How to stop being a procrastinator

Are you a procrastinator?

Most people are habitual procrastinators? The truth is, I find myself sometimes being indecisive, and my indecisions have lead to procrastination. I sometimes procrastinate about decisions, planning events, or sometimes simply dining out. I have come to realize however, that some of my best decisions are the ones made with precision and intentionality. Let’s say as, with most habits, it is possible to overcome procrastination.

Here are a few steps that you can follow to help you deal with and prevent procrastination:

You might be putting off a task because you’ve had to re-prioritize your work schedule or are afraid to tackle a task because you’re fearful of failing. If you’re briefly delaying an important task for a genuinely good reason, then you aren’t necessarily procrastinating. However, if you start to put things off indefinitely, or switch focus because you want to avoid doing something, then you probably are.

Here are some ways to know if you’re really procrastinating:

• You fill your day with low-priority tasks.
• You leave an item on your To-Do list for a long time period of time, even though it’s important.
• You will read emails several times over without making a decision on what to do with them.
• You’ll start a high-priority task and then go off to make a coffee.
• you fill your time with unimportant tasks that other people ask you to do, instead of getting on with the important tasks already on your list.
• You’ll wait to be in the “right mood,” or wait for the “right time” to tackle a task.

You need to understand the reasons WHY you are procrastinating before you can begin to tackle it.

For instance, are you avoiding a particular task because you find it boring or unpleasant? If so, take steps to get it out of the way quickly, so that you can focus on the aspects of your job that you find more enjoyable.

Poor organization can lead to procrastination. Organized people successfully overcome procrastination because they use prioritized To-Do-Lists and create effective schedules.

These tools can help you to organize your tasks by priority and deadline and your Life.

Think about it, people who are organized still tend to feel overwhelmed by things that they have to do. Perhaps you have doubts about your ability and are worried about FAILING, so you put it off and seek comfort in doing work that you know that you’re capable of completing.

The truth is most people fear success as much as failure. They think that success will lead to them being overwhelmed, and swamped with requests to take on more tasks.

Did you know people who are, perfectionists are often big procrastinators? Often, they’d rather avoid doing a task that they don’t feel they have the skills to do, than do it imperfectly.

Another major cause of procrastination is poor decision-making. If you can’t decide what to do, you’ll likely put off taking action in case you do the wrong thing.

Tips: 3 Steps to STOP being a procrastinator.

Step 1: Recognize that you’re procrastinator

Step 2: Work out why you’re Procrastinating

Step 3: Commit to changing

Here are a few tips to help you become better organized and stop procrastinating.

1. Keep a To-Do List. 
2. Become a master of planning and scheduling.
3. Set yourself time-bound goals.
4. Using task- and time-management apps.  Example trello.com/en or toggl.com

Get out of your stuckness and step into your purpose.