Procrastination sucks. It is a constant battle between wanting to get something done and not having self-control. Therefore, I present to you: “4 Ways to Beat Procrastination: How to Slay Laziness.”
Procrastination looks different for everyone. There are multiple reasons you may be procrastinating, such as:
- The fear of judgment and failure
- Perfectionism
- Self-doubt
- Mental health problems like anxiety or depression
- Etc
Procrastination was my middle name. I’ve been battling with it and still do. But now I control it, and it doesn’t control me. It contributed to my mental health struggles in many ways. You see, I am incredibly ambitious with high expectations for my life. It is appalling if you are the only thing standing in your way.
I can sit here and list tips you can find anywhere on the Internet. Things like:
- Plan ahead
- Organization
- Routines etc
However, I have tried that. It may be helpful in some regards, but it did not last, unlike these four ways to beat procrastination.
My previous post, 6 Easy Ways to Master Self-Discipline: A Lazy Girl’s Guide, goes hand-in-hand with this one if you want to check it out.
This post might contain affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you purchase an item through them.
1. You are not lazy
It might sound contradicting because most people think procrastination = laziness. That is where they are wrong.
It created a whole new perspective for me when I heard this. I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across a video from Mel Robbins. It is one of the most impacting clips I have ever seen, to this day.
Procrastination is a habit. You are not lazy; you have the habit of procrastinating.
WOW.
That hits differently, right?
You can break or create habits. Do you see where I am going with this?
If procrastination is a habit, you can unlearn it. This ‘philosophy’ turned my whole view upside down.
This point is the most important of the four ways to beat procrastination.
2. Break your tasks down
It might be conventional and cliche, but there is no denying its power. This point is the more obvious one of the four ways to beat procrastination.
Since we established procrastination is a habit, we can create tools to conquer it.
I will give you an example I am very familiar with, cleaning the house. I absolutely despise cleaning (and cooking, for that matter). So instead of saying you need to clean the house, break it down into smaller tasks.
- Split it down by room.
- Start one room and finish it before moving on.
- Have certain days in the week for specific tasks like vacuuming.
- Make it more bearable with music (this is totally unrelated).
I use this method with most of my tasks, including my blog. Otherwise, I can get seriously overwhelmed, leading me to avoid my duties and procrastinate.
Tackling smaller tasks is the only evident fact of these ways to beat procrastination.
3. Avoid productive procrastination
Yes, it is a thing. I abused this when I was at varsity!
Whenever I needed to study or do an assignment, I fell into productive procrastinating. This phenomenon involves doing manageable, productive tasks to avoid significant projects.
So I would organize my notes or clean my hostel room to avoid the assignment (I was a number 99 girl).
How to avoid productive procrastination
- Eat your frog – I heard this from my cousin while drinking tequila (I know, I am such an upstanding citizen). It is a book that I will link for you here. The central theme is that you eat your frog first thing in the morning. Your frog is the task you look least forward to. Therefore, before doing anything else, eat your frog and get it over with.
- Use the Pomodoro Technique – It is a time management tool that has worked wonders for me in varsity. Basically, you focus on your work for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. See it as a little reward or positive reinforcement.
- Recognise you are self-sabotaging – Productive procrastination causes anxiety in my experience. Which ultimately leads to self-sabotaging. Productive procrastination feels good because you are lying to yourself. “At least I am productive.” Have you ever said that to yourself? Then deadlines approach and you are unprepared, intensifying your anxiety.
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4. Pick your poison
You get to choose between two pains in life.
- The pain of regret or
- The pain of discipline
This “poison” is the fuel that keeps me going. My biggest fear is to one day look back on my life and regret it.
I’d rather live than only survive. Make choices, take risks, and put in the hours. Don’t live a life worth forgetting.
If you want to get into medicine, study harder. If you want to start that business, stop worrying about other people’s opinions.
You know what, I am much happier since I started pursuing my dreams and not caring about anyone’s opinion.
Pick your poison, darling.
Conclusion
Start implementing these 4 ways to beat procrastination to slay ‘laziness’ today.
You are capable of so much, don’t let this bad habit get in your way of success. Remember that breaking habits take time, don’t be too harsh on yourself.
I hope this guide helps you, whether you procrastinate on daily tasks or career-driven tasks. I would love to hear from you and help you through this process! My emails are always open.
Have a great day wherever you are in the world.
Love, Steph ♥
