Procrastination, quite literally, gets us absolutely nowhere. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help kick the habit. The following tips will show you how you can switch from an “I’ll do it tomorrow” mindset to “It’s already done!”

Why Do You Procrastinate?

People procrastinate for different reasons. Figuring out why you are procrastinating can help you decide what to do about it! Forgetfulness, disorganization, and the fear of failure can all lead to procrastinating on a task.

How To Stop the Cycle

Once you’ve figured out why you procrastinate, you need to figure out a way to stop the habit.

Make a List: First things first, make a list about what makes you uncomfortable about forging ahead with a given task. Why are you resisting change? How do you feel when you think about what you have to do on a given day?

Avoid Distractions: What distracts you from tasks? Whether it’s the phone, television, the computer, or something else, figure out what your distractions are and avoid them. Unplug the phone, turn off the T.V. — do whatever you have to do to avoid your particular distractions.

Break it Down: Tasks become more manageable when you can break it down into smaller segments to do throughout the week. Instead of rushing to get something done, divide up the process over the course of a few days or a week. For example, if you need to wash five loads of laundry, do one load a day until it’s done.

Just Do It: The habit of procrastination isn’t something that’s going to change overnight. You’re going to feel resistance and undoubtedly pick up old habits again. When this happens, you need to force yourself to do the task you’ve set for yourself that day.

Reward Yourself: Overcoming procrastination can be very difficult. If you’re able to successfully overcome this habit, you deserve a reward for a job well done. If anything, a reward can help serve as an incentive to actually motivate you to power through the task!

Do you find yourself procrastinating often? How do you deal with the habit, and what tips have you used to overcome procrastination?

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(Original photo by Jayel Aheram, used under Creative Commons license.)