I was meant to start writing this blog post five days ago. So, just to be clear, when it comes to procrastination I can hang with the best of them. But when it really comes down to it, I know I can sit down, block out distractions and whizz through my to-do list(s). I’ve been battling procrastination for years and (mercifully) I’ve worked out some useful tricks along the way. So today I’m sharing my favourite tips to help you stop procrastinating and get more done.
1. Streamline your to do lists
To-do lists can be a great way to stay on track and manage all the things you need to get done. But using your to-do list as a brain dump of all the things you feel you need to accomplish in the next few months is not the way to go about it. If your to-do list is too long and daunting, you’ll never want to start it. Instead, you’ll probably want to burn it or hide it under the sofa and forget all about it.
An alternative is to work with multiple to-do lists. Write a weekly to-do list with all the mundane errands that pop up over and over again (laundry, meal-prep, laundry, dusting, laundry and, oh yeah, more laundry). Next make a smaller list of more specific things you want to achieve today. You can even have a third list for things that aren’t urgent, but that you’d like to get around to eventually like organising the photo albums or decluttering your closet.
Separating out your to-do lists makes them feel more achievable and less terrifying.
2. Get into a routine
If you find that, “Wash giant mountain of dishes” keeps cropping up on your to-do list, get into the habit of washing your dishes as soon as you’re done with them. Same goes for, “Pick up all the clothes I own from the floor.” Just put your clothes in the laundry basket as soon as you take them off and suddenly that’s one less thing you have to worry about each week.
When you get into a routine and start forming habits like these, you’ll find that your to-do lists get a lot shorter. Then you can dedicate more time to the other things you need to get done.
3. Take a social media hiatus
If comparison is the thief of joy, Facebook is the thief of productivity. How often have you set out to pay your bills online and then accidentally spent five hours watching cat videos on Youtube instead? If you want to stop procrastinating, implement a social media ban until you’ve finished up the tasks you set out to do.
4. Focus on the consequences
No one likes doing boring jobs, but reminding yourself of what could happen if you don’t get them done is a great way to stop procrastinating and to get them over with already.
Example:
What will happen if I don’t go pay my electricity bill today?
I will be sitting in the dark with no Netflix this weekend.
What will happen if I don’t do my laundry today?
I’ll have to go to work wearing a pink ball gown tomorrow because it’s the only thing I own that’s clean.
What will happen if I don’t clean my makeup brushes today?
Maybe I’ll get some kind of funky skin disease and my nose will fall off.
5. Treat yourself
Don’t be afraid to celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Have a treat in mind for when you complete your errands and you’ll find yourself much more likely to stick at them. After all, most of us would do just about anything for an ice-cream cone or a chocolate muffin.
The reality is, we’d all rather watch daytime TV in our pjs or browse online for strange gadgets we never intend on purchasing than do chores. Paying bills? Boring! Washing dishes? Boring! Writing presentations for work on a Saturday afternoon? Don’t even get me started!
But with these tips and a little bit of positive thinking, you really can stop procrastinating and start being productive. So if reading this blog post was a form of procrastination, I say this with love: close down the internet browser and get on with it already!
