Put an End to Procrastination

When we procrastinate, it is often because we are overwhelmed by all that needs to get done, we are unclear as to what is expected of us for a requested task, we cannot decide which to-do has the highest priority level and should be done first or we simply do not know how to start the task at hand. Sometimes, procrastination can be a good thing as it gives us time to ruminate and gain clarity on how to proceed; however, more frequently, it is important to put an end to procrastination before it has a negative impact.

Simple Steps to Get Rolling

If you are uncertain how to stop procrastinating, here are a few ideas to help:

- Break projects into bite-sized actions so each step in the process is less daunting.

- Ask for help or seek direction on anything that is ambiguous.

- Nike was right... If a task will take 5 minutes or less, just do it.

- If a task will take longer than 5 minutes, set a timer for a short interval of time (like 15 minutes) and simply get started.

- Assign rewards for celebrating successful completion of tasks; likewise, implement ramifications for not meeting your deadlines.

- If problems prioritizing the tasks on your to-do list is what's holding you back, consider what negative consequences would result from not doing each item as well as what benefits would come from completing each item; then, address first those items with either the worst consequences for not getting them done or the greatest benefits from their completion.

It is possible to get everything done, but we cannot get it all done at one time or by the snap of our fingers; however, these tactics can make the process of moving from "to-do" to "done" easier.

What types of tasks typically cause you to procrastinate greater? Do you utilize any of these techniques to overcome procrastination currently? Which can you put into action?