Procrastinate less, tackle more

Jan 01, 2012 1:33 AM by Whitney Coy

Posted in Holidays & Seasons / New Year's / New Year - Your Life

Get It Done

We all do it: We put off things we know we need to do, then stress and feel guilty about it later. Stop the cycle by putting an end to procrastination with these tips.

procrastinating tips

Shorten your list

If you're feeling overwhelmed about the length of your to-do list, you may just shut down and not do anything at all. Fix this problem by keeping your to-do list at a manageable length. Go over your list of tasks and eliminate anything that doesn't absolutely need to be done. Don't add tasks that aren't truly important, and don't feel that you need to take on everything.

Managing your to-do list >>

Make time for play

It may seem backwards, but all work and no play often leads to no work at all. If you pack your schedule with chores and work, leaving no time for yourself, you'll be super-productive for a while. Unfortunately, that streak of uber-productiveness is often followed by an even longer streak of laziness. Overworking yourself makes you stressed and anxious, both of which quickly lead to procrastination. Set aside a little time for play each day (and if you can, one full day of play each week). This may seem like wasted time, but it lets you de-stress and clear your head. You'll be ready to tackle that to-do list in no time at all.

Get more done with less stress >>

Reward yourself

It works with kids, it works with dogs, and it works with us. You're much more likely to tackle your to-do list if there's something in it for you. Reward yourself for a job well done once you've completed a particularly daunting task. It gives you something to look forward to, along with the motivation you're lacking to complete the task at hand.

Tips to prevent burnout >>

Just do it

The hardest part about tackling your to-do list is getting started, so just suck it up and dive on in. Once you get going, you'll probably realize it wasn't as hard or time-consuming as you thought it would be. Plus, the pride you feel from accomplishing something you normally put off will probably be just what you need to help you move on to the next item on your list.