“A year from now, you may wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb

One of the common problems we face today is procrastination. You’re probably avoiding doing something right now. Ironically, we often procrastinate by searching for ways to stop procrastinating!

It’s a funny world we live in. We convince ourselves to avoid our problems until they accumulate. We go to sleep because we have incomplete work, and then can’t sleep because we have incomplete work.

Whether our logic is to find a better solution later or we’re ‘too tired’ to think, procrastinating has become a part of our lives.

With conscious effort, though, it becomes easier to break the cycle. Here are a few ways to beat procrastination and get back on track:

– Stop Thinking and Start Doing:

One of the problems we have is perfectionism. We often get stuck with a task because we want it to be done a certain way. Whether you’re writing or designing something, you have a visual image in your mind. You want the final result to look a certain way.

Unfortunately, this can result in tiring, sleepless nights. Spending hours on a project and getting nothing done is a problem in itself. This leads to procrastination.

Once you get tired, you put the project on hold. Then you avoid working on the project. Days, weeks and months will pass by. Eventually, you’ll forget about the project, until reminded.

While it’s good to want to approach a task a certain way, it’s important to stop thinking too much. Don’t think about wanting to tackle the task a certain way. Think about completing it. The end result is what’s important—finishing.

Of course, don’t compromise on quality. It’s important to check your work for mistakes. What’s also important, however, is to make sure you have it checked by someone else. We are our own worst critics. You may find fault in your work, but another perspective can help change that.

– Tackle the Toughest Projects First

One of the biggest mistakes individuals make is tackling simple tasks first. They believe that getting something done will make them productive. However, tackling easy tasks can lead to struggling with complex projects later.

Start in on bigger, tougher projects first. Even if it takes you time to finish them, at the end of the day, you’ll be able to relax knowing they’re done.

You can then take on the simpler ones. This will help you avoid the struggle of completing everything at the last moment. When we’re short on time, we tend to panic. This leads to our mind shutting down.

– Plan Out Your Day

Make sure to use the first 15 to 30 minutes of your day to plan out your work. This will help you focus on tasks that are important. Get everything out of the way during the first half of the morning.

Creating a to-do list will also help you stay focused—and help you remember tasks you need to do. This will help you avoid last-minute panicking.

– Get Rid of Distractions

Remind yourself that you can complete your work if you try. Limit or eliminate socializing during work hours.

This includes avoiding social media. Not only will these distract you, you’ll end up spending more than half of your time being unproductive.

You can even install plugins to help block certain websites for a certain amount of time. Utilize this time to get as much work done. Once you’re in the flow, everything will come naturally.

Steve Rizzo is a motivational speaker for the corporate sector. He conducts seminars to help businesspeople attain their goals. He uses his leadership skills, wit and expertise to inspire and motivate audiences worldwide. Contact Steve if you’re looking for a keynote speaker for your event.