Have you ever make a New Year Resolution with a list of goals that you want to accomplish from the start of the year?  You typically will start of motivated since you have a spark of enthusiasm, New Year equal the New You!. Then after few weeks or a month or two, your motivation start to slow down?  It can cause by getting more busy at work, need to take care your family, or other things becomes your priority and you lost the purpose to fulfill those goals you made in the beginning of the you and you just shelf them.  Month after month, you will make excuse not to do them.  This is called Procrastination!  This article is to talk about methods on helping your to stop procrastination and get some real work done.

If you know exactly what you want, it’s easier to get motivated instead of just sitting around and hoping your success will come to you.  If you are interested on how to get out of that procrastination, then keep reading.

1. Define And Communicate Clear Objectives and Prioritize Work

We hardly take note of this, but some of us may not have a well-defined goal in our life.  We don’t have a clear picture of what needs to be done first.  Start by giving yourself a more specific and achievable goals. Break your objectives into smaller, more achievable tasks and rank them according to their significance and how quickly it needs to be completed. It will provide a structured path and keep you concentrated. Clearly defined goals are a critical part of goal setting. You should rather say “I want to exercise for 30 minutes three times a week” instead of ‘I want to exercise more’. That way you know exactly what to aim for and can track your progress as you make your way.

It is also very important to break up your goals into little tasks. Starting can sometimes be the easy part because big goals are overwhelming, and we have a hard time making room for them or prioritizing it. So, break down a goal into small simple tasks and when you cross off those tasks they start to add up. This can look anything from outlining chapters, researching and writing X number of pages per day for the book you aim to write.

Once you have your list of things to do, take whether it is important and/or urgent. Certain tasks may be more time-sensitive or have a higher impact on your big-picture goals, so focus on them first. This allows you to keep moving forward with your goals and leave less important things out until you finished the important ones. 

And the sort of focus that comes from setting clear goals and prioritizing tasks can become a roadmap for what you need to do. This will not just save you from procrastination, but it also increases productivity plus efficiency to carry out all your goals. The answer is, of course, to spend time setting measurable goals, chunking them into doable items and prioritizing. You are going to be surprised on how much more you can check off the list when you have a clear plan and path to do it.

2. Decompose the tasks into smaller sub-tasks

What we tend to do with a large task is put it off since we believe time will be on our side eventually. Instead of this, try to divide it into smaller and simple steps as possible. This will make the tasks seem more attainable and not way too difficult to make. Start making a list. This will help you concentrate on one thing at a time. Focus more and you will see that the task will be easier to complete.

For example, you have a project that consists of various pieces, a research component, then writing and revising it.  The act of breaking this up into smaller chunks can be super helpful. First, set aside time for each of the tasks. Start at the research stage and find out all available info and resources. Now that you did that, jump into the writing step and just write things! And lastly, allot a period for the editing stage where you read through and refine your work.

Dividing the project into these baby steps will not only allow you to break it down and make it more digestible, but also map it out for yourself. By doing this, you can then determine where to allocate most of your time. Moreover, by doing each step you will feel satisfied and see progress which can motivate you to keep going with your project performed.

These small steps and successes happen, and we need to celebrate them. No matter the size of your accomplishments (they may seem small to you), take a moment to appreciate yourself. Reward yourself a little, such as have some coffee (like chocolate mocha) or a short walk outside. This little reward will help you get your motivation up and sparked to allow you to continue working through the steps.

Progress is progress, even if it seems small. It also allows to better focus and more motivated to achieve it. The next time you are overwhelmed by something, stop for a second, chop it up into its smallest parts, and cheer yourself on the milestones. You would be surprised how much you can get done like this.

3. Planning To Stop Procrastination

The other method is planning. Schedule Your Time: Following it is crucial for staying productive and eliminating procrastination. With these schedules, you can schedule specific chunks of time to daily activities and accomplish a slew of objectives.

Begin by clarifying your top tasks and applying focused time to do them.  Do the required tasks as per their urgency and importance. Give yourself more time for things that are a little intricate or take longer. This will allow you to spend the appropriate amount of time on each task and prevent overloading yourself or feeling rushed.

