You know the feeling: You need to get something done, but you just can’t seem to actually start doing it. So, you distract yourself with less important things until the last minute, when tension and pressure and stress compel you to finish the job – or, worse, the task just never gets done at all.
In other words, you can’t seem to stop procrastinating.
Sound familiar? Welcome to the club.
People procrastinate because de-motivating elements, like worry and fear of failure, trounce our self-control and drive. Often, we’re also hindered by fatigue or a lack of incentives. We become so overwhelmed by a task that we don’t even know where to start.
But here’s the good news: Even lifelong procrastinators can overcome decades of poor habits with the correct mindset and proven methods.
Actually Useful Ways to Stop Procrastinating
1. Be honest with yourself.
Is the real reason you’re procrastinating that you don’t want what you’re procrastinating about anymore? Have your goals changed?
If so, that’s okay!
For example, let’s say your goal used to be getting an MBA, but now you feel drawn to starting your own business and learning as you go. If that’s the case, you’re probably going to procrastinate applying to expensive graduate programs. Why?
Because you don’t want to anymore! It’s an out-of-date goal. So move on. Go start that business. Do things that excite you.
You don’t have to stick to a vision you used to have. Focus on what your goals are now, not what they may have been years ago. Just because you wanted to be a ballerina when you were seven doesn’t mean that’s still a good goal to strive for twenty years later. People change, and so do goals. That’s a good thing.
2. Examine your schedule.
Are you procrastinating because you’re just exhausted after a long day? What if you tried switching things around and working in the morning instead?
Try to figure out where and when you’re most productive. Some people find they’re way more productive in the morning, while others are more prolific at night. Some people love working in a noisy coffee shop, while others need absolute peace and quiet to get anything done.
Whatever your needs are, you’ll find that working in your ideal environment and at your ideal time of day can make a world of difference to your productivity.
3. Find a strategy for when you’re overwhelmed.
Maybe the reason you can’t stop procrastinating is that you just don’t know where to start. When this occurs, you may opt to avoid what you need to do altogether or try to handle it but get paralyzed before finishing.
In that case, you need a plan. Start by writing down all the steps you need to accomplish to reach your goal and work on the steps every single day. It’s much better to do a little bit consistently over a long period of time than to do a lot of work but only once in a while.
For example, if your goal is to start a business, break it down into manageable steps, rather than being paralyzed by how large your whole goal is.
And remember: You’re not alone in this! There are a lot of resources online that can help you accomplish your goals, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
4. Have an accountability partner.
If you’re having a hard time staying on track, an accountability partner can make all the difference in helping you reach your goals.
Here’s how it works: Tell someone you trust about your specific goal, whatever it is, so you’re held accountable if you don’t get it done.
For example, tell them you’re going to launch your website next Saturday by 6 pm – and if you don’t, you won’t be able to do something you like until it gets done. This is a great way to stop procrastinating.
If you’re attempting to start a new business or publish a book, you’re only accountable to yourself. It’s easy to let your dedication slip when no one is pounding the whip and ensuring you meet your goals and significant benchmarks, so having someone who can cheer you on and give you great advice is invaluable.
5. Use S.M.A.R.T. goals to give yourself extra help.
S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based. In the past, you may have had objectives that were challenging to fulfill because they were too ambiguous, unrealistic, or poorly stated.
Working toward a vague dream can feel unattainable and frustrating. Why? Because if you don’t have specific objectives, you’ll never know how close or how far you are to attaining them!
If your goal is to start a business “someday” but you have no plan in place to make that happen, how likely is it that it will actually get done?
To avoid this, all you have to do is use S.M.A.R.T goals. So, if you’ve been procrastinating launching your online store, here’s an example S.M.A.R.T. goal:
This Saturday, by 6 pm, I will launch my online store with five products.
See how much of a difference it makes to have concrete goals rather than vague ones? It’s easier to get things done when everything is laid out and you know exactly what you need to do.
If you need a S.M.A.R.T. goal template to get started, you can print a free one here.
Final Thoughts
Recognizing that you’re procrastinating is the first step toward overcoming it. Remember that just because you’ve struggled to stay on track in the past doesn’t mean you can’t completely change how you work to help you in the future.
The important thing is to be honest with yourself about what may be causing your procrastination so you can address it and grow from it.
