Nearly everyone procrastinates from time to time, but some people do it more often. If you are a habitual procrastinator, the ability to complete even the simplest projects or tasks may seem elusive. But procrastination is a psychological issue that you can reverse with a few simple steps. Here are different ways to beat procrastination.

First, recognize that you are procrastinating.

You’re probably putting off a task because you have re-prioritized your workload. In case you are briefly delaying essential tasks for a good reason, you are not procrastinating. But if you are putting tasks off indefinitely or just switching focus because you don’t want to do a task, you are procrastinating.

Figure out why you are procrastinating

To fight procrastination, you need to know why you are doing it. For example, do you avoid a certain task just because you find it unpleasant or boring? Poor work organization or even being a perfectionist (trying to do everything perfectly) could also lead to procrastination. Another cause of procrastination is poor decision-making. After all, if you can’t decide what to do, you are likely to put off taking the right action.

Implement the right anti-procrastination strategies

You probably know that procrastination is a habit. It is a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior. That means you cannot break it overnight. After all, habits usually stop being habits when you stop practicing them. Here are the top strategies to give you the best possible chance of fighting procrastination successfully.

• Schedule your entire day in 15-minute blocks to stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time.
• Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and most importantly, time-bound goals (SMART goals).
• Eliminate distractions from your workstation or workplace.
• Set up realistic reminders.
• Get a motivation partner and always make yourself accountable.
• Track your performance.

Wrap up

Sure, everyone procrastinates, but that can turn into a bad thing if you are not careful. Now you know how to beat procrastination. Pick the best set of anti-procrastination strategies and get back to work.