Working with Your Procrastination

Don’t wait to fix procrastination.

Many people procrastinate. Work with your procrastination to achieve the best results possible. Procrastination does not make you a bad person; it is simply another dimension of the self that you need to manage appropriately.

What happens when procrastination meets a task list? The amount of productivity decreases as the amount of pressure increases. Some find working under pressure a more productive experience; however, the added stress brings its own host of physical and mental health issues. Find ways to work with your procrastination to maximize your productivity.

• FINDING THE RIGHT TASK

A long task list is daunting for all people. Individuals who dislike control may find a long list of “to dos” like a yoke around their neck. Those who may feel the need to flee such a list need to find the right way to prioritize their tasks. Choose the tasks that grab your interest first to get the ball rolling. Creating your own motivation may start with getting your interest piqued.

• SCHEDULE BREAKS

Create audio alarms for you to take breaks, and to get back on task. This is particularly useful for those individuals who find it difficult to dedicate a considerable amount of focus to a given task. For example, you may wish to set an alarm for 30 minutes of task work, followed by a 5 minute break. Let this break include checking social networks or playing a quick electronic game. Over time, try extending the task time by 10 minutes to train you to focus for longer.

• INCLUDE COMPETITION

If competition is a motivator for you, try competing with your co-workers or yourself. Group tasks may feel less constrained if the group is not waiting for your work to continue. Try to be the first to complete your work. When your regular tasks do not allow for competition with your co-workers, compete with yourself. If you are used to handing in your monthly report a day late after a reminder, challenge yourself to hand it in on time.

• CHANGE DUE DATES

Some procrastination styles thrive on leaving tasks to the very last minute. Procrastinators may have made working under this stress an art form. Change the way others see you by handing in assignments and reports early. Schedule tasks as if they are due the day prior. This small psychological trick will allow for procrastination, but allow you to still have all your work completed on time.

• CONSIDER THE EFFECTS

Completing tasks at the last minute contributes to stress levels in the body. Excessive levels of stress may cause the following issues:

• Excessive hair loss.
• Muscle aches and pains.
• Insomnia, headaches, personality changes, anxiety and depression.
• Mouth ulcers and dryness.
• Cardiovascular disease hypertension

The effects, of course, vary in all individuals. If you have an issue with chronic headaches, speak to your doctor and see if it may be stress related. Simply reducing the stress caused by procrastination may improve your health over time.

Understanding and working with your procrastination tendencies is the first step in adapting your style to your needs. If you feel you can refocus your energy on accomplishing tasks, instead of procrastinating, your stress levels should reduce. Enjoy the time you accumulate after accomplishing your tasks. This time that you would have spent instead of working will be stress free and well earned.