How To Stop Procrastinating And Being Lazy

How To Stop Procrastinating And Being Lazy

Procrastinating is postponing a necessary action or activity until a later time or date. Even if you are not conversant with the word which is very unlikely, everyone is conversant with the act of procrastinating as it is a common occurrence amongst human beings in general. At one point or the other, for no concrete reason at all everyone has put off an action until a later time.

But for some however, procrastinating is a lifestyle. We find people who procrastinate so much that they hardly get anything done, or they do not get it done in a timely fashion and therefore may be unable to truly give their best to the task at hand. Procrastinators assure themselves that there is still time, whilst it is rather obvious that time is running out. The most elaborate plans could be made of everything which should be done daily, but for the procrastinator, at the end of the day, little or nothing from the to-do list was achieved.

Procrastination is not always a product of laziness or lack of self discipline, although very often it is.  Things like fear, the size and difficulty of the project in question, can as well be responsible for procrastination. The 21^st century procrastinator is mostly captivated by entertainment easily accessible thanks to the internet and the availability of several mobile and electronic gadgets. You can very easily spend the whole day putting off your duties and responsibilities in favor of surfing the internet or watching a good TV series; and continue this circle the next day as well.

Dealing with procrastination is not an easy task, but it is not impossible. Change is a gradual and slow process. You fall many times along the way, but refusing to get discouraged and giving it yet another try, is what guarantees success in the journey towards change.

How Do I Stop Being Lazy And Procrastinating

Laziness and procrastination very often go hand in hand. Most times a procrastinator puts off work and activities to do absolutely nothing of value or great importance. Procrastination can be defeated but you have to want to beat it. There is no drug or medication for this condition. Your willpower and level of discipline is what helps you beat this unhealthy habit.

Is Procrastination A Mental Illness?

Terming procrastination as a mental illness is rather drastic. It can however be a symptom of a form of disorder. But this is usually only applicable in severe and few cases of procrastination. Most cases of procrastination have little or no business with mental illnesses or disorders. It simple points to the lack of disciple, laziness or sometimes fearfulness.

Some mental disorders however have noted procrastination as a sign. It is one of the signs looked out for by doctors when diagnosing cases like obsessive compulsive disorders, attention deficit disorders and even cases of depression and anxiety. As it is with various medical conditions, some people exhibit certain signs while others do not. Everyone experiencing these disorders may not necessarily display signs of procrastination.

Procrastination is not always a sign of mental or psychological defects; most of the time it has no such medical conditions attached to it. But procrastination is still very much harmful and may prove hazardous when it is at an extreme.

How Do I Stop Procrastination Forever?

To put an end to procrastinating, you are going to have to seriously make up your mind to do so. Consciously walk towards it and make this walk a lifestyle. The more you beat this bad habit of procrastination the easier it becomes, as time goes on. There is no easy way around it. These are a few tricks you could try to aid your fight against procrastination.

Decrease Your List

When a person is prone to laziness and procrastination, they easily become intimidated by task and activities. When they make a long list of what should be done, it all seems too much and overwhelming causing them to postpone what should be done. So the task does not appear too much per time, cut it down into little bits.  Don’t hit yourself with it all at once you have to do it gradually. The shorter the list, the less intimidating it would look to achieve. Shorten your list into easily achievable steps and use as little words as possible two or three words at the most. Focus on finishing one task and temporarily forget the rest. As you achieve a step on the list, cross it off and add another.

Form Positive Relationships

Abandon friendships and partnerships that make you comfortable with doing nothing. Form bonds with people who push and drive you towards the achievement of your goals. Hanging around people who take their goals and achievements seriously encourages you to do the same, for fear of getting left behind.

Limit Your Distractions

Create a work environment where the room for distractions is at a minimal. Avoid environments which tempt you to abandon your goal in favor of more leisure activities. Create a work space that encourages and inspires you to work with all seriousness.

Share Your Plans And Goals

Sharing your plans with people around you is likely to force you into taking action in that direction. Since you come in contact with these people frequently and they will definitely want to know how far your plans have gone. Always having nothing new to report when questions are asked about your projects can be quite awkward and uncomfortable. This has the power to push you into getting up and doing something about your projects.

Set A Time Limit

Set a time frame for the achievement of each task at hand. Avoid setting unrealistic deadlines. If you have a stipulated period of time with which you are to complete each activity, you may become more inclined to see it finished; knowing a delay could disrupt the bigger plan. Set a time limit and stick to it.

There Is No Perfect Time

Waiting for the perfect time or the perfect resources to become available before setting your project in motion will see you procrastinating for a long time. Take the first step towards fulfilling your tasks and things will eventually fall into place as you move on. Quit postponing, just get up and start.

How Do You Procrastinate Less?

People procrastinate for various reasons and some procrastinate only when it comes to certain projects. Find out your real reason for procrastinating. Have a question and answer session with yourself and be truthful about it. Admitting and uncovering an issue is the first step towards finding an appropriate solution. The following could effectively help reduce procrastinating.

Grow Your Focus

Growing your focus makes you less prone to distractions. Consciously build your focus levels. When carrying out a task pay attention to it and stop fussing over any other thing. Thinking about everything which needs to be done mentally exhausts you and makes you want to procrastinate.

Take Little Steps

Leaving old habits for new and healthier ones may seem impossible at first but with each victory, you get stronger. It is okay to start changing procrastinating habits by taking baby steps. Make little adjustments per time and gradually build on it.

Always Tell Yourself The Truth

Procrastination is a habit you will have to fight continuously. Sometimes, it shows up in subtle ways with good explanations and clever lies. Be honest enough to call yourself out when you find you are procrastinating.

Tips On Stopping Procrastinating Right Now

These tips may help you put an end to the problem of procrastination

• Draw up a plan on what needs to be achieved so you know what your goals are.
• Start out with doing the most difficult tasks and get them out of the way first.
• Refuse to give into distractions no matter how tempting or how small they appear to be.
• When the urge to procrastinate comes on, instantly get up and begin the task.
• Get yourself a gift or reward when you achieve a task within the set time frame.
• Set an hourly phone reminder for your task to annoy yourself into action.
• Pair up with a friend and challenge each other to some healthy competition.

Books On How To Stop Procrastinating

Sometimes knowledge may be all the power you need to solve a problem. Below are books which teach on how to stop procrastinating. Read and find out which strategies best work for you.

Eat That Frog! is written by author, Brian Tracy definitely a must read.

The book Self Compassion written by Kristin Neff teaches on how a healthy self relationship ends procrastination tendencies.

Another book is The Power Of Habit written by Charles Duhig. It provides great insight to the workings of the mind.

Kelly McGonigal’s The Willpower Instinct as the name implies helps build up your will and discipline, two very important things needed to stop procrastination.

Written by Timothy Pychyl Solving The Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide To Strategies For Change. It is a quick read but rich in useful tips.