Want To Stop Procrastinating? Here’s How To Get Sh*t Done
Success doesn’t just come to you—you’ve gotta get it!
We’ve all been there: a looming deadline and that anxious feeling of knowing you should be working but aren’t. In the moment, putting things off feels like the right move, waiting until you're “in the mood” to work. But in reality, all you’re doing is holding yourself back.
Think of it like this. You know you should be studying for an exam, but instead, you go out partying. Later, you end up cramming at the last minute, only to fail the test, pushing yourself further away from getting that degree. Then, the cycle repeats. You get an assignment, procrastinate, rush to finish it, and stress yourself out. But what if you could break that cycle? Here are six tips to help you get sh*t done.
6 Tips To Help Overcome Procrastination:
1. Stop overthinking and start!
If you’re a perfectionist or afraid of failure, you need to get out of your head. Overanalyzing a task leads to anxiety and self-doubt. Instead of doing the work, you waste time imagining different outcomes. That’s being stagnant, not productive.
A simple way to get started is by working on a task for five minutes. After the timer is up you’ll realize the hardest part isn’t doing the work—it’s simply starting.
2. Use a planner
It’s hard to get started on a task when you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing. A notebook planner will help alleviate the uncertainty. Before working, write down your responsibilties starting with the most important and working down to the least. But don’t just write down responsibilities. Schedule self-care activities and breaks too. This promotes a healthy work-life balance, making it easier for you to get shit done.
Plus, you can customize it however you want. Add stickers, doodles, and colorful pens to make it something you actually enjoy using.
3. Set clear deadlines
Similar to having a planner, setting deadlines helps you stay organized and on top of your tasks. For anyone who tends to procrastinate, an avalanche of tasks can feel daunting. But, when you outline your tasks and their deadlines, you can prioritize your workload, minimizing daily overwhelm. According to Dr. Itamar Shatz, affiliated lecturer at Cambridge University, “Knowing that you have an upcoming deadline can create enough pressure to help you overcome issues such as lack of motivation.”
Giving yourself a realistic time limit makes tackling tasks easier and helps you avoid last-minute stress.
4. Create a reward system
What’s more motivating than recieving a reward after completing a task?
A study from Cornell University found that immediate rewards increase interest and enjoyment in a task more than delayed rewards.
For example, if you're a content creator with two days to edit a video but dread the process, set up a reward system. Work for a few hours with 10-minute breaks in between, and treat yourself to your favorite movie when you’re done. This way, you stay focused without stretching yourself too line and have something to look forward to.
5. Minimize distractions
Identify what’s pulling your attention away from your goals and cut it out. If social media is your biggest distraction, put your phone on silent and place it somewhere out of reach.
It might be tough at first, but eliminating distractions will help you stay focused and get things done faster.
6. Find an accountability partner
Share your goals with a friend. It can be both fun and life-changing. Trust me, having a support system reminds you that you don’t have to tackle challenges alone.
The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that individuals have a 65% chance of completing a goal when they share their commitment with someone else, and this likelihood increases to 95% when they have regular check-ins with an accountability partner. So, don’t be shy, find someone you trust to hold you accountable (and who won’t tell your business). Just make sure you don’t become too dependent on them. This is your journey!
Welp, my job is done here. Now, it’s your turn to get to work!
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