Best Techniques for Controlling Procrastination

Some people can’t stand having an unfulfilled task hanging over them. They try to complete all pressing projects or planned assignments as quickly as possible so they don’t feel pressured. However, they are still a minority; most people face procrastination at one time or another. This is when, even though we know we have unfinished and important tasks, we procrastinate until the last minute before we get down to them. As a result, we often feel stressed, frustrated, and dissatisfied with ourselves. Procrastination is quite common among students who put off studying material or preparing for tests until the last minute. True for them, there are some easier ways out of the situation. Students can, for example, pay for essay and stop worrying about completing their tasks.

Nevertheless, there are tasks that cannot be delegated and still have to be done. Considering that, according to studies, about 75% of people felt that they procrastinated, it is important to know how to overcome this condition to stay productive and not harm their studies or career.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Procrastination is one of our body’s defense systems that is illogical and impractical in today’s environment. It is essentially a reaction to stress or anxiety before accomplishing a difficult task. Procrastination should not be confused with laziness because we put off a task not because we don’t want to do it or don’t realize it’s important but because we experience fear of doing the work poorly or extreme discomfort at the thought of starting work. Procrastination can be divided into active and passive, with each type having separate motivators.

It is accepted to divide procrastination also by the type of behavior:

• Perfectionist: such a person postpones the fulfillment of tasks because he is afraid to get a perfect result.
• Dreamer: in this case, the person does not realize how much time he really needs to do everything.
• Defier: a person procrastinates in protest that he or she is given limits to accomplish a task.
• Worrier: worries that the job will take him out of his comfort zone or that he will encounter difficult, confusing tasks.
• Crisis-maker: Deliberately puts off work because they think they’ll do better under pressure.
• Overdoer: Postpones work because he has taken on too much and doesn’t know where to start.

The consequences of procrastination may not come immediately. Putting off work a few times and completing it in force majeure may work, but putting things off will seem more normal and right each time. However, getting the job done will seem harder each time. You may start making mistakes or failing to meet deadlines, and that’s when you will feel the real consequences. Self-reflection is the first step to solving the problem. Understanding why you put things off allows you to choose an appropriate method to combat procrastination.

The 5-Minute Method

As you know, even the longest journey begins with the first step and the longest novel with the first page. A rule of 5 minutes helps to “trick the brain .”In fact, procrastination is different from lack of time in that we can do the work but just find excuses, and we find interesting and important everything except the immediate task. In this case, it is worth overpowering yourself and trying to do the work for just a few minutes. It is not so much to get tired or start to get more irritated. Still, our brain is organized so that most likely you will start to work, and if you do not complete the entire task, then at least feel the initial progress and return to work after a while is much easier because you are not starting from scratch.

The “5 minutes” method works because the brain stops seeing the task as a huge obstacle that is difficult to overcome. Small steps allow you to overcome the fear of starting and get into the workflow.

The “Eat the Frog” Technique

Eating a frog in the literal sense will not help you in any way, so you should not do it. However, it is possible and even recommended that you use Brian Tracy’s technique. It consists of starting the day with the most difficult and unpleasant task we want to complete later. If you focus on it and still do it, the rest of the work process will be much more productive because you have already left behind the most difficult.

This Method works for several reasons. First, we are most productive in the morning, and our brains can better solve complex tasks. Second, “eating a frog” gives a psychological impulse and the feeling of accomplishing something important. Because of this, there is more energy and motivation for other tasks. The “frog” is different for each person. Just like it is impossible to buy an essay that will fit all subjects, it is impossible to define a single unpleasant task.

Fighting Procrastination With Gadgets

As a rule, putting off work for later, we are immersed in the world of social media or watching TV series and movies. In addition, even when starting to work, we can be distracted by phone notifications, chatting with friends, reading the news, and many other so “important” for procrastinators. In these cases, severe love for the child is suitable. By child here, we mean ourselves. We just need to set parental control for ourselves. Many applications completely block the phone or social media access on a timer. Set a scheduled work time, and you’ll have fewer options for things to do other than the task at hand.

Conclusion

It is important to realize that procrastination is not a mental or psychological problem that requires treatment or therapy. If you sometimes put things off, that’s okay. Just remember that if it becomes a habit, you need to pay attention to your condition and apply the right techniques to get back on track.