After you established your schedule, it is very important to actually follow through with it. Do not get sidetracked or distracted from what you should be focusing on and stick to the plan. This means getting rid of anything that might prevent you from moving forward. Silence your phone and computer notifications, find a quiet space to block out all distractions as much as possible.

Besides ignoring interruptions, try to also leverage the aid of productivity tools or apps that will make sure you maintain on your plan. There are many tools you can use to manage your time, organize tasks and goals. These tools can act as reminders and keep you in line and motivated.

BUT remember, creating a schedule is only your first step! You must absolutely swear that you will stick to it and make it a habit. However, as you practice and make it a routine, you will realize procrastination is better. This way your productivity also increases.

4. Eliminate Distractions

There are paramount sources of distraction that greatly reduce our productivity. Find out your main distractions in the environment and try to remove them. If that means turning off your phone notifications, decluttering your desk, or installing website blockers — do it. Then you can keep yourself focused, and then get way more with your time.

Distractions in today’s digital age seem to be never ending.  All the Constant pings and notifications on your smartphones can be hard to stay focused.  But if you want to be at your peak level of productivity and impact the world with what you were put here to do, then something has to give and that extra hour of Fortnite on your PS4 is no longer worth it.

For example, to avoid being distracted by your phone, start by turning off those annoying notifications. These can disrupt your concentration, leaving your thought process scattered, and ultimately prevent you from making progress. It is possible to create a quiet environment by shutting down these notifications and focusing only on your work. Other common ways to reduce distractions are by looking for a quiet spot where you can work. Is my noisy office or your bustling household not really conducive to deep work? Are you working from home?

The internet is obviously distracting as well and a big source of wasted time. There are so many websites and social media platforms that vie for our attention, disable the notifications on phone or desktop to keep focus into a task. And so, you are able to create a structure that supports your productivity. Productivity does not equate to longer hours. it is all about working smarter. Control the environment and ditch the distractions.

5. Use the Pomodoro Technique

What is the Pomodoro Technique and How it Helps in Dealing with Procrastination & Lack of Focus?  Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that uses a timer to break work into intervals called pomodoros and separate by a short breaks.  

For those who have difficulty staying focused and organizing their time well, the implementation of the Pomodoro Technique can come in handy! This design guideline is simple but powerful! When you set a timer of 25 minutes, you are setting a deadline to complete something. Within this concentrated time, you concentrate on that single work without any distractions.  This focused work, enables you to make tremendous headway in a short space of time.

After the 25 minutes are up, you have a short break of typically five minutes. This serves as a reward for your dedicated work and also gives you time to refresh and detox your mind. You may want to stretch, grab a snack, or do something short that calms you and eases your mind.

Every four consecutive Pomodoro, take a longer break of around 15–30 minutes. This long break will give your brain an opportunity to relax and replenish itself, so you DO NOT become mentally tired. In this break you can do something that has nothing to do with work: maybe taking a walk, meditating or talking to a coworker.

Backed by a time-management and psychology principle, the Pomodoro Technique simply works. This helps to get over the daunting feeling of having a huge task.  The technique is to divide your work into smaller focused intervals and you will chip away one task at it time to make small accomplishment.  

The short breaks in-between pomodoro save you from burn out and help to reinforce some of your resolve. Studies have proven that taking regular breaks during the day can improve productivity and creativity. By taking some time off your work, it refreshes your brain and help you process the information in a better way.

The Promodoro Technique helps you not only to boost your focus and productivity but also to defeat procrastination. When you allocated the work in 25-minute increments, you will have felt like your task is easier and more attainable. And after starting to work, that is easier to maintain the rhythm and keep going. When applying the Pomodoro Technique, you need to get a timer that is simple to set because if it takes too much time for you then there goes your efficiency. This can be done using multitude of apps and online tools which are designed to tackle this method, which allows you to plan your work and breaks accurately with help of timers and notification.

To sum it all, The Pomodoro Technique is a great time management technique anyone can add in their productivity bucket list. When you divide your work into smaller, easier slots including breaks in between, it enables you to focus throughout your process and saves you from the laborious effort of a procrastination streak or an ultimately burnt-out mind. Try it and see how it can benefit your work as well as your life.

6. Practice Time Blocking

It involves allocating various blocks of time that are specific to the tasks/activities.  Either work, relaxation, and other things will have their time slots, it will be easier to distribute your day correctly and get things done instead of simply lying on the couch. Just follow the time given for each task and you will realize that you can be more productive and less effective in doing so.

Time blocking is there for you to weigh which activities need your keenest attention. Always have time dedicated to the important tasks first and then the next important one.  This will keep you on track to get the hardest tasks completed first and your other hard tasks after.

If possible, think about what time of day you are most motivated and able to concentrate. Plan your toughest, most big important items as part of your peak hours to be more comprehensive and useful. Conversely, if your energy plummets every day during the afternoon work that demands less of you to rejuvenate. A good practice to adopt is bundling similar tasks in the same time block. For instance, if you have multiple meetings or phone calls on your calendar, try to stack them back-to-back so that no single engagement disrupts your flow and breaks up the time you have available for focused work.

Do not forget to allocate some time for rest and relaxation. It is necessary to take short breaks in between the day, so that you cool off your mind and prevent yourself from getting burnout. And sometimes a quick walk outside can be nice too. You will also be able to give your mind a break and start fresh again.

To be able to block out your time successfully, you will need a structured way to plan and monitor your time. Use different tools like the calendar apps, some project management software to maintain the time blocks of your day. These can alert you of programs and missed appointments, maintaining you on goal.

And finally, time block slot be flexible and adaptable. Another thing about life is it’s unpredictable, you never know for sure with tasks and events popping up. Put that in your schedule so you can make changes and not stress about it. Keep in mind the ultimate objective of time blocking is merely to improve your productivity and give you some balance, not to strictly stick to a schedule.

7. Discover Your Ideal Working Environment

Everyone has their ideal workspace. The bottom line is that some people find they are the most productive in complete silence, while others flourish in a coffee shop. Different environments work for different people; experiment to see what is best for you. To determine your best work conditions, here are some considerations.

Try to find the environment that works for you.  Some people may consider some volume of background noise will help their productivity and others might achieve the best flow state in complete silence.  There are people would rather have some background music because that fuels their creativity. If you question it, experiment with different places and see how you react.

Another thing that you should take into consideration is the amount of physical space. When it comes to your work environment, some of us prefer “a place for everything and everything in its place”, while others are at their most productive when surrounded by the untidiest of desks. Find out what environments breed the most success and satisfaction for you by observing how you feel in different spaces. This could be influenced by things such as natural light, the way your desk is arranged and whether or not you have any plants around (or other factors related to atmosphere).

Other things you will want to notice are how much privacy do you require. Many people will want to work alone, while others will shine in the collaborative group setting. If you prefer to do your best work around people, think about finding a nearby co-working space or coffee shop that has a communal area. If quiet is a must for you to be able to focus, you might consider creating a quiet spot at your house or buying noise-cancelling headphones.

It is also crucial to consider the time of day you are most productive. For some people are early birds’ and others are night owls that perform best in the evening. Listen to your body and plan the most important things for the times when you naturally have the most energy.

Therefore, how you best work is a journey for yourself. It might take a few attempts to find what is ideal, but it will pay off in the long term. With that approach, you will actually be able to get the highest leverage out of your available time and reach important milestone more easily.

8. Practice Self-Discipline

Self-discipline – Another effective way to fight procrastination is through the practice of self-discipline. Self-discipline is simply the ability to control your impulses, emotions, and behaviors in order for everything you set out to do will yield positive results. It takes a lot of discipline and will power, establishing deadlines for yourself is a good avenue to build self-discipline. Designate each task or goal that needs to be accomplished with a specific deadline. Finite short-term goals can insist a sense of urgency in you and keep focused for that task.

Only having deadlines is not enough, the second part of this alone or even more significant than the first one is accountability. Accountability has to do with respecting your choices and actions. Because when you commit to yourself then, most of the time only you follow your commitment with full of accountable. Open up to someone you know and appreciate, letting them in on your trials and tribulations. It could be a friend, family or mentor who can help you and advise you. By announcing to the world (or to everyone on Facebook) you are making it public and so most likely you will stick with it. This external accountability is a huge motivation for us to not procrastinate, and actually stay on track.

Your self-discipline and accountability can help prevent procrastination from derailing your goals. Building these skills will require time and effort, but it will set you apart from the average onlooker. Thus, set deadlines and make yourself accountable accordingly with a bit of help from the outside when necessary. Start with these strategies, and you will be off to a good start.

9. Escape from Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a common trait that few can shake, and all-too-often it gets in the way of productivity and personal development. The impossible desire to be impeccable can result feeling discontented with yourself. While pushing for excellence is admirable and will help us hit the mark, but living our life in the realm of unattainability does nothing positive toward our full being.

A major issue with perfectionism is that it sets you up with unrealistic expectations. About the writing advice to avoid: When you set your standards for yourself too high, there is no way but down. We eat up with the fear of failing or not meeting our own standards, it leads to inaction. We focus on perfection as a goal and not progress and completion (which are more actionable).

Escaping the heights of perfectionism for a more balanced lifestyle demands a change in how you think. There is no such thing as perfect, but there is an aspect of being human that means we are always imperfect. Embracing imperfection does not mean that you accept the usual, it means that we accept our failures and faults as part of us and using them as learning and growing opportunities. Which that to be said, at some point we realize that perfectionism for the sake of being perfect is a bottomless pit of misery and self-deprecation.

Managing expectations is critical for a perfectionist. I will remind you that everything does not need to be perfect. Quit trying to be perfect and just work on moving the needle of getting things done. Celebrate your victories (even if the smallest) and understand that every little step you take is a step further to getting where you want to be and even small progress is still progress.

Getting rid of perfection, you’ll be less likely to procrastinate and get more done. The more you stop needing to be perfect, the more time you will have to do what really matters. You will be in the position to take chances, experiment with new ideas and explore opportunities without letting failures hold you back. Don’t forget: Perfectionism isn’t respectable, it’s a self-made jail. Shed your skin and discover the delight of being imperfect. Welcome the roller coaster ride of change and improvement. And last but not least, BE GENTLE TO YOURSELF.

10. Take Care of Yourself and Avoid Burnout

Sometimes procrastination can actually be a symptom of burnout, and sometimes it is a form of overwhelm. Implement some self-care: Exercise, get some sun light on in your life and work on your mental health. Prioritize your sleep, fuel yourself with healthy food, move often, and do what makes you happy. When you prioritize self-care, you will have more energy and motivation to work on your listed tasks.

Identify the symptoms of burnout and go out of your way to avoid allowing this to happen. Constantly doing too much while not letting yourself self-charge can lead to burnout. It causes fatigue in employees results in less productivity. And may affect your health, both physical and mental.

A good place to start with your self-care baby steps is with this — get a decent sleep routine in place. Get enough rest —Shoot for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, so that your body and mind can fully recover. If you are not well rested, your cognitive function will be affected, and it will be difficult for you to focus and keep motivated.

Your nutrition is just as important to your overall well-being as your sleep. Nourish your body by eating the right kinds of foods-which means food that gives you nutrients needed for healthy brain function and vitality. Stop consuming sugar and caffeine: Both of these can provide great shot of dopamine but will ultimately result in that reward feeling wearing off, crashing and you becoming less productive.

Another valuable form of self-care is to keep up your exercise. Exercising will help you to release your endorphins and boosts physical health. Try to find a type of exercise that you’ll like.  It can be running, yoga, or playing a sport; it’s all about to keep you engage and motivated. Working out is a great way to feel better not only in your body, but also by handling stress and allowing you to focus better on what’s ahead.

And last, do take time to do activities that serve as your joie de vivre. Reading a book, family time or your hobby during the week can relieve stress and lead to tranquility of mind. Breaks are necessary to ensure high levels of productivity and prevent burnout.

So, take care of yourself and do not let burnout increase because as soon as you are burnt out, no other thing will make perfect sense to you especially doing things. And remember, self-care is not an indulgence but a prerequisite for long-term productivity and happiness.