Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination is an all too common habit that keeps us from getting things done. Though just about everyone is guilty of procrastination at some point, constantly putting things off can hold us back and may mean serious consequences, from late fines to chronic stress and health problems. Fortunately there are almost as many techniques to stop procrastinating as there are ways to put things off in the first place.

Break Down Tasks

• A great way to get going on a project is to break it into parts. You might do one part in a day, or in an hour, depending on the task. For example, if you're writing a term paper, you could plan to write one page a day until you've completed the assignment. Or break down the task even further, writing as much as you can in 20 minutes. Set a timer and see how much you can get done in a certain amount of time.

Start with the Ugliest Task

• Professionals in a variety of fields can make their day easier and prevent wasted time by starting with the hardest task on their agenda first. Think of the most difficult or dreaded thing on your to-do list and tackle that first, whether it's going over a tedious work report or making a potentially uncomfortable phone call. Once you're done with a task that you previously viewed as an obstacle, you'll feel a sense of relief, and everything else on your list will seem easier to get through.

Buddy and Reward System

• Enlist friends or co-workers to help monitor your progress on a task or project, and reward yourself when you're done. When you feel accountable to someone else, you'll be more likely to tackle a project than if you only answered to yourself. This could mean giving your list of goals for the day to a supervisor or colleague and giving that person full reign to remind you about any unfinished tasks. Meanwhile, keep motivated by thinking of how you'll reward a finished task with a long bubble bath or an ice cream cone.

Just Get Started

• Get started on the task at hand, even if you don't feel fully prepared or motivated. Many times, taking action can lead us to feel motivated about and interested in what we're doing. For example, you may be in the process of looking for something you've lost, then realize you feel like tidying up your space to make it easier to access supplies. So rather than putting something off for one more day, begin the task first and allow motivation to follow.