Things You'll Need:
- Personal Organizers
- Calendars
- Running Watches
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Step 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?
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Step 2
Break up a large, difficult project into several smaller pieces. Tackle each piece separately.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
Comments
lilolladystuff said
on 6/12/2009 Great ideas to help us put overwhelming projects in perspective. Thanks.
tifferne2 said
on 3/2/2009 These tips help, however, if I set a timer I find myself more focusing on the time than the actual project.
zemzem82 said
on 1/25/2009 great stuff I break down my projects alot with work and family. Got to do it- zemzem.ecrater.com
msmayor said
on 1/19/2009 nicely said-thanks
nowurcooking said
on 12/18/2008 Set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much you can accomplish on a project. The timer really helps out when you have a very large and overwhelming project like organizing and cleaning. It motivates me when I can't otherwise be motivated. Try it out sometime.