Most of us do it. I put off writing the introduction to this post until just before it was supposed to go live. Listen, the cereal containers weren’t alphabetized, and there was a ping pong redemption match, and my desk was a wreck. My desk is still a wreck. What was I doing? Oh, right. I put off organizing my desk because there was a cool bird outside and a walk to get coffee, and… right. Procrastination.
So how do you beat procrastination? Here are some tips and helpful products to distract you for juuust a little longer before you buckle down and get things done. This is it. Last distraction.
Break it down
- Start anywhere. Start small. You’re much more likely to get going on something if you start. If you do a tiny bit and then stop, the interruption will nag you. The Zeigarnik effect is the idea that an incomplete task is more memorable and front-of-mind, and it can be as simple as creating and titling a Google Doc.
- Make a list. Just like with finishing a project, sometimes what you need to do is create a detailed list and crossing off some stuff. Your first item can be make a list.
Get in the zone
- Take a moment and really think about what you need to do. We often procrastinate the things we actually enjoy, and if that’s the case, think about how good it will be to get to work, and what it will mean when you finish and get it out into the world. If what you’re delaying is something you will not enjoy, think about how sweet life will be on the other side of the task.
- Again, similarly to finishing a task, sometimes you need to lose the distractions to get started. TV off, music without lyrics low and in the background, laptop offline (if your work doesn’t require it), chatting friends far, far away. Be your most anti-social self.
- Set a timer. If you start a 25-minute countdown and commit to plugging away like crazy for that time, you might find yourself working past the buzzer. You tricked yourself.
- Get a spotter. Having a friend or coworker check in on you can pressure you into getting things done.
Embrace it
- Most of the time, procrastination isn’t doing something else productively. You’re flipping channels or staring at the fridge or pacing aimlessly. Maybe you should really do something else. Watch a movie, go grocery shopping, plant a garden. You might just need to fully get on the other side of your procrastination before you can commit to your work.
- Pre-crastinate. If you’ve still got a long road ahead of you, figure out how you can get a little bit done at a time. Work a bit, play a bit, tackle a small task, wander around. If you have enough lead time, you can pick at your work until it ultimately gets done.
Study, understand, attack
This final tip is 4-in-1, as it’s a list of products on Gumroad aimed to help you beat procrastination from all angles.
Ticking Away: How to Overcome Laziness & Beat Procrastination by James Frankton — causes and strategies in a handy ebook.
Audio work timers by Learning Monkey — Pomodoro timers enhanced with brainwave entrainment tones and ambient sounds.
Win at School by Thibault Sorret — for the student. Bonus for superb design!
Workflow Mastery: Building from the Basics by The Dini Group, Ltd. — a spiritual approach that includes a book and audio.
Do you have any procrastination tips (for beating it and, sure, even continuing it)? Let us know. We love hearing from you.