Since the pandemic began, more of us have been working from the confines of our homes.
With the added challenges of more distractions and more freedom, you might find yourself procrastinating a lot more than before.
Without a doubt, the freedom to pick and choose what to do and when to do it is empowering.
But without your boss looking over your shoulder, you may find yourself saying “I’ll do that tomorrow” more often than usual.
In fact, whether you design custom graphics, write blog posts and essays, or work as an at-home data entry specialist, it seems that procrastination levels are at an all-time high.
With 54% of people saying that they would like to continue working from home after the pandemic, it’s essential to learn the best ways to overcome procrastination.
So keep reading, and we’ll give you a few practical tips and tricks to help you get your work done without delay!
Create Boundaries
It’s a good idea to choose an assigned location to do your work, such as a home office or a library so that your mind doesn’t wander and you can concentrate and improve your productivity.
It’s a good idea to create psychological barriers, so you’re not constantly aware of temptations around you, such as any unfinished personal activities like laundry or vacuuming, which might otherwise detract from your efficiency.
Setting clear and concise boundaries will allow you to focus on work when it’s time to work and complete personal tasks outside of your designated working hours.
Breakdown Tasks Into Small Steps
Procrastination is reduced, and motivation is increased by taking small measurable actions that are simple and doable.
By doing this, you’re actually deceiving your emotional brain. As a result, you will avoid becoming frustrated and overwhelmed when you follow the adage “one move at a time.”
So always keep in mind that you don’t need to get everything down at once, but you do need to start!
This shift in perspective enables you to overcome postponement and complete your work one small step at a time.
Plus, you can use this tip for any type of personal or work project.
Taking the first move toward a goal may be the most challenging, but it’s also the most satisfying.
It will get you started, which may sometimes be as simple as sitting down and turning on your computer. And once you’ve started on your task, doing the work and getting it all done will be much easier!
Don’t Label Yourself A Procrastinator
When you call yourself a procrastinator, you’re identifying with the pattern you’re trying to break.
In turn, it makes it easier to put things off since you’re letting yourself believe that this is part of your personality. When you think that you’re lazy, it’s easy to be lazy.
But when you shift your perspective, allowing you to believe that you’re a highly motivated individual, it’s much easier to get things done!
So instead of letting yourself think the worst about yourself, you owe yourself your tacit approval and should embrace yourself as you are.
Reward Yourself
Pleasure is hardwired into your brain, and pain is hardwired out.
So if you’re like the majority of people, you’ll enjoy receiving a reward.
Offer yourself a reward after finishing a small portion of the job, but never before.
Whether that reward is an hour of Netflix, a snack, or a walk outside through the park, rewarding yourself will increase your drive to complete tasks so that you can engage in something you enjoy.
Prioritize Your Most Challenging Tasks
Simply selecting one task from your to-do list that you can complete quickly can help you get a head start and relieve procrastination.
But it’s even better to focus on getting the biggest, most challenging, and time-consuming tasks out of the way first.
Instead of waiting for the last minute, you can face your obligations head-on and early.
If your task list contains many items, it’s best to separate the essentials from the non-essentials and work through the list one thing at a time, based on what needs your most urgent attention.
Putting Off Your Procrastination
When you’re working from home, it’s almost too easy to get distracted by TV, movies, the internet, and all those unfinished chores that have been nagging at you.
However, distractions and procrastination can wreak havoc on your mental, physical, and financial success.
So make sure to set rules and boundaries, manage and prioritize your workload, treat yourself with respect, and you’ll be well on your way to putting off procrastination like the best of them!
