7 Ways to Beat, Avoid, or Make the Most of Procrastination!

I just discovered that today, September 6^th, is “Fight Procrastination Day.” I’ve never heard of this day before. Frankly, it sounds like something somebody came up with while they were putting off doing real work.

Whatever its origin, it seems like a nice launching point for an article about procrastination…

I originally though about making the entire post:

“Today is Fight Procrastination Day. I’ll write an article about it tomorrow,”

But that would be silly and obvious, and I’m sure many others have made that joke.

Instead, here are 7 simple but effective techniques you can use to beat, avoid, or make the most of procrastination. You may not always win, but you can at least put up a good fight…

1) Get Lazier

If you have a task that consistently comes up that kicks in your “procrastination urge”, then find a workaround. Figure out a way of changing what you do so you don’t have to ever do that task again. For example, if you always procrastinate entering information into your contact database after networking events, then buy a card scanner. Great things have come from focused laziness! (I wrote a post about it here: Achieve More by Being Lazier!)

2) Delegate

Can you get someone else to take on the task you are putting off? There are lots of options:

• Have an employee do it.
• Hire an outside expert.
• Barter tasks with a friend or family member.

Do what you love and find people who love doing what you hate and trade.

3) Ask Yourself, “Do I Really Need to do This?”

Sometimes, if you really think about, you realize you don’t really have to do the thing you are procrastinating. If you have a work related task that your boss told you to do, well, that you’ll have to do. However, there are many things you decide you “should” do. Then you feel guilty when you procrastinate. Let those go! Will the world really end if you take, “re-organize the hall closet” off your “to-do” list?

4) Shrink the Task

The bigger the task you have before you, the greater the urge to procrastinate. Shrink the task until you don’t feel overwhelmed when you think about it. You can literally make the task smaller, or you can break a big task into chunks and just take on the first piece.

5) Ramp Up

Your greatest productivity comes when you tackle your, most important project first. .However, when your energy is low and when procrastination is high, you may find it difficult to get started. In these cases, rather than going from not working at all to working full steam on a big project, start with something easier. I find it a lot easier to get started on a smaller task, and, once I have some momentum, it’s often easier to take on the big task.

6) Learn New Strategies

Why not spend your procrastination time learning how not to procrastinate? Two great books that I have found very helpful on this topic are The Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel and The Now Habit by Neil Fiore.

7) Embrace It

Sometimes you just have to give in to that procrastination urge and put the task off for a day. However, you have to do it right. Too often, the fight with procrastination is a slow depressing one. You stare at your computer screen surfing through Wikipedia for hours. The day ends, and, you feel terrible for having done nothing. If you really want to embrace your procrastination, then when you put off a task, replace it with something truly enjoyable or rewarding. Read a great book. Go connect with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Work on side project that you are excited about. You’re still procrastinating, but at least you’re using your procrastination time wisely.

There you have it – seven techniques to beat procrastination (or at least make the most of it)! Hope you have a great “Fight Procrastination Day,” and I hope you get a lot done!

(If you use one of the techniques about, or if you use this day to take on a project you have been procrastinating, let me know in the comments!)

P.S. Hey, if you like this post, why don’t you share the love and click the Facebook “Like” button at the top of this page…?
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By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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