direction, you will feel much motivated and you will keep moving until you’re done.

3. Use your temptations as progress rewards

As you complete a dozen of tasks or steps, the sense of accomplishment you feel can be its own reward and can create its own encouragement to move on to the next task. However, you can always benefit from an extra reward. I suggest that you positively challenge yourself by attaching small rewards to your list (things that you enjoy) and have those rewards when you complete several small tasks or a big one. Complete those two tasks that you have been procrastinating for a few weeks and then reward yourself with an entire season of that Netflix TV show. How does that sound?

4. Track your daily energy levels and use your peak wisely

Have you realized that you have much more energy at certain times of the day? (For me it is usually late morning or night.) You should try and focus on high-procrastination-risk tasks during these “high energy windows” and leave the small tasks for periods when you feel frazzled. That way you will become more productive and prevent falling again into that procrastination trap.

The habit of always delaying a task or an experience until you can afford it, until the time is right, or until you know how to do it — is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate and once you’ve made up your mind — jump in!

Equipped with these tips, I hope that you are feeling some fresh motivation to reconstruct your behaviors and make more progress on those significant tasks that you have been delaying for a while. But be gentle with yourself. You’re adopting some new habits, and that takes time, patience, and practice.