We all have tasks we’d rather not do. Some tasks could infinitely improve our lives, whether in business or our personal lives. But slogging through them isn’t fun. We avoid them until forced to take action.
Perhaps some of the tasks you’re avoiding are those critical cornerstone habits that would have a cascading positive effect on all areas of your life. You know you should do them, but you procrastinate.
Where people commonly procrastinate
There are many beneficial actions people often know they should do to improve their lives but frequently need to work on. Common ones include:
Regular exercise. Physical activity boosts health and mood, and so much more. However, starting and sticking to a workout routine can be challenging due to initial discomfort, time constraints, or lack of immediate results.
Healthier food choices. Dietary changes are essential for good health, but they require planning and effort, making them easy to put off in favor of more convenient, less nutritious food options.
Financial planning. Establishing a savings plan is crucial for financial security, yet it can take a lot of work to start or maintain, particularly when immediate expenses or desires take precedence.
Prioritizing sleep. Restful sleep enhances overall health and productivity, but many delay bedtime to continue engaging in activities like watching TV or browsing the internet. Even Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said that “sleep is their competition.”
Learning new skills. Whether for career advancement or personal satisfaction, learning new skills is beneficial, yet it can take time due to perceived difficulty or the time investment needed.
Decluttering and organizing. Tidying up living spaces can significantly improve one’s quality of life and make focusing on other activities easier, but the magnitude of the task can cause procrastination.
Maintaining social connections. Social relationships are crucial for emotional well-being, but initiating or maintaining these connections can be postponed due to anxiety, introversion, or feeling too busy.
Mindfulness. Meditation and quiet moments can enhance mental health and help us better manage stress. But people often delay starting because they feel too busy or are skeptical about the benefits.
Repair and maintenance. Whether fixing a leaky faucet or changing the oil in a car, maintenance tasks aren’t fun, but it’s easy to forget how severe problems from lack of maintenance can impact our lives.
How to beat procrastination
When you’re trying to beat procrastination, it’s not about having more time. Rather, it’s about making the time and optimizing your efforts. Motivation can help, but you need to know how you’re motivated and fulfilled so you can leverage your natural Motivational Dimensions. Here are some steps to make beating procrastination easier than ever.
Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps
One of the main reasons people procrastinate is because they feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. To combat this, break larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps. Focusing on one step at a time will make you feel less intimidated and more motivated to get started. For tasks like cleaning out garages or closets, choose one activity per week to get a handle on unpleasant tasks.
Gamify the task
When you know your Motivational Dimension, leverage that to make any part of the task a game. Find ways to make the unpleasant tasks easier, whether it’s one small piece of the larger project or the overwhelming initiative.
If you’re a Driver, knowing that the project would be entirely overwhelming for others could motivate you to work through the impossible.
If you’re an Achiever, knowing that recognition for achievement is a motivating force can help you work through the tasks. Set milestones when you will ensure others can provide the recognition that keeps you focused on results.
Create a schedule and a plan
Develop a daily or weekly schedule that includes dedicated time for work, leisure, and self-care. Prioritize your most important tasks and tackle them during your peak productivity hours. Once you’ve created your schedule, commit to following it consistently. This will help you establish a routine and make it easier to resist procrastination. If you’re an Orchestrator, creating a system that helps you and others stay on track can beat procrastination easily.
Eliminate distractions
Distractions are a procrastinator’s worst enemy. To stay focused, eliminate as many distractions as possible. This may include silencing your phone, closing unnecessary browser tabs, or finding a quiet workspace. If you struggle with social media or other online distractions, consider using apps or browser extensions that block these sites during designated work hours.
If you find social media relaxing and entertaining, you can use this as a reward when the unpleasant tasks are complete.
Set your environment for focus
Clear your space of clutter and distraction, and start each day with a fresh environment that is more conducive to focus. If you forget certain supportive actions, ensure that reminders are the first things you see in the morning.
Before putting the computer in sleep mode at the end of the day, make sure that you organize your desktop for greatest focus first thing in the morning. Don’t let yesterday’s distractions carry forward.
Use positive self-talk and visualization
Your mindset plays a significant role in overcoming procrastination. Instead of focusing on a task’s negative aspects, try reframing your thoughts positively. Use encouraging self-talk to keep yourself focused. Additionally, visualize yourself completing the task and the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel afterward.
Reward yourself for progress
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your successes along the way. Set up a reward system for yourself, where you treat yourself to something enjoyable after completing a task or reaching a milestone. This could be as simple as taking a coffee break, watching an episode of your favorite show, or indulging in a hobby you enjoy.
By giving yourself something to look forward to, you’ll be more motivated to push through and avoid procrastination.
Choosing carrots over sticks
When you know your Motivational Dimensions, you can establish positive rewards for beating procrastination. You’ll get more done without relying on negative deadlines that create anxiety and stress. You can create rewards and gamified experiences that make work more fun, easier, and more fulfilling.
Getting to know your Motivational Dimensions is easy. The assessment takes less than 30 minutes and relies on your stories.
Motivation Code isn’t a mere personality assessment. It’s a powerful map of who you are backed by 60+ years of proven science, the evaluation of millions of achievement and fulfillment stories, and decades of research on motivation and high performance.
Getting started is easy. Learn more about Motivation Code, and start a new journey towards a better life.