12 Suggestions for Avoiding Procrastination

There are many good reasons why you can't get things done, and many times there are outside forces working against you, such as a sick child, a broken car, or a global pandemic, but there are also times when we find ourselves to be the biggest obstacle in our own way.

This is known as self-sabotage, and it can have serious negative effects on our productivity and well-being.

Fortunately, you can get past it by making space for these 12 suggestions.

12 Suggestions for Avoiding Procrastination

1. Start working

"The hardest steps are always the first ones, but until you take them, progress is just an idea, not a reality." - Aberjhani, an American historian

We all have our own excuses for procrastination, but the most frequent ones are an inability to control our impulses, a lack of confidence, or a lack of great ambition. However, there are times when the answer is as simple as starting the task at hand, which is entirely possible if:

• You put forth the effort in the beginning and planned ahead. For instance, you could prepare the agenda for the meeting a week in advance to avoid being overwhelmed at the last minute.
• You set your priorities using the calendar and kept them.
• You can achieve this state by working at your most productive time, engaging in mindfulness exercises, and eliminating distractions, for example, turning off your phone and organizing your workspace.
• You divide complicated tasks and projects into manageable pieces.
• Each task on your to-do list has a deadline that you set.
• Be kind to yourself. If you delay, don't berate yourself for it. Researchers have discovered that forgiving ourselves encourages us to stop putting things off and concentrate on what needs to be done.
• Remember that there is no such thing as perfection in the real world, so don't worry about it. To overcome this challenge, lower your standards, settle for good enough, and practice hypothesis testing, which entails making a small error to become accustomed to flaws.

Of course, starting is difficult, but once you do, you will gain the necessary momentum to get past any challenge.

2. Keep in mind your goal

Instead of working mindlessly and acting without thinking, keep your purpose in mind. If you can't see how what you're doing relates to your desired results, stop doing it. This does not imply that you should shun tasks that you don't always find enjoyable. For instance, as a new employer, you may hate handling accounting responsibilities, but they are crucial if you want your business to succeed. Therefore, remember that handling your finances responsibly, adhering to a budget, and organizing your taxes will help you achieve your company's goals and enable you to delegate those duties to others as your business expands and develops.

3. Deal with negative self-criticism

We must all silence that limiting voice within ourselves. That voice that screams that you are not good enough or that you will fail, it would be great to tell the one who directs these words to you that their words do not make sense and that they should silence, but sometimes it takes more, such as tipping the scales using positive self-talk.

According to Dr. Gregory L. Jantz, "Write down some of the negative thoughts you have that impede your ability to recover from depression, be as specific as you can, and name anyone you remember who contributed to those thoughts. Then, pause momentarily and confront those negative thoughts with positive facts in your life. Do not give up if you do not find it quickly. For every negative thought, there is a positive truth that is stronger than it, and these truths are that you are capable of recovering. So, keep looking until you find it. However, remember that using positive self-talk does not imply denying reality; rather, it simply calls attention to the obstacles and emotions you must overcome.

4. Learn about who you are

According to psychiatrist Gail Brenner, making space for yourself entails "getting to know your inner world." When you do that,you'll "discover what you're doing that makes it hard for you to choose peace instead, and you know you can stop in any moment about practicing the old habits that you keep repeating."

When you accomplish that, you'll comprehend what's happening. You are being held back by old resentment, which causes you to believe your thoughts, let your emotions control your life, and let your emotions overwhelm you. But once you understand what's happening, you'll be prepared to live wisely and by your desires. You arrive at clarity at this point. Dr. Brenner suggests the following steps to get there:

• Ask yourself: What do you want to feel right now?
• Take note of the ideas and emotions that catch your attention.
• Recognize that you don't have to have control over everything.
• Enjoy the emptiness of letting go of particular ideas and emotions.

5. Recognize your strengths

Author and researcher Marcus Buckingham says, "Strength is an activity that empowers you." It is not something you excel at; rather, it should be something you enjoy and find energizing. Strength is a stimulus, not a talent, and it is this stimulus that motivates us to practice our craft repeatedly until we master it.

According to Buckingham, "Motivation drives practice that leads to performance." The advantages of focusing on your strengths and addressing your weaknesses extend beyond just improving your self-esteem. They also include improving performance.

6. Avoid contrasting yourself with others

If you feel like a loser because one of your friends has bought a new car or is taking a fancy vacation while you can't afford to live their lifestyle or even if you're doing your best but aren't as productive as your coworker, remember what American author Mark Twain once said: "Comparison is the graveyard of joy." This theory is supported by research, which shows that comparing oneself to others can result in low self-esteem and depressive symptoms. It can even breed envy and demotivation without assisting you in achieving your objectives.

If you measure up to others, you will never succeed, so try practicing gratitude. Track your development and celebrate your successes before comparing yourself to yourself.

7. Select the best friends

"Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are," goes the proverb. Marina Lenox, a blogger, concurs. Make sure you surround yourself with people who support you, hold you accountable, and from whom you can pick up positive habits because "the people you interact with daily directly influence who you are and what you do," she advises.

8. Don't go easy on yourself

Instead of making excuses, focus on what you can control, so you can make the necessary adjustments. For instance, if you work from home due to the pandemic and may not be able to work during your peak productivity period because you homeschool your children, that does not give you the right to whine that you cannot get anything done. Rather, it means you must still hold yourself accountable.

Find a solution to this new schedule instead. Perhaps you can get up early or work after the kids are asleep, or perhaps you can occasionally ask a family member to watch them. In any case, be strict with your kids and tell them, for instance, that they are not permitted to interrupt you when you are in a virtual meeting.

9. Eliminate unneeded anxiety factors

Life's worries are enough. There's no need to add to them by taking on more than you can handle or having inflated expectations. Be honest with yourself about what you can actually accomplish, and if you lack the necessary time or skills, decline the offer. For example, if you're extremely busy at a given time, decline invitations to time-consuming events like pointless meetings or protracted phone calls.

10. Practice self-care

Self-care is the allocation of time for activities that make you feel calm and energized, and this is crucial for your mental, physical, and emotional health. For example, you can go for a walk, write in your journal, engage in your hobbies, or meditate. Make a date in your self-care calendar so you don't worry about time, for instance, leave an hour in the afternoon to spend it however you want.

11. Have faith in your ability to achieve your goals

According to a proverb, "If you think you can, then you can; if you think you can't, then you're right, and you can't."

Instead of saying, "I can't do this," shift your perspective and say, "I can do this." Although it may seem straightforward, this has a big impact. Even if you are unsure that you can, when you tell yourself that you can do something, your self-confidence grows because you will find ways to get past the obstacle as long as you are confident that you will succeed in the end.

12. Don't ruminate

Rumination is a cycle of thoughts that you get caught in, which makes it difficult for you to think clearly and solve problems. To break this cycle, you must find ways to divert your attention.

For example, you could do some housework, read a book, talk to a friend, question your beliefs, set more realistic goals, or solve problems in small steps.