Beyond Time Management: Why We Really Procrastinate and How to Finally Stop - Ambition & Balance - Deepstash
Beyond Time Management: Why We Really Procrastinate and How to Finally Stop - Ambition & Balance

Beyond Time Management: Why We Really Procrastinate and How to Finally Stop - Ambition & Balance

Curated from: doist.com

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Why we procrastinate

Procrastination is more about our emotions than our tendencies for laziness or just being ā€œbad at deadlinesā€. At its core, we procrastinate to keep ourselves happy in the moment.

We procrastinate because our brains are wired to care more about our present comfort than our future happiness.

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How to overcome your procrastination habit

We have two ways of dealing with our procrastination:

  1. Make whatever weā€™re procrastinating on feel less uncomfortable, and
  2. ConvinceĀ our present selves into caring about our future selves.

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Make getting started ridiculously easy

Often starting a task is the biggest hurdle. Research shows that progressā€”no matter how smallā€”can be a huge motivator to help us keep going.

Set the timer for just 5 or 10 minutes. While the timerā€™s running, you donā€™t have to work, but you canā€™t do anything else. You have to sit with your work, even if you donā€™t get started.

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The right thing for the wrong reason

Since negative emotions are the cause of our procrastination, what if we could manage our negative emotions while working?

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely calls this method reward substitution. ItĀ is essentially getting yourself to do the right thing for the wrong reason.Ā 

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Ask for help

When my work directly affects others, I find it much harder to accept the consequences of procrastinating.

You could ask a friend or colleague to help you get started on something youā€™ve been putting off.

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Imagine the future

Encouraging people to imagine the future can help them make better decisions now.

  • Looking at a digitally aged photograph can help us more effectively imagine ourselves in the future, thus helping us make better decisions.
  • Realistically imagine how youā€™ll feel tomorrow if youā€™re trying the old ā€œIā€™ll feel like doing this tomorrowā€ excuse.Ā 

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Reframe your task and its deadline

  • Reframe your task into a challenge.Ā  ā€œWhat if you got this work done before lunchtime?Ā 
  • Challenge yourself to stay focused on a single task for as long as possible:Ā ā€¦ try a count-up timer. See how long you can remain on task. See if you can beat your last recordā€¦
  • Work away from your desk. " itā€™s a lot harder to believe Iā€™m doing ā€œreal workā€.
  • Changing your attitude toward the task. Think of your task as something you want to get done, to help adjust your motivation to be more internal.

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Let yourself avoid uncomfortable tasks

ā€œStructured procrastinationā€ is a clever way to stay productive even while you procrastinate. Procrastinating doesn't mean you are doing absolutely nothing.

Next time you feel the urge to procrastinate, go for it.Ā Avoid that Big Scary Task that makes you feel really uncomfortable. Instead, work on more important things than what youā€™re avoiding.

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Use a timer

Set a timer for 30 minutes. During that time stay focused on your work. When the timer goes off, set it again for 10 minutes, and rewards yourself with a fun activity like YouTube videos, chatting with friends, or reading a book.Ā After 10 minutes, reset the 30-minute timer and get back to work.

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Forgive yourself

Forgiving yourself for procrastinating can help you overcome negative feelings about the work youā€™ve put off in the past, so you can more easily approach future tasks.

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IDEAS CURATED BY

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