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Sunday, September 17, 2017

Here is the last in the mini-series on procrastination. It's been very eye-opening, hasn't it? I hope you have learned a few things. I know I have. 
Thank you, Jack, for allowing me to post this series.
For those of you who would like to read more of Jack's writing tips, check out his blog:
https://custom-writing.org/blog/how-to-stop-procrastinating

How to fix procrastination

How to fix procrastination?

Since you’re interested in how to deal with procrastination, you’re not satisfied with your productivity. Maybe you’re stressed because of deadlines or being criticized at work.
We collected some effective tips which will show you how to procrastinate productively:
  • Don’t blame yourself.
Even if you can’t do the work in time—never blame yourself for laziness. Yes, this is a significant problem which you should resolve.
But when you feel guilty, anxious, and useless, you become even less productive and can harm your health.
  • Prioritize your tasks.
If you’re searching for ways how not to procrastinate, you should define the causes of why you put off completing a project.
When you postpone the tasks because of fear, you should make yourself do the most challenging thing first. The reason is—you can spend a long time panicking if you don’t.
As Mark Twain said: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first in the morning.”
But if you’re not stressed about your procrastination—do the small tasks first. It can boost your productivity and make you ready for a big assignment.
  • Organize your workplace.
We often can’t develop effective ways to accomplish the work because we need to organize our workplace including tools, documents, and communication. It’s easy to get distracted when looking for things lost in the chaos of your desk.
By the way, it doesn’t mean you should keep everything in strict order. But arranging your resources so that you can easily find any you need would be a helpful step in overcoming procrastination.
  • Plan every task which makes you procrastinate.
Any large project becomes easier when you divide it into parts. That’s why you should plan every assignment that seems boring and difficult.
Separate a big project into small chunks which can be accomplished in 30 minutes each.
For example, if you need to write a thesis, don’t think about the whole task—today you can research one aspect of the topic, tomorrow you’ll write the introduction, after a month there will be an hour for presentation and so on.
  • Procrastinate usefully.
Turn everything that distracts you into structured procrastination. For example, if you like to watch YouTube videos, choose only those that teach you something new—it can be lectures from top universities or interesting DIYs.
As a result, you’re engaged in self-development every minute you procrastinate.
  • Get the details.
The usual frequent reason why people procrastinate is the lack of instructions. If you don’t know what is expected of you—it’s really difficult to start the work.
People tend to postpone business they don’t understand. When you face a challenging task, the first thing you should do is an analysis of the assignment.
For example, if you need to write an essay, read a useful guide on how to accomplish it. You can find a helpful essay writing guide on our blog.
  • Don’t compare yourself to other people.
There are a number of questions which can trigger your anxiety. One of them is “Why do I procrastinate while my colleges/friends/relatives don’t?”
This is a self-destructive question, so don’t try to speed up your timing because of your colleges or competitors. Improve yourself without comparing.
  • Make a schedule.
Not only is this an excellent way to remember every task of the day, but this is also a tool to beat chronic procrastination.
Schedules motivate you to keep up with your daily routine and tasks at work. Always use checkboxes in your lists. It helps you to reward yourself when you do a great job.
Also, schedules are a lot of fun! On Pinterest, you can find hundreds of weekly planner examples. Create a schedule or choose a planner that is pleasant for you to fill in—be creative with doodles, stickers, and quotes.
  • Take breaks.
There’s a fact about productivity which is familiar to everyone. When you take short breaks during your work, you quicken your pace and improve productivity.
Set the timer to work for 25 minutes, and then have a 5-minute break. Thousands of people use this technique to overcome procrastination and stay motivated during the day.
  • Turn off your devices.
Ever heard of nomophobia? This is a fear which many of us have when the batteries of our smartphones are dead. Do you have this feeling? If you do, it’s a good idea to overcome it.
Social media is the biggest distraction in modern life. Just leave your smartphone in another room or a backpack and count how often you search for your device.
It seems unreal—but the majority of people look for their smartphones 2–3 times during just ten minutes!
To avoid procrastination, turn off your smartphone for at least 2 hours. You’ll see how more productive your work will become.

According to the Dr. Steel’s statistics, 25% of adults experience chronic procrastination. They’re worried about laziness and uselessness, while in reality—there’s nothing wrong with procrastination.
The effects of procrastination on your life are enormous. But nobody should say they’re always negative.
Moreover, there are a minimum of negative effects. Instead, this postponing characterizes you as a creative perfectionist.
The psychology of procrastination isn’t the simplest thing—the first thing you should ask yourself as a procrastinator is “Why do I procrastinate?”
The causes and reasons will advise you what to do with your idleness—is it possible to turn it into an advantage? Or should you search for ways on how to stop procrastinating?
But it doesn’t matter which you choose—never blame yourself and never compare yourself to others.
Self-improvement is a great hobby, and Custom-Writing.com wishes you luck with that!

Thank you for reading this mini series on Procrastination.


Jack Milgram

Author's biography

I have been interested in writing since I made the acquaintance of pen and paper. My first letters were really funny, and my mom still keeps them as mementoes. However, as soon as I learned how to write words, I started forming them into sentences. And do you know what my first sentence said? “I love my words”. It was written so ineptly that it looked more like “I love my weird”. When I was younger and played in a band I also started writing poems, but to be honest, prose is much easier for me and I’m doing much better focusing on exactly that. I started writing, but often left unfinished, many of my essays at school, as well as my researches at college, where I studied psychology and education. I started freelance writing when I was a student. I have never found sitting in an office appealing, and a world traveler is actually my true alter-ego. That is why freelancing was my career solution. And now, here you are, reading my tips and guidance for my favorite occupation while I am actually doing what I love all over the world.

Barbara's note: You can find more of his posts at  https://custom-writing.org/blog/

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