Procrastinating and tips to stop. Stop it NOW!

I recently finished listening to an audiobook called The 60 Second Procrastinator by Jeff Davidson. It was exactly what I needed for where I am in life.

For me, procrastination is due to either 1) fear or 2) feeling overwhelmed. I tend to put tasks off that involve asking people for something or involve talking on the phone. I’m not sure if it’s ironic or karma that I’m on the phones all day at work. Guess I have to get over my phone anxiety sometime so why not get paid for it.

When I feel overwhelmed I tend to ignore the task all together. I see the task as Mount Everest instead of the anthill it really is. The audiobook taught be how to break large projects down into smaller and easily attainable chunks. Duh right? I’m slow on occasion.

Here’s what’s helped me fight off my procrastination, especially at work:

·         Make a list every day of what needs to get done with boxes next each task

·         Decide which one will take the least amount of time and tackle that one first

·         DO NOT continue on to another task until the one I’m currently working on is completed

·         Put check mark in box next to task

·         Smile and mentally (or physically) high-five myself for being awesome

·         Pick next task and repeat

I’m so much more efficient now that I follow these steps. I’ve realized that multi-tasking is really the destruction of any progress on tasks and goals.

Do you find any method that helps you break free of the shackles of procrastination?