Stop Procrastinating: How to Avoid Procrastination and Laziness (Long−term task(s))

Is procrastination a disease? Actually, procrastination is usually connected to lack of productivity. The "Senfeld Strategy," which is actually only mentioned by the comedian Seinfeld, makes a lot of sense if you want to increase your productivity.

What he said is that he has a calendar on his wall, and as he writes jokes every day he puts an X on the calendar with a marker. By putting an X every day, he creates a chain and his only rule is not to break the chain - it's that simple.

This method focuses on productivity rather than on performance, so choose more manageable tasks that you can do every day. As the days go by the chain will become bigger and bigger, which will additionaly motivate you, boost your productivity and your performance.

In case you break the chain don't worry - just start over the next day!

If you wonder how to stop being lazy and procrastinating, the term "reward" is the key. Motivate yourself to complete the tasks and the projects you've been putting off, by rewarding yourself for every completed task, no matter how big or small the task is.

For example, you can split a task, let's say writing an essay into two parts, and reward yourself with something small for finishing half of it, like making yourself a nice cup of tea, but with something bigger when you complete it, like treating yourself with a nice lunch or a nice movie. This, and the feeling of relief once you complete a task, will motivate you even more to continue following this approach.

If you wonder how to stop being lazy and procrastinating, always start with the hardest task. This may not be exactly what you want to hear, but according to many sources it's very effective. Putting off the hardest tasks and "saving" them for later has a negative impact on your productivity, even if the task is small, but let's say, boring or hard. Doing the easier tasks first drains your energy and enthusiasm to do the task you dread to do most.

This is why you should do the task you least, first, so once you finish everything else will seem easier and you will not feel as much pressure.

What causes procrastination? For many procrastinators the environment in which they're working is the main reason why they're procrastinating. This is simply because in certain environments we have certain behaviours, like if you work from home you may be distracted by going to the kitchen every 10 minutes, turn on the TV just to see what's on etc.

This is why finding an environment in which you can stay focused is key for your productivity. If you're a person who concentrates more and works better when surrounded by other people who work/study, you can go to a library. If you want to work alone, you can find a place at the park which will be "your place" for work, or modify your space at home and make yourself a "working corner" where no distractions will be allowed.

One of the tips to stop procrastinating is setting real goals. Setting unrealistic goals and not knowing how to start accomplishing them is one of the most common reasons for procrastination. This is why you should clearly define your goal, even split it into smaller ones if needed.

For example, your goal may be to write a book. I'm not saying that this is not a realistic goal, but it will be more accomplishable if you split it into smaller, more achievable ones. For example:

1. Think of and create the characters;
2. Create an outline;
3. Write the first draft etc.

By giving yourself direct tasks, you will know what steps to take and in what order.

If rewarding yourself for every completed task doesn't work, try this method which is basically the opposite but maybe even more effective.

For every uncompleted task on time, punish yourself with something that will make you want to finish the task in the future. The punishment should be something that will affect you personally, like turning off and not using your phone for 5 hours for every uncompleted task. Be creative, it will pay off.

What would happen if you don't finish your tasks on time? What will the concequences be? Write down everything that would happen, if you don't complete the work you need to do on time, so that you have the consequences right in front of you.

This will in a way scare you and motivate you to finish whatever it is you're doing, so that you don't suffer the concequences later.

For example, if you don't finish writing the article on time - you will disappoint your boss and give yourself negative points; if you don't do the dishes - your kitchen will smell the next day and your roomate will not like it very much, etc.

Is procrastination a disease? It is not, but it sometimes harms productivity. The "The Nothing Alternative" is a method against procrastination, by the novelist Raymond Chandler. The method is simple - do your work or do nothing for 4 hours. Yes, it sounds simple and it actually is not only simple, but effective too.

Chandler thought of this method because he himself used to be a procrastinator, so every morning he set aside 4 hours to work, or in his case to write. The ultimatum was those 4 hours to be spent writing or literally doing nothing, just sitting there, looking out of the window and thinking. In his own words:

"Two very simple rules:

1. You don't have to write (work)
2. You can't do anything else

The rest comes of itself!"

How to stop being a procrastinator? Ask someone to help. Sometimes we need someone to push us, motivate us or simply join us in doing an activity - working, studying, working out etc. This method is basically to find someone (co-worker, friend, neighbour) who can join you when you are doing some task.

For example, you can work on your paper or study for exams with a classmate, go to the gym with a friend etc. This way you will have difficulty in cancelling the study/working sessions since you already have plans and you're not doing it alone. You will also have someone to motivate you and someone to talk to when you take breaks.

Written by a productivity consultant, this bestseller has changed many procrastinator's lives, thanks to the many tips to stop procrastinating. The Getting Things Done book focuses on organization and different organizational methods/systems. Mr. Allen explains that there is no single method for increasing productivity, so he offers different tips and tools which can work for you.

You can buy the new Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity 2015 edition on Amazon.

The Pomodoro Technique (named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer) is a simple method which helps you manage your time efficiently and the only thing it requires is a timer. There are 5 simple steps to follow which also explain the method:

1. Decide on a task/activity;
2. Set the timer to 25 minutes and start working;
3. If you get distracted by something, just write it down and continue working;
4. When the 25 minute working session is over, put a checkmark on a piece of paper and take a 5 minute break;
5. Restart the timer to 25 minutes and start from the beginning;
6. After 4 working sessions, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes and start over.

The frequent breaks after the 25 minute sessions will improve your focus and give you the time to go to the bathroom, drink coffee etc., when the time comes.

Do you wonder how to stop being a procrastinator? Announcing your intentions publicly or even telling about them to another person will make you feel more committed in going through with whatever your task/goal is. Once we committ ourselves to doing something in front of another person or persons, we feel a certain ammount of pressure so that we don't embarrass ourselves for not doing it and having to come up with excuses why we didn't do it.

So, tell your friend(s) and family about your goal. You can even announce it on facebook, as that way you will have your own support group and motivation to show results.

Procrastination in a way is a habit, a bad habit which you try to overcome, but are not sure how to stop being a procrastinator, since you're reading this solution. Well, in order to overcome something you need to understand it first, and The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business will make sure you do.

Through many examples and scientific explanations this book explains how and why habits form and how we can change them. Procrastination, like any other habit, once understood can be changed, and that's exactly what The Power of Habit is all about.

You can buy this bestseller that lasted over 60 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List on Amazon.

This video gives an interesting example of why we procrastinate.

Two groups of students were given an assignment. While the first group didn't have a deadline, the second group had a strict one. It may sound surprising, but the second group who had a strict deadline did way better than the one who didn't. What is the conclusion one can draw from this example? That sometimes we need to trick ourselves to stop procrastinating and focus on the tasks. The tricks are explained in the following video called How to stop procrastinating.

If one of the reasons why you procrastinate is the fear that the project you're working on will not be perfect when completed, or if you're constantly doubting yourself that you will not do the task the way you think it should be done - you are a perfectionist.

The irony is that many perfectionists do procrastinate a lot, mainly because of the reasons mentioned above. To avoid this, don't be afraid that the thing you're working on will not turn out perfect - whether it is writing a book or going to the gym. If you're working on a paper or a book, just start writing without thinking whether it's good or not, since you're going to go over it anyway. You should remember that nothing is perfect at the very beginning, and that the important thing is to start doing it.

You have to go to the library in the morning to study, but instead you sleep longer, then afternoon comes, and you say to yourself that you're going to go tomorrow instead? You want to hit the gym at 8 a.m. but when the alarm rings you feel like you're not ready and you're gonna start tomorrow?

To motivate yourself more, in order to do your tasks in the morning, prepare everything that you'll need the night before. Let's say you have to go to the library. So, before going to bed, put the books and notes you'll need in your bag, prepare your lunch and put it in the fridge, prepare the clothes that you'll wear, and set two alarms just in case. This way when you wake up in the morning you'll know that everything is ready - you just have to put your clothes on, grab your bag, take your lunch and go.

For most procrastinators starting is the hardest part. When you think about how long the task you need to do will take, you leave it for some other time.

If you have this problem, the 5-minute trick is perfect for you. All you have to do is tell yourself that you will do the task for just 5 minutes, and once those 5 minutes go by you can stop.

So let's say that you want to clean your messy closet. You start to take all the clothes out, you go into it, and the 5 minutes are gone. You can stop, put the clothes back in the closet and start another time, but this trick is great because you might not even want to stop. Once you get momentum and are in that mindset, you will most probably finish the task.

So tell yourself that you'll do the task for just 5 minutes, make this first step and see how it goes, you might even turn this trick into a habit.

Make a list of the most common excuses you use, in order to avoid working on your task/goal/project, so that you can easily recognize them next time you put off a task. Here are examples of some common excuses:

• I'll start right after...(I do the dishes, I see what's on facebook etc.);
• I don't have enough time today, so I'll start tomorrow;
• I have so much work, so I'll start tomorrow;
• Right now I'm too tired/stressed/sad, therefore I'll start tomorrow etc.

Understand which excuses you use most of the time so that you are aware the next time one of them pops into your head, and makes you want to procrastinate.

If you have some important task/goal/project, and you've been constantly putting it off because something new came up in the meantime, then you are a productive procrastinator. What this means is that you avoid doing the most imortant task you have because of other not as important tasks.

The solution is to say no to the other tasks, especially new ones, and focus on the one you absolutely have to do. It's important to prioritise your work so that you can complete the most urgent and important tasks on time.

Creating a vision board is an activity which is both fun and helpful. Visualizing your goals can help you understand exactly what you want to do and how to do it.

Let's say that you want to redecorate your room in a certain style, but you are not sure how and where to start. Create a vision board attaching photos of your favourite pieces of furniture, colors, carpets, decorations etc. on a paper or a foam board. This way you can visualize the whole picture of how you want your apartment to look like. The same goes for other goals you have, like starting a business, writing a paper, etc.

One of the biggest reasons why people procrastinate is some unknown fear that is present every time we think of the task/goal/project we need to complete. Some of the most common fears are:

• Fear of failure (you think that you are not able to do the task, so you delay);
• Fear of too much work (you are overwhelmed by the amount of work that you have, so you delay);
• Fear of the unknown (you are not very familiar with what you have to do, so you delay).

Fears can be very powerful if we constantly avoid them, so face them by analyzing why they exist in your head. Start thinking about why you think that you will fail, how much work is too much work etc., and by facing your fears you will make them less powerful.