How to deal with procrastination.

We often find ourselves putting off tasks that need our attention to the very last minute. It is rarely a result of laziness, but people, ourselves included, have a hard time understanding. You want to do the job, and you know that it is required of you, but you find yourself unable to focus, so you defer it. Procrastination is often the sign of something deeper. 

Considering the current situation in the world, people have found themselves getting more and more aware of the mental hurdles that students and workers have faced for ages. Procrastination is often the result of being burnt out or exhausted; sometimes, it can also result from a lack of confidence in your abilities. 

I think that it helps to approach procrastination with a well planned and kind approach. Understand why you’re demotivated and procrastinating, then make a plan to combat it. A pro tip in the matter would be to focus less on the result and more on your effort. Shifting the focus from the result can help you combat any undue anxiety/stress you may have, related to the job at hand. 

Secondly, set achievable goals for yourself. If you have 15000 words to write, then start by setting the goal to make notes to build your writing on. By setting achievable goals, you allow for your mind to get used to the feeling of fulfilling a task. Once you’re able to enter that mindset, it will enable you to set bigger goals and thus complete your work.

The next thing to think about in the matter of procrastination is planning. The previous points may help you not procrastinate now, but you have to make long-term changes to see long-lasting results. You must start planning things so as to allow yourself the time to complete all your tasks comfortably. Try to map out your day in advance; this does not mean that you should mark every second of every day. Mapping out your day just refers to jotting down the main tasks you need to complete on that particular day. You can choose to do a little bit of a lot of tasks in a day or the entirety of one or two tasks a day. Either way, this approach will allow you to be mentally prepared for your work and will thus help you avoid procrastination. 

It is almost like tricking your brain into wanting to work, but you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get things done. 

Moving on to the point of self-confidence, we must address the fact that people often avoid tasks because they’re scared of failure. It is essential to understand that victories and failures are part and parcel of life. It is impossible to have one and not the other. The hustle culture often tells people that they need to work to the point of exhaustion every single day, and all their days should be full of success and nothing else. The truth is that for every victory, there have been that many, if not more, failures that have paved the way. Real-life is not all flowers and rainbows, and that is not something to lament about; this just gives us all the more reason to forgive our own mistakes and move on. The less you worry about failure, the more you’ll be able to work; this ties in with the idea of focusing on your efforts rather than the results. 

The tips mentioned here will certainly aid in avoiding procrastination, but it is not a sure-shot way to efficiency. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimes you don’t, but the point is always to try. If you still find yourself procrastinating, then it may point to a different problem. It may be because you’re not interested in your tasks. If you often find yourself dreading your job, then it may be time for re-evaluation. On re-evaluation, if you find that you’re not interested in your work, then it may be time for a change. If you find that you are interested in your job yet find yourself falling short of your capability, then it is worth a shot to try counseling. A surprisingly large number of individuals suffer from physical and mental ailments that do not allow them to function to their full potential. It may be a manifestation of poor physical health, poor nutrition, or poor mental health. If you feel like procrastination and demotivation are new to you, re-evaluate your lifestyle and make changes to promote better output. 

The conclusion is that procrastination is normal and not a good enough reason to beat yourself down. Don’t get comfortable in this zone and make an effort to return to your work. Understand that you are human and cannot always work at the same frequency and adjust according to your present situation. Know that doing a little bit of a task is better than doing none of it and go from there. Take small steps in the direction of productivity because sometimes the smallest step in the right direction becomes the biggest step towards changing your life.