Stop Procrastinating and Get On With It

Had one of those days where you feel like you haven’t got much done?

Dr. Raj Persuad’s top tips for preventing procrastination may help, whilst enabling you to manage stress more effectively:

1. Vague priorities increase procrastination
   
   If you think everything is a high priority then you’re less likely to get started on anything. Deciding what can wait will allow you to focus and start tackling the important things.




2. Make sure you are in the right mood to make the right decision
   If you’re feeling a bit low then you’re more likely to be pessimistic. This may cause you to put off starting a large project as you feel there is no point. Wait until you’re in a better mood!




3. Getting distracted by small tasks
   
   Minimise distractions before you start. Turn off your phone and don’t have email open behind whatever you are working on.




4. Authoritarian parents
   
   Procrastinating may be a form of unconsciously rebelling against over-controlling parents. Take control by getting started on what you have chosen to do.




5. Huge tasks can be overwhelming
   
   Sometimes when we leave things they become a larger task and even more off-putting ( what does your cupboard under the stairs look like?). Break these tasks down into smaller, achievable steps – sounds obvious but it works.




6. Reward yourself
   
   Do the things you really enjoy as a reward for completing tasks you have been avoiding. Often we do the reverse and this can spoil the things we really enjoy so turn the sequence round – get whatever you need to do done and then go and enjoy yourself!




7. Stop rationalizing procrastination
   
   It is easy to come up with excuses to stop yourself doing what you really should be doing. Take control to stop being driven by these excuses – you have a choice.




8. Set realistic and achievable goals
   
   Sometimes we put off tasks at work as we feel it won’t make much difference and won’t help us get that promotion we aspire to. However, the achievement of small tasks will be a step in the right direction.




9. Prepare to get started
   
   Before you start making sure that you have a clean and tidy desk and all the things you require will prevent distractions such as going off searching for something and can put you in the right frame of mind to begin.




10. Get rid of the task hanging over you
    
    We can waste a lot of energy trying to ignore tasks that are hanging over us. Become aware of how unpleasant that feeling is and focus on how you will feel once you begin.

What are you waiting for – get on with it!

Tags: distraction control, Dr Raj Persaud, manage your stress, procrastination

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