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Some changes in your behavior and applying some life-changing practices can make you a doer and stop procrastinating. Outlining a detailed work plan with simple steps, being respectful to timeframes, rewarding yourself, finding pleasure in the job, and avoiding distractions are some of the practices that can make you invincible against procrastination.

In this article, I have explained all the proven methods to combat procrastination. It is a simple guide for becoming a doer. It will be helpful for you if you find it hard to concentrate on your job or education.

10 Effective Tips To Improve Productivity For Procrastinators

Piers Steelis an eminent researcher at the University of Calgary. He believes people procrastinate if they have less hope to complete the job and do not find it rewarding enough. Moreover, the ratio of procrastination increases by distractions and delayed rewards.

I believe you can fight procrastination effectively by practicing the following methods.

1. Break Down The Task

One of the biggest reasons for dillydallying while performing a task is an unclear image of the whole process in your mind. It makes you unsure about the success of the job. The result is a lack of motivation and procrastination.

No matter how big or small the task is, you should break it down into simple steps before accomplishing it. While doing so, your mind will precisely know what to do. The task will seem simpler than before. Now that the hope of success is high, you will procrastinate less.

Breaking down the task will also help you get out of the dilemma of where to start. Many people procrastinate because they find it difficult to find where to start the job.

2. Be Sensitive To Timeline

For each step of the project, make an allotment of time wisely. Also, maintain the timeframe religiously. Accomplishing each step within the timeline will also increase your motivation to complete the job. Because I hope to complete the task with success will also increase by that.

While allotting time for each step of the task, you must be very reasonable and just. Because if you keep less time than required for any step of the task, it can be punishing for you. Moreover, after failing to complete the step-in time, you will become demotivated and start to procrastinate.

At the same time, never allow yourself plenty of time for a simple task. According to Perkinson’s Law, work expands to the time allotted to it. If you be too kind to yourself and permit more time than required, you will end up procrastinating.

3. Always Use a To-Do List

It may seem very basic to use a to-do list. But you will be surprised to see the result it can bring to your work life. Maintaining and updating a to-do list will help you to be more focused on the task. You will become more conscious of completing the tasks on time.

A traditional pocket notebook and a pencil are all you need to maintain a to-do list. Striking through the completed tasks is always very satisfying. However, you can also use some apps on your mobile phone to maintain a digital to-do list. Some apps come with reminders for tasks too.

4. Keep the Planning Simple

Our minds do not like complications. If the planning for completion of the task is hard to grasp, there is a good chance that you will procrastinate at some point. So, this is very important to keep your execution plan plain and simple.

Keeping the plan simple will also help you reduce the time to accomplish a task. Since you will not have to comprehend the plan again and again. Research has shown that most successful jobs tend to have a simple plan of action.

5. Take Regular Breaks

Working for a longer period reduces the level of motivation and promotes procrastination. You will feel bored and punished if you work for long. That is why your plan of action must include adequate breaks in it.

Taking short breaks also enables you to be more creative in your job. In the breaks, you get the chance to rethink the whole work process and make some improvisations. However, do not allow yourself to break very frequently. Or else it will become a distraction to the task. While in the break, set the goal for the immediate work session.

6. Set the Bar Low

Setting an ambitious target will eventually make you a failure and less motivated. As you know, failures are the cause of procrastination. It is always wise to set the bar a bit low to confirm success at every step of the job.

You may think smaller goals will make you slow. But the reality is just the opposite. Diving the task into smaller parts with smaller targets will make you do the job faster than you can imagine.

7. Find the pleasure

You can never be successful in a task if you do not enjoy it. One of the sources of pleasure can be the thought of the reward that you will have after completing the task. Remind yourself of what you will achieve after the job is complete.

Besides, you will also have to find pleasure in each step of the task. Trying to improvise the way the task is complete is a good way to have fun while completing a task. Having fun while doing the job will also boost your creativity to do it effortlessly.

8. Reward Yourself

Promise yourself small rewards for completing certain steps of a task on time. Being recognized and rewarded can save you from procrastinating a lot.

You can choose any kind of reward for yourself for doing a particular task. It can be a long break from work, an extra coffee, or anything that you like the most.

9. Create the Environment

One of the main reasons for procrastination is distractions. The main source of distractions is the environment where you are working.

To fight procrastination, you have to do your best to make your working environment free of distractions. Sometimes it is okay to be rude and tell your colleagues to keep it low.

As said before, distractions are the main causes of procrastination. One of the biggest distractions of this age is the excessive interaction of social media. You must limit your use of Facebook or Instagram while working.

Social media notifies you about all kinds of activities of your friends and recent developments of the country. Once your mind is busy sorting out things found in social media, you will find it hard to concentrate on your job.

Some Tips to Become a Doer and Stop Procrastinating

In most cases, people tend to believe that procrastinating is a part of the personality of a person and should be accepted as fate. But researches show like any negative mental status, procrastinating can be dealt with. Here are some tips to do it properly.

Meditation: Sometimes words are not enough to make your mind free from the factors that initiate procrastination. Meditations can do miracles to enable you to have better control of your mind. You can join a meditation course or do it yourself with some online resources. I know many people who have a better focus after meditation sessions.
Psychological Counseling: It is never a matter of shame to find help from professionals to fight procrastination. Psychological counseling is proven to be very helpful to contain any negative traits of our minds. Why would you sit on a problem when it can be solved scientifically?
Being Health Conscious: You can never concentrate properly on your job if you are not completely healthy. So, consider good health to be the prerequisite for fighting procrastination. Be conscious about your food, exercise, sleep, and overall hygiene.

Final Remarks

To become a doer and stop procrastinating is a comprehensive approach to life. Being a doer is a practice that covers all the aspects of life. That is why you may need to change the overall philosophy of your life to effectively eliminate procrastination.

I will be delighted if this article is proven to be handy in your struggle of becoming a doer.