5 Tips for Navigating Procrastination

Steven Losardo, LMFT

Procrastination is the greatest enemy of having a successful work schedule. Oftentimes, we procrastinate on certain tasks to avoid feelings of monotony, dislike or overwhelm. In doing so, many of us often decide to focus on the works that are easier or more enjoyable, as this makes us still feel we are being productive. In the end, though, we cannot avoid the burnout that will ultimately result when we try to cram in all of the work we dislike into a short period. 

In this blog, we note some suggestions for fighting procrastination. There are a few other factors to take into consideration and methods to pay close attention to that can help you better manage your schedule. This blog will explore five of these.

1. When procrastination makes sense

For the majority of people procrastination comes with an array of problems that suggest it will not enable us to be efficient (Perman, 2016). However, procrastination does have a time and place where it is appropriate. This time is primarily when you are feeling overwhelmed and need to take a step back. In doing so, you put off tasks temporarily in order to refuel. Keep in mind though, the act of putting off or waiting to do a task can shrink the time available to do it (Greissman, 1994). If you can manage your time appropriately, procrastination isn’t always the worst option. Overall, procrastination makes sense if efficiency is the top priority, we are dealing with the known territory, and the consequences of failing are very low (Perlman, 2016).

2. Ask for help or support

Procrastination is often the direct result of feeling overwhelmed. Where possible, consider asking someone for assistance. This assistance can be in the form of direct help on a project or even someone to listen to you complain for a few minutes. Having support during busy times makes it easier to manage them and helps you avoid procrastinating on your important tasks.

3. Organize your work by doing the least desired first

Another direct cause of procrastination is avoidance. Oftentimes, we procrastinate to avoid doing the assignments we dislike. Your best bet in this situation is to first determine which assignments are the ones you dislike. Try organizing your work from least to most desired. Putting the least desired ones at the top of the list prioritizes them in your brain automatically and sets you up for success (Krumina, 2021; Perlman, 2016). 

4. Do the hated work first

Now that you have a list, do the work you dislike the most first. Get it out of the way as quickly as you can. Doing the work that you dislike first will reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed that typically ensues. When your brain is at its sharpest, it’s best to do the tasks that seem monotonous or boring because you can power through them instead of waiting and working on a tired brain (Perlman, 2016). 

5. Silence those phones

The final tip we have for you is silencing those cell phones!  “Our phones ping every few minutes, alerting us of new texts, tweets and headlines” and this is a huge distraction (Bailey, 2020). Before you’re about to start working on a task you dislike or a task you know you want to avoid, silence your phone. Also, be sure to remove it from your working area. This will reduce your likelihood of procrastination. 

In closing, many can relate to being labeled “the procrastinator.” The title can seem daunting to overcome. Be sure to start in small manageable ways focusing on a few factors. First, organize your work and get the work you dislike done first, while your brain is at its most functional. Next, silence your cell phones during this time. Finally, remember that it’s okay to take breaks. Often, you will find taking breaks makes you more productive, particularly later on in your process. 

References

Baily, C. (2020). The biggest productivity mistake you’ve never heard of—and why so many

people are guilty of it every day. Retrieved from

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/biggest-productivity-mistake-most-people-dont-know

they-make-every-day-work-expert.html on October 30, 2021. 

Krumina, K. (2021). I tried a TikTok trend to solve my bad procrastination habit — I can’t

believe it worked. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-productivity- hack-lone-chair-stop-procrastinating-it-worked-2021-10?amp on October 30, 2021

Perlman, M. (2014). What’s best next: How the Gospel transforms the way you get things done.

Zondervan.