Procrastination: 5 Tips To Get Things Done
Procrastination is the postponement of urgent tasks. You don't feel like it and prefer to amuse yourself with other (less important) things. Here are 5 tips for beating your inner bastard.
Important tasks are waiting that should have been done long ago. But instead, you put your feet up and scroll endlessly through social media or watch videos that are actually a waste of time. First things first: it's natural and we've all had it - procrastination.
But too much procrastination leads to putting off more and more things in front of you until at some point the mountain is no longer so easily manageable. That's why it's important to accumulate enough discipline and get things done right away. And let's face it: without hopeless to-do lists and a guilty conscience in the back of your mind, it's much easier to relax!
Tip No. 1: Small goals are big successes
In order to be able to work efficiently on larger tasks without losing interest, it makes sense to set small goals. The work does not have to be done in one day. It can be divided into smaller, feasible steps. Each partial goal achieved leads to success. For example, if you have to clean your flat, you can define the rooms as a partial goal. Clean out the wardrobe? Summer and winter clothes could be separate sub-goals. It is important to stick to the task and not lose motivation again after a subgoal has been achieved. Small rewards like a short coffee break or a nice phone call with a friend can work wonders.
Tip No. 2: Eat-the-Frog Method
This method was developed by Brian Tracy. He was inspired by Mark Twain's quote: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day." Specifically, it means that you should do the unpleasant and difficult tasks first thing. To better define the "frog", it is best to make a list of tasks. Categorise them according to priority. The Eisenhower principle is well suited for this, in which you distinguish between
- urgent and important
- urgent and unimportant
- not urgent, but important
- not urgent and unimportant
The "frog" will be found among the tasks in the category "urgent and important". This task should be done first and preferably without major interruptions. Once you have completed this task, the remaining points are not quite so difficult.
Tip no. 3: Create a pleasant environment
The working environment has a great influence on the effectiveness of our work. An untidy environment makes us restless and unable to concentrate. Especially for office work or other work that is done in one place, it is therefore important to create a pleasant atmosphere. A tidy workplace helps us not to lose focus.
Tip No. 4: Accountability partner
Sometimes it helps to discuss your goals and plans with friends or colleagues. They can be supportive by regularly hearing what has been achieved and what the next goals are. The responsibility of being accountable to someone else can motivate us to be more productive and not put off tasks.
Tip no. 5: Switch off your smartphone
Often it is our smartphone that stops us from getting things done. Be it a call, a message or social media. To be able to concentrate better on a task, the simple trick is to simply switch off the smartphone. This can prevent annoying interruptions or the temptation to just watch 5-minute reels for a moment.
Photos: Shutterstock
