How to Stop Procrastinating

There's an old joke that the members of Procrastinators Anonymous keep meaning to meet ... but keep putting it off.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Personal Organizers
• Calendars
• Running Watches

1. Think about why you procrastinate: Are you afraid of failing at the task? Are you a perfectionist and only willing to begin working after every little element is in place? Are you easily distracted?
2. Break up a large, difficult project into several smaller pieces. Tackle each piece separately.
3. Set deadlines for completion. Try assigning yourself small-scale deadlines ' for example, commit to reading a certain number of pages in the next hour.
4. Work in small blocks of time instead of in long stretches. Try studying in one- to two-hour spurts, allowing yourself a small break after each stint.
5. Start with the easiest aspect of a large, complex project. For example, if you're writing an academic paper and find that the introduction is turning out to be hard to write, start writing the paper's body instead.
6. Enlist others to help. Make a bet with your family, friends or co-workers that you will finish a particular project by a specified time, or find other ways to make yourself accountable.
7. Eliminate distractions or move to a place where you can concentrate. Turn off the television, the phone ringer, the radio and anything else that might keep you from your task.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that progress, not perfection, is your goal.
• Track your goals on a calendar or in a personal organizer. Keep your goals reasonable and check off each one when you are finished.