How to Lessen Procrastination

It is never easy to stop putting things off, but with a little persistence, discipline and practice, it can be done. Read on for more about how to kick the procrastination habit.

Instructions

1. 

   Make a decision of what items on your "to-do" list are critical. This is the first step to prioritizing. Then from that list, complete those that are less desirable and tedious. Devote 30 minutes per day to completing them, then you can move on to tasks you do not mind. Have separate lists for home and business. You can either have a paper list or a computer-generated list. Also, a PDA or other hand-held works well for organization, lists, calendars, alerts and reminders. If you need to run errands, complete them on the way home from work or to another meeting or before dinner.

2. Once you have completed the most critical items on your list, cross them off or delete them from the computer or hand-held device.

3. If you need reminders, you can set your alarm in your cell phone, place reminders in your calendar or use your email software to remind you of tasks that need to be completed. Microsoft Office also has a built-in to do list you can access. You will want to use whatever you already use and are comfortable with. Learning a new system will only exacerbate the procrastination problem.

4. Start on your less critical tasks at work and at home. If you find any of this overwhelming, simply delegate tasks to others. If you are single, hire a high school or college student to assist you. Or talk to your supervisor about your workload if you feel it is not balanced. This may be why you are putting off tasks and perhaps not performing at your best.

5. Have a master list sorted by day of everything you typically will do in one week. This will help you increase your productivity and lessen forgetfulness. Some examples could be grocery shopping, going to the bank, returning videos, picking up dry cleaning or taking pets to the groomer.

6. Be proactive and keep a master file of cards on hand. If you are really organized, have folders for months of all birthdays and anniversaries. You may want to purchase a card book for this purpose and list the birthdays by day in the blanks below. These books also have storage for stickers, cards and other special touches. You will also want to keep sympathy, get-well, encouragement and generic cards on hand so you will not have to run out when the occasion arises. While you are at it, keep your address book up to date. If you mail out cards and letters frequently to the same address, print a sheet of labels with that address on it.

7. If you feel yourself wanting to put off something, ask yourself a few questions: "Is it unpleasant, costly or am I afraid?" If you answer "yes" to any or all of these, you can now begin to understand and hopefully face your troubles. Also inquire about how to steer clear of them in the future.

8. Sometimes procrastination stems from dealing with people or organizations you do not like. If you can, try to lessen your contact with these individuals. For example, at the office, ask your boss confidentially if you can transfer to another team or even a department if these people are interfering with your work performance. If you have been procrastinating about making decisions in a relationship, make a list of the pros and cons, think about it for 30 days more, and then make a decision about its future.If you are in a committee or a group you do not like, consider either attending less or leaving in favor of a group or activity you may like better.

9. If you have trouble cleaning, remodeling or doing other tasks unless you have a "reason" such as a holiday or entertaining, consider entertaining once or twice a month to keep you motivated and on schedule. Also, if time allows, bake and remodel a little extra during any holidays or family gatherings. You can always freeze any leftovers or baking.

10. In the case you are a schedule person, decide each day what you will do and when. Treat your time like you treat your money and budget it well. If every day is different, this is acceptable as long as you decide ahead of time what you will do and when. This will optimize your time. You may even find you have enough time to relax for an entire day with some planning. For example, if you put off workouts, find a time for them every other day. This is doable in most cases. Find something you like and will want to do, even if it is not what everyone else is doing. Or stick to the group exercise schedule offered at your club or community. This will give you more of an incentive to show up. And bring a friend or coworker to help keep you accountable.