Work

10 Tricks to Stop Procrastination & Finally Get Things Done

2019-03-03 , 4:00 am

Last Updated on 2021-01-17 , 4:12 pm

I was never really one to procrastinate since I am a firm believer of the saying”先苦后甜”.

I think the phrase can be loosely translated into “No sweet without sweat” or “The bitter must come before the sweet”.

Well, you get the idea. Like, how can you sleep knowing that there’s still work to be done and money to be made? Call me a workaholic, but I believe in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow of suffering.

As such, here are 10 tips and tricks to help you procrastinators get your lazy butt off that couch!

1) Get a calendar

Now, I may not be a procrastinator, but I am incredibly forgetful. Heck, you can tell me to dump the bag of rubbish on my way out and I’ll still walk out empty handed 5 minutes later.

I find that having a calendar helps a lot. Aside from reminding me the things I have to do, I can also see the number of incomplete tasks.

I’m fairly certain it’ll force you to start on something if you aren’t already working on something. Now, if the calendar method doesn’t work, no worries.

We still have 9 more tips to go!

2) Change where you work

Ever notice if your productivity is better when you’re at a certain location? Say, for example, doing your work in the office vs doing your work at home.

For me, my productivity tends to be better when I’m in an office setting. Without my bed and refrigerator to distract me, I can give my work 101% of my attention!

Try switching around if you are allowed to. Even changing a desk/cubicle at work might help too!

3) Stop looking at the clock

To be honest, this could actually work to your advantage or the other way around. Looking at the clock either reminds you of how little time you have left, or reminds you that you still have 2 hours until lunch break.

I’m sure you know what kind of person you are. I try not to pay attention to the clock when I work, and I find that this method actually forces me to work faster.

4) Break down your work process

Instead of writing “Finish report by today” on your calendar, you could perhaps break down the workflow into simpler steps.

One of the reasons why people procrastinate is because of the workload. Not knowing where and how to start is perhaps one of the reasons why people tend to put off a certain task.

For example, if you are required to write a report, your steps could be something like:

Pick a topic
Search for relevant data
List info out in point forms
Outline and draft
Finalize and polish up the draft

Now, writing a report suddenly doesn’t seem that bad, yes?

5) Work buddy

I’m sure some of you are required to work with your colleagues on some projects. Pick someone who is goal oriented and you guys can check on each other every now and then to ensure that you guys are on the right track.

Having someone you can relate to or confide in will definitely help your work! Besides, forming a close bond with a colleague is never a bad thing, right?

6) Wait to rush, rush to wait

Before PTSD thoughts back from your NS days creep up to you, understand that you never have to wait for something to happen!

Well, while it’s true that you might need to wait for approval from your boss before you can work on something, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work on something else when waiting for your boss!

You can always start on your next report or project! I’m sure that’ll save you lots of precious time.

Besides, if it’s something you’re certain will be approved, it doesn’t hurt to do a little bit of research first too (refer to point 4)!

7) Convince yourself you can do it

Start by talking to yourself. And no, we’re not telling you to scream like a fool in your office. Before starting a task, tell yourself something like:

“(Your name), you can do this! We’ve done this before!” or something like “(Your name), this is your time to prove yourself to your boss!”

Better yet, find a friend who is willing to do this with you and motivate each other!

8) Reward yourself when you’re done

So, you kena arrowed by your boss is in charge of a mundane task. You really don’t want to get started even though the deadline is tomorrow. How now?

Well, remember that bar of chocolate in your refrigerator? Or that new restaurant near your workplace? Tell yourself that you’ll be rewarded for finishing the task!

Hopefully, the anticipation will motivate you and help you get things done!

9) Music to your ears

This might not work for everyone, but some people work really efficiently when listening to songs while working.

One of my classmates from school used to listen to heavy metal during revision sessions. And boy, he could memorize an entire page of content within half an hour!

Pick the best type of music to help you focus! It’s really about what you’re the most comfortable with!

10) Just do it!

Like what a certain celebrity-turned-meme fella used to say:

No, really.

Just do it.

If it’s something you have to do or want to do, why wait? Time waits for no one! Success? Failure? You won’t know until you’ve tried!

So, just get your butt off the couch and just do it!

Featured Image: ProStockStudio / Shutterstock.com