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Stop Procrastination Help – 13 Tips For How to Overcome & Avoid Chronic Procrastination

By Casey Slide Date September 14, 2021

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I really dislike cleaning. Every day I create a “To Do” list for myself, and every day this list includes cleaning, not because there is always more cleaning to do, but because I can never get myself to do it! I can’t tell you the last time I was able to check that off the list. I will do absolutely everything on that list before I even think about cleaning. Do you think I have a procrastination problem? I admit that I probably do. I also bet that procrastination plays a role in your life as well.

Why Do We Procrastinate

The first step to get over the hurdle is to figure out why we are procrastinating. For me, there are several reasons why I procrastinate cleaning. For one thing, it is boring. I also feel that I never clean well enough. Here are some of the common reasons why people procrastinate: The task is unpleasant or boring.The task is overwhelming.They are disorganized.They are perfectionists.They are fearful.They are too distracted.They have no accountability.They lack motivation.

13 Tips On How To Overcome Procrastination

Once you understand the reasons why you are procrastinating doing a particular task or making an important decision, you can start to tackle the procrastination itself. Here are 13 tips on how you can battle procrastination:

For Tasks That Are Unpleasant and Boring

1. Put It On Your Calendar – When there is something I don’t want to do, I block off time on my calendar to do it. When there is a decision to be made that is unpleasant to make, I put a deadline on my calendar. I have an old coworker who used to laugh at me because I would always block out time on my calendar to write project reports. But I had to do this; otherwise, I would continue to procrastinate ever completing them.
Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. 30 day money-back guarantee. Sign Up Now 2. Make A Game Out Of It Or Distract Yourself – My grandmother always used to tell me to make a game out of it when I didn’t feel like working on something. She would tell me to see how fast I could do it. You can also listen to music or watch TV. When I clean (if I get around to cleaning), I like to listen to 90’s hits and sing along.

For Tasks That Are Overwhelming

3. Start With Small Tasks – Sometimes when you have a lot to do, it is best to start with the small things and work up to the big things, similar to the idea of a debt snowball. It can be motivating to know how many small tasks you’ve completed and less daunting since there is now less to worry about. 4. Do The Worst Task First – Alternatively, you could do the one thing that you dread the worst first in order to get it out of the way. The rest is all down hill from there.

For The Disorganized

5. Create A Plan Or Schedule – One thing I really struggle with when it comes to cleaning is that I am disorganized. I have no clue how often I should clean or how I should clean. My cleaning supplies are scattered throughout the house. I often waste time thinking about what I should do first. However, if I were to create a long-term schedule, I could know when the last time was that I cleaned and when to clean next. I could also come up with a plan on how to organize my supplies to make cleaning more efficient.

For The Perfectionists

6. Think Positively – I get discouraged sometimes thinking that I won’t be able to do something right, and I end up putting it off. But just because I can’t clean perfectly doesn’t mean I shouldn’t clean at all. It is important to think positively by looking at what is good, even if it is not perfect.

For The Fearful

7. Follow The “Do It Now” Philosophy – Sometimes when you are afraid to do something, it is best to do it and get it over with. If you are fearful, procrastinating is only going to make those fears worst. When I need to discuss something important with someone, I try to talk to them right away instead of dwelling on it and becoming nervous. Otherwise, I will end up putting it off for too long.

For The Distracted

8. Reduce Distractions – My biggest distraction is email. For example, when I write articles, I actually shut down my email because, otherwise, I would check it every time I saw something in my inbox. That is incredibly inefficient. Perhaps for you, the TV is distracting. Or being in your own home where there are plenty of other things to do makes it hard to focus. Remove yourself from the distracting environment in order to complete your tasks.

For Those Who Lack Accountability

9. Find An Accountability Partner – If no one is currently holding you accountable, you need to find someone who will. Talk to your spouse, other family member, or friend who you speak to regularly. Tell them that you need their help, and ask them to keep you in check. Just don’t ask anyone who will procrastinate in holding you accountable!

For Those Who Lack Motivation

10. Give Yourself Breaks – I used to do this a lot when I was studying for finals in college. I would study for 50 minutes, which is the length of a standard class, and then give myself a ten minute break. Set a timer if you must (for the time you are working and the time you are breaking). Also, as you know, sometimes it is just getting started that is difficult. Once you get going, you may find that it is not that bad and you don’t even need a break! 11. Create a Jerry Seinfeld Progress Calendar – My husband uses a system created by Jerry Seinfeld to keep him motivated for his various daily tasks such as working out and reading. Seinfeld was giving a fellow comedian advice that he should write jokes every day instead of sitting down and writing them all at once. He said for every day that he writes, he puts an X on his calendar. After a few days, he has a chain. He told the young comedian, “Don’t break the chain.” You can try the same thing…don’t break the chain. You can build up some great momentum with this strategy. 12. Coffee Or Other Motivating Sweet – When I need to sit down and work on something, I make myself a frozen chai. It is one of the best gourmet coffee recipes. Just make sure to keep it somewhat healthy! 13. Consider The Costs – Time is money, and when you are procrastinating, you are potentially wasting money or losing out on various opportunities. Are you getting paid to put off something that is required of you? That could be costing your employer money as well as yourself if the potential to get a raise or promotion is at stake.

Final Word

Conquering procrastination takes a lot of self discipline. If you are a procrastinator, first admit it, and then figure out what is the cause of your procrastination. Once you’ve done that, these 13 tips are sure to come in handy. What are your tips on battling procrastination? (photo Credit: Rennett Stowe) Lifestyle TwitterFacebookPinterestLinkedInEmail

Casey Slide

Casey Slide lives with her husband and baby in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and worked for a prominent hospital in Atlanta. With the birth of Casey’s son in February 2010, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Casey’s interests include reading, running, living green, and saving money.

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