Want to Break the Cycle of Procrastination? Do These 9 Things
I myself feel the best when I’m being productive and I’m busy writing and creating content. But I’m only human; sometimes there are days when I just can’t seem to be able to get anything done.
It could be because I just discovered a new TV show I want to watch or because, like yesterday, I made the mistake of starting to play a silly game that turned out to be hard to stop.
While it’s of course not wrong to sometimes do something totally unproductive and you can spend your free time any way you like, you don’t want any pointless addictive activity to take up your whole day. Especially when you’ve got a long list of things to do!
I wanted to help you solve these situations fast, so I thought I’d write a list of things that I’ve found helpful when I’ve had a really hard time getting back to work. Use these actionable tips and techniques to break the cycle of procrastination!
1. motivational music
Motivational music can make all the difference. Choose something epic, like a movie soundtrack, or something more mellow to listen to, like coffee shop mabiance.
You can also listen to this energetic playlist that I’ve put to gether! It consists of the best and most memorable songs of some classics from the 90s and 00s.
2. Productivity outfit
Sounds cuckoo, but this can help! One trick to get into a productive mindset and make it easier to focus is to always wear the same piece of clothing when you get to work
A scriptwriting teacher I had years ago would always wear the same jersey when he wrote wrote his book.
3. Go to a new location
Sometimes changing the scenery helps. If you need to get something done, staying in the exact spot that you associate with being lazy and comfortable doesn’t help you.
Try moving to another place, even if it’s just another room in your apartment. If necessary, you can also try going to a library or a coffee shop to get started.
4. Set a timer
This is one of my favorite productivity tricks. I use timers all the time because they make it much easier for me to focus on the task at hand and work hard until the timer goes off.
Simply set your phone’s timer for a doable amount of time, like 30 or 45 minutes. If you find it very hard to stop procrastinating, you can set the timer for 10 minutes.
The important thing is that when the timer is running, you never ever do anything else but work. That way you will learn to focus and setting the timer will immediately put you in the mindset of productivity.
5. Motivational videos
Other than music, you can also try motivational videos. There are plenty of videos on Youtube that are intended to motivate you to work harder and keep going even when it gets tough.
Try to watch this video for starters. I also like to listen to Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address from time to time.
6. Promise yourself a reward
Promising yourself a reward for completing your to-do list can act as a powerful incentive to get out of the procrastination loop and start being productive.
You could pick something tangible as the reward, like a new book, or you could reward yourself with an episode of your favorite series.
Related article: How to Reward Yourself For a Job Well Done + 10 Ideas
7. Blocking app
I believe this is something every productive woman needs! Using an app to block social media apps and pointless websites will making it much easier to focus on your work and all the projects you have going on.
I like Digital Detox for Android, for iOs you can try Refocus.
8. Make a list of easy and quick tasks to do
If you’ve been lazy lately, it can be really hard to get back on track, especially if you have big or difficult tasks waiting for you.
Start by doing the simplest and fastest tasks first. Write a short and doable list of tasks that you know you can complete. After that, it will be easier to tackle the bigger ones.
9. Write a Scare text
One unique, yet powerful way to break the cycle of procrastination is to write a scare text for yourself.
The idea is to write about the worst scenario for your life if you don’t take action and keep procrastinating. Be as detailed as possible.
You can also do this by recording a voice note on your phone. Listening to your own voice can push you into action whenever you’ve been procrastinating.
Other helpful ways to stop procrastinating
Here are some more very simple ways to stop wasting your time and push yourself back on track.
Coffee
This is an obvious one, but it can work. I don’t normally recommend coffee and I usually avoid drinking it myself, but if you feel like it’s really hard to get back on track or your mind seems to be all over the place, why not have a cup?
Look at your vision boards
You’ve made your vision boards precisely for motivation, so let’s put them to use! Looking at your vision boards will help you remember what really matters to you, and it will inspire you to delete that stupid game from your phone and get back to work.
Go for a walk
Another very simple way to clear your head and stop wasting your time on activities you don’t really even care about is to simply go out and spend some time with your thoughts.
Prevention is the key
It’s important to know what to do when you’ve succumbed to procrastination and want to get back on track. But was is possibly even more important is to prevent procrastination in the first place. This will make you life much easier.
Here are a couple of tips on how to keep the time you procrastinate to a minimum:
Delete unnecessary apps and accounts
If your phone is full of apps and you’ve got a hundred different accounts on all kinds of pointless sites, it’s no wonder you find it hard to focus on things that matter. Declutter your phone and see how much easier it is to not procrastinate. Do you really even need a Reddit account? And does Twitter really give anything to you? It might feel a little scary to delete accounts you’ve had for years, but trust me, you’ll feel better when you do.
Don’t download games
Ads for pointless mobile games seem to be everywhere, but you should never download any if you want to avoid wasting your time. It’s especially important to stay away from games with levels or story lines. If you want to have something to play when you’re, say, in a doctor’s waiting room, you can have something basic like Solitaire or Hexxagon on your phone because those will get boring fast.
Pick a healthy way to deal with stress
Scrolling through social media and playing games are easy ways to relieve some stress. But neither one is a particularly good way to do it. Choose a different method to deal with stress and stick to it. You can for example try journaling, going for walks, or painting.
Create a routine
Routines can be very simple and still make your life easier. You can prevent procrastination by creating easy-to-follow routines for morning and evening, so that you don’t automatically fall to your old habits every time you feel a little bored or uncomfortable.
You can beat procrastination
It can be extremely frustrating to be stuck in procrastination mode, with seemingly no way out. I totally get it.
But I promise you that it absolutely is possible for you to stop procrastinating and become more productive. It takes some practise and it may not be very fun at first, but you can do it.
Be tough on yourself and do the things I’ve suggested in this post. Day by day, it will become easier to avoid procrastination and just get things done.
Here are a couple of blog posts that might help you:
Why You Can’t Wait Till You’re Not Scared Anymore